A recent submission to my elearning course.
“Critical thinking is a process that challenges an individual to use reflective, reasonable, rational thinking to gather, interpret and evaluate information in order to derive a judgment. The process involves thinking beyond a single solution for a problem and focusing on deciding what the best alternatives are.”[i] There are many discussions regarding strategies for improving critical thinking and best methods of utilization.
Diagrams can help build upon the making connections strategy. They allow participants to visually see and layout discussions. An Argument Map is an example of one of these diagrams and is described by Austhink.com as:
“… (example: http://www.austhink.com/argumentmap/thinking/)
box-and-line diagrams that lay out visually reasoning and evidence for and
against a statement or claim. A good map clarifies and organizes thinking by
showing the logical relationships between thoughts that are expressed simply and
precisely. Argument Maps show only evidential (inferential) relationships
between claims.
In Argument Maps, the lines mean something very specific: that something is a reason to believe or a reason not to believe something else. Argument maps are driven by the question, ‘Why should I believe that?’, Any map driven by that question is an Argument Map.”[ii]
This goes beyond just comparing items to see how they are similar. Making connections allows the learner to go more in depth and see how several various aspects may be interlinked or dependant upon one another. “It pushes participants to higher levels of thinks so that they can examine inferences or explore beliefs or assumptions openly” (Collison, Elbaum, Haavind and Tinker, 2000, p. 153).[iii]
Dr. Tim van Gelder predicts: “Over the coming decades, diagrammatic techniques will increasingly displace pure prose as a medium for articulating and communicating reasoning. This transformation in our cognitive practices will improve both the quality of thinking activities and the effectiveness of critical thinking instruction.”[iv]
[i] Nursing Department: Philosophy & Concepts. Retrieved June 18, 2007 from Piedmont Technical College, Nursing Department website: http://www.ptc.edu/department_nursing/Philosophy.htm (February 2001)
[ii] Austhink: Argument Mapping, Retrieved June 18, 2007 from http://www.austhink.com/argumentmap/ Austhink Software Pty Ltd., Carlton Victoria, Australia
[iii] Collison, G. Elbaum, B. Haavind, S. & Tinker, R. (2000). Facilitating Online Learning. Effective Strategies for Moderators. Madison, WI: Attwood Publsihing.
[iv] Dr. Tim van Gelder. Critical thinking: Some lessons learned. Retrieved June 18, 2007 from: http://www.ala.asn.au/commentaries/2001/Gelder3005.pdf