Critical Thinking

&
Metacognition
PRESENTED BY:
Dr. Kashif Fraz Ahmed
ONLINE PLT (G-3) HED-Lahore
Wednesday 22.05.2024

Email k ashiffiraz@gmail.co m Link edIn k ashiffirazahmed Tw itter

@k ashiffiraz
Yo uTube Dr. Kashif faraz WhatsApp 0323-4605192, 0300-4431242 FB
SEQUENCE
Through this presentation you will learn:
1. What is thinking?
2. Types of thinking
3. What is Critical Thinking?
4. What is Meta Cognition?
5. Developmental Stages of Critical Thinking
6. Critical Thinking Standards
7. How to develop Critical Thinking skills?
8. Benefits of Critical Thinking
9. Barriers to Critical Thinking 2

10. Characteristic of Critical Thinker

1. What is thinking?

Why is the sky blue?

Is time travel possible?
Why does she like me?
Why doesn’t he like
me?
As you start asking questions and seek
answers, you are in fact THINKING.

In other words:- Thinking is purposeful, organized

process that we use to make sense of the world.
3
2. Types of thinking?
❖ Analysin
g
❖E
Rveaalsuoantiinn
g
g Problem
solving
Decision
Making

Critical C r e a t iv
Thinkin e Think
g in g

4
3. What is Critical Thinking?
Gather and
assess
Information
in a
balanced and

logica
information

l
way to

argument
reach
conclusions
justified by reasoned argument based on available
evidence
6
3. What is Critical Thinking?...Cont.

What is Critical Thinking (CT)?

 Critical thinking is a type of

thinking that questions
assumptions.

 It is a way of deciding
whether a claim is always true,
sometimes true, partly true,
or false.

Note: Critical thinking is a skill so fortunately for us we can enhance it through practice.
Example of not thinking critically

8
 3. Definition & Historical Evolution
Cont.
Critical thinking in history 500
-300 BCE

 Bud d ha' s T eac hing s mainly in t he

kalama sutta and the Abhidharma

 Abhidharma are ancient Buddhist texts

which co ntain detailed scho lastic and
sc ient if ic r ew o r k ing s o f d o c t r ina l
m a t er ia l a p p ea r ing in t he Bud d hist
Sutras
3. Definition & Historical Evolution
Cont.
Critical thinking in history
500-300 BC

 Socrates and Greek philosophers

(Thucydides, Epicurus)
 "Critical" derives from κριτικός kritikos,
Which means discerning judgment
 Probing questions were used to
determine whether claims to knowledge
based on authority could be rationally
justified with clarity and logical
consistency.
3. Definition & Historical Evolution
Cont.
500-300 BC Critical thinking in history
16 0 5

 Francis Baron, English philosopher,

statesman, scientist and jurist
 Author of the first book on Critical
Thinking "The Advancement of
Learning"
 Documented various form of
human irrationality and the need to
establish new habits of thoughts
through education
3. Definition & Historical Evolution
Cont.
Critical thinking in history
500-300 BC 1923
16 0 5

 Frankfurt School of Critical Social Theory

 Trace its earliest roots back to Felix Weil who financed
the Institute.
 Founded in 1923 by Carl Grünberg, a Marxist legal
and political professor at the University of Vienna, as
an adjunct of the University of Frankfurt
 Attempted to amend Marxist theory for applicability in
20th-century Germany
 Later: Jurgen Habermas (book cover)
3. Definition & Historical Evolution
Cont.
The essence of critical thinking is to move:

FROM: TO:
An unconscious mixture Stops and assesses ourselves before going
of high quality and low quality forward, rigorously applying intellectual
thinking: standards to our thinking:
* Spontaneous * Probing
* Subconscious * Conscious
* Uncontrolled * Disciplined
* Impulsive * Seeks the truth
* Unanalyzed * Self assessing
* Self validating * Self correcting
 You must be
willing to say,
“I don’t know.”

And then be
willing to do
something to
change that.
4. What is Meta Cognition?
 meta, meaning "beyond", or "on top of“

 Cognition, meaning the mental action or process of

acquiring knowledge

 M e t a c o g n it io n is a n a w a r e n e s s o f o n e ' s t h o u g h t
p r o c e s s e s a n d a n u n d e r s t a n d in g o f t h e p a t t e r n s
behind them.
 5. Development stages for
critical thinking skills
Stage 1
the unreflective *We do not notice we are continually
thinker making assumptions, forming concepts
and opinions, and thinking within points of
Stage 2 the v i ew .
challenged *We confused facts, unvalidated data, their
thinker
analysis and inferences
*Our egocentric tendencies at this stage
Stage 3 the
beginning
play a dominant role in our thinking.
thinker *We lack the skills and motivation to notice
how self-centered and prejudiced we are.
Stage 4 the
practicing
thinker
5. Development stages for critical
thinking skills
Stage 1
the unreflective Reasoning and evaluating,we begin to
thinker notice that:
* we make questionable assumptions
Stage 2 the * use false, incomplete, or misleading
challenged
thinker
information
*make inferences that do not follow from the
Stage 3 the
evidence we have
beginning *fail to recognize important implications and
thinker problems we have
* form faulty concepts
Stage 4 the * reason with prejudiced points of view
practicing * think egocentrically and irrationally
thinker
5. Development stages for critical
thinking skills
Stage 1
the unreflective
thinker

Stage 2 the
We are beginning to:
challenged * analyze the logic of situations and problems
thinker * express clear and precise questions
* check for accuracy & relevance
Stage 3 the * distinguish between data & conclusions
beginning * recognize assumptions
thinker
* identify prejudicial and biased beliefs
*notice when our viewpoint is biased by our
Stage 4 the
practicing selfish interests
thinker
5. Development stages for critical
thinking skills
Stage 1
the unreflective
thinker
* Using wasted time
Stage 2 the * Solve a problem a day (at least)
challenged * Keep an intellectual journal
thinker * Practice intellectual strategies
* Take important decisions when required
Stage 3 the * Reshape your character
beginning
thinker
* Deal with your ego
* Redefine the way you see things
Stage 4 the * Get in touch with your emotions
practicing * Analyze group influences on your life
thinker
6. Critical Thinking Standards
Universal intellectual standards are standards which must be
a p p l i e d t o t h i n k i n g . To t h i n k c r i t i c a l l y r e q u i r e s h a v i n g
command of these standards
❏ CLARITY
❏ ACCURACY
❏ PRECISION
❏ RELEVANCE
❏ DEPTH
❏ BREADTH
❏ LOGIC
❏ SIGNIFICANCE
❏ FAIRNESS
20
6.1 Clarity
❏ Could you elaborate further on that point?
❏ Could you express that point in another
way?
❏ Could you give me an illustration?

Clar it y is t he g at ew ay st and ar d . If a st at ement is unclear, w e c anno t

d e t e r m in e w h e t h e r i t is a c c u r a t e o r r e l e v a n t . I n f a c t , w e c a n n o t t e l l
anything about it because we don't yet know what it is saying.
21
6.2 Accuracy
❏ Is that really true?
THIS DOG ❏ How could we check that?
WEIGHS ❏ How could we find out if that is true?
MORE
THAN 300
POUNDS!!!

A statement can be clear but not accurate

22
6.3 Precision
❏ Could you give more details?
❏ Could you be more specific?

Jack is Let it go
Thats true overweigh ma n!!
but how t
much
overweight
20
pounds or
500 pounds

A statement can be both clear and accurate, but not precise.

23
6.4 Relevance
❏ How is that connected to the question?
❏ How does that bear on the issue?
I have given good effort in studies all semester so I should get A+
The "effort"
does
not measure
the quality of
your learning
dear!

A statement can be clear, accurate and precise, but not

relevant to the question at issue.

24
6.5 Depth
❏ How does your answer address the complexities in
the question?
❏ How are you taking into account the problems in
the question?
❏ Is that dealing with the most significant factors?
NOBOD
Y TELLS
US WHY!
!!

A statement can be clear, accurate, precise and relevant,

but superficial.

25
6.6 Breadth
❏ Do we need to consider another point of view?
❏ Is there another way to look at this question?
❏ What would this look like from the point of
view
of . . .? You got marks
Wa s “participza
etrioon f
studying ”id, n’t participatoer coz i
d
all night!! n the class y
discussion at all. ou

A line of reasoning may be clear, accurate, precise, relevant

and deep, but still ignore another side of the argument.

26
6.7 Logic
❏ Does this really make sense?
❏ How does this follow from what I said
before?
❏ Does this contradict a previous statement?
Superman can see through
anything!!
Superman can see through
walls!!
Superman can see through
you!!

When the combination of thoughts are mutually supporting

and make sense in combination, the thinking is "logical."

27
6.8 S i g n i f i c a n c e
❏ What is the most significant information
needed to address this issue?
❏ How is that fact important in context?
❏ Which of these questions is the most
significant?
❏ Which of these ideas or concepts is the most
important

having importance, being of consequence; having

considerable or substantial meaning

28
6.9 Fairness
❏ Do I have a vested interest in this issue?
❏ Am I sympathetically representing the
viewpoints of others?
❏ Am I open minded?

We do not naturally consider the rights and needs of others

on the same plane with their own rights and
needs, but to be a
good thinker you should apply “Fairness” in your thinking. 29
7. How to Develop Critical Thinking skills?
8. Benefits of Critical Thinking
At Work

As more and more employers are looking for employees

n ot w i t h spe ci a l i z e d a ca de m i c ski l l s bu t w i t h good
thinking and communications skills, who can
❏ Learn quickly and solve problems.
❏ Shows creativity.
❏ Gathers and analyze the issue meaningfully.

This has become vital skill for any professional

31
8.1 Benefits of Critical Thinking
Da i l y l i f e

 Helps us avoid making foolish decision.

 Helps us become a good citizen capable of making
good decisions on important social, political and
economic issues.
 Helps us in developing good thinking skill capable of
examining our own assumptions and dogmas.
 Be a better problem solver

32
9. Barriers to Critical Thinking
You might ask,

➢ If the critical thinking is so important, then why

is uncritical thinking so common?

➢ Why is that so many people including the highly

educated and intellectual people find it difficult
to think critically?

33
9.1 Barriers to Critical Thinking
5 most powerful barriers to critical thinking.
Self centered thinking
Egocentris ❏ Self interest thinking The problem
❏ Thinking self as centre of attention is not the
m problem.
Group centered thinking
The problem
Sociocentris ❏ Group interest thinking
is your
❏ To assume that own group is more
m superior or righteous.
attitude
towards the
Unwarrante A belief that something is true without problem.
d Assumpti proper evidence or justification.
ons
Wishful Believing something is true because
Thinking one wishes it to be true.

Relativis Thinking that truth is just a matter of

opinion.
m
34
10. Characteristic of Critical Thinker

Critical Thinker….

➢ Are honest with themselves.

➢ Regard problems and controversial issues as

exciting challenges.

➢ Strive for understanding, keep curiosity alive

remain patient with complexity.

35
10. Characteristic of Critical Thinker…Cont.
Critical Thinker….

➢ Base judgments on evidence rather than

personal preferences.

➢ Are interested in other people's ideas and so are

willing to read and listen attentively.

➢ Practice fair mindedness, and seek a balance

view.

➢ Practice restraint, controlling their feelings

rather than being controlled by them. 36
Go as far as you can see.
When you get there,
you can see farther.
Thomas Carlyle

4
9
Any
Questions?

THANKS INDEED 38