by Prof. Dr. M.

Majid Mahmood Bagram

Critical Thinking

FACILITATOR
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Majid Mahmood
0333-5188677, majidbagram@yahoo.com

Critical Thinking

Sitting on top of your shoulders

is one of the finest computers on
the earth.
But, like any other muscle in
your body, it needs to be
exercised to work its best.
That exercise is called

THINKING.
by Prof. Dr. M. Majid Mahmood Bagram

Your Thinking
can either

Trap Free
You You Who SHOULD think critically?

hold you Open your

hostage within mind
uncritically to new ways
held of thinking
beliefs

Who SHOULD think critically? Imagination is

more important
than knowledge

- Einstein
by Prof. Dr. M. Majid Mahmood Bagram
Thinking Outside the Box: Einstein
What Makes People Listen to Us?
Relationships: People listen to us because of who we
know.
Sacrifice: People listen to us because of what we have
suffered.
Character: People listen to us because of our integrity.
What Makes People Listen to Us?
What Makes People Listen to Us?
Insight: People listen to us because of what we know.
Transparency: People listen to us because we are
transparent.
Experience: People listen to us because weve
succeeded in the past.
by Prof. Dr. M. Majid Mahmood Bagram

What Makes People Listen to Us?

Competence: People listen to us because of our Everything we know,

abilities and expertise.
believe, want, fear and hope
Courage: People listen to us when we demonstrate for, our thinking tells us.
courage.

Value: People listen to us because we make them

feel that they are important to us.

Thinking tells us: Thinking determines:

what is happening
what our problems are what we learn
what our options are how we learn
what threatens us what we think is important to learn
what is important what effort we should expand
what is unimportant what we think is true
who our friends are what we think is false
who our enemies are how things should be viewed
what our history is whether our learning is of high or low quality
who we are whether our learning is deep or superficial
who loves us
by Prof. Dr. M. Majid Mahmood Bagram

Thinking - examples Thinking - examples

If I feel humiliated in the classroom because I think I If I think that I dont need a college degree to get a good
have been treated unfairly by the teacher, I will avoid job, I will feel satisfied with a high school education.
actively participating in group discussions Therefore I will not pursue higher education.

Thinking - examples Definitions of Critical Thinking

If I think that learning should be easy, I will feel frustrated In everyday language:
when it is difficult. Therefore I will avoid difficult learning
situations
Thinking outside the box

Thinking about thinking

If I value what I am learning, I think that it is relevant to
my life. Therefore I will feel excited about learning Unlimited thinking

Different thinking
by Prof. Dr. M. Majid Mahmood Bagram

Definition of Critical Thinking

Thinking Critically means

Examining different viewpoints ...the ability to analyze facts, generate and

organize ideas, defend opinions, make
Learn to think from different perspectives. comparisons, draw inferences, evaluate
View those opinions which differ from arguments and solve problems.
yours. (Chance,1986, p. 6)
Avoid automatic responses.

Chance, P. (1986). Thinking in the classroom: A survey of programs. New York: Teachers
College, Columbia University.

Definitions of Critical Thinking Critical Thinking

reasonable reflective thinking that is focused on deciding In undertaking your critical thinking, you should be:
what to do and what to believe
OR Persistent and careful and do not jump to conclusions
interpreting, analyzing or evaluating information, arguments
or experiences Look for the grounds that support a belief or position:
OR Reasons
examining the thinking of others to improve our own
Be aware of the further conclusions to which it tends:
Implications
Ennis, R. (1992). Critical thinking: What is it? Proceedings of the Forty-Eighth Annual Meeting
of the Philosophy of Education Society Denver, Colorado, March 27-30.
by Prof. Dr. M. Majid Mahmood Bagram

Critical Thinking helps

To recognize propaganda
To analyze hidden assumptions in arguments We dont achieve excellence in
To recognize deliberate deception thinking with no end in view.
To assess credibility of information
To work through problems/decisions in the best
way
Harpern, 1996

Thinking that Grasps ALL THINKING

the Logic of Things IS NOT OF THE SAME QUALITY

A product of intellectual work that makes no sense, that cannot
be rationally analyzed and assessed, that cannot be incorporated
into other intellectual work, or used and hence that cannot play
a role in any discipline is meaningless.
Aimless Thinking:
We are naturally proficient at daydreaming and fantasizing.
Lacks a purpose.
Few people need training in aimless thinking.
Thinking that is random, that roams aimlessly is not critical.

High Quality Thinking:

Whether we are designing a new screwdriver, or figuring out Has a purpose.
We originate and produce with a sense of why we are doing so.
how to deal with our childrens misbehavior, we must order our When thinking takes on a challenging task, the mind comes alive, ready for
ideas into a system of meanings that make sense to us. intellectual labor for the achievement of its goal.

Dr. Richard Paul and Dr. Linda Elder, Dr. Richard Paul and Dr. Linda Elder,
The Foundation for Critical Thinking Press, 2010 The Foundation for Critical Thinking Press, 2010
by Prof. Dr. M. Majid Mahmood Bagram

Should You Believe

Critical Thinking Everything You See?
is a self-directed process
by which we take Perception is learned from both our own
experience and through interaction with others.
deliberate steps
to think at the
highest level of quality.

Perception What does the absence of

We often see and hear what we want to see and
hear, based upon our past experiences,
interests, motives, expectations; to stay within
our comfort zone.
Critical Thinking look like?
We blindly accept all statements.
We blindly believe TV commercials.
We blindly follow others.
by Prof. Dr. M. Majid Mahmood Bagram
Uncritical Thinkers
Pretend to know more than they do.
Get annoyed by problems.
Are impatient.
Judge on first impressions and
intuition.
Focus on their own opinions.
Look only for ideas like their own.
Are guided by feelings rather than
thoughts.
Claim that thinking gives them a
headache.
A Necessary Condition
to the Development of
Critical Thinking is:
A Questioning
Mind!
People Dont Always Use
Dont think Critical Thinking Skills
about it, just
sign it! It is not uncommon for people to say
I thought it was no big deal.
I just wasnt thinking
How was I supposed to know?
I cant think of everything!
My bad luck
People who have poor critical thinking skills are
their own worst enemies.
Ask Questions
One quality of a good critical thinker is the ability to ask
on-target questions.
If you dont usually ask questions, is it because you
Fear embarrassment?
Worry what others will think of you?
Worry that the instructor will think your question is strange?
Worry that others will think youre showing off?
When you dont ask questions, you sacrifice your
education.
If you dont take risks, you wont get the maximum
benefit in developing your mind.
by Prof. Dr. M. Majid Mahmood Bagram

Language Language

The landscape of the mind. Words can have two kinds of meaning:
The software of the brain. Denotative
Connotative

What does each mean?

Language Language

Denotative: Connotative:
Dictionary meaning: Suggestions beyond the dictionary
What is an apple? meanings.

edible, usually rounded fruit. What do you think of when you hear the
word apple?
by Prof. Dr. M. Majid Mahmood Bagram

Classification of Brain
Brain Fitness
Left Brain Thinking Right Brain Thinking
Logical Emotional Like the body, the brain has its own form of fitness or
one thing at a time integrating inputs excellence.
sequential operation dreams
To achieve brain fitness, the brain must learn to:
writing & symbols holistic solutions take charge of itself,
mathematical intuition energize itself,
spoken memory visualizing press forward when difficulties emerge,
become attentive, and reflective

Dr. Richard Paul and Dr. Linda Elder,

Springer, S., & Deutsch, G. (1993). Left brain, right brain (4th ed.). New York: W. H. The Foundation for Critical Thinking Press, 2010
Freeman and Co.

Critical Thinking Critical Thinking Quotes

Thinking is the hardest work, which is probably

why so few engage in it. We cant solve problems by using the same kind of
Henry Ford
thinking we used when we created them.
Albert Einstein
Discovery is seeing what everybody else has seen, and
Some peoples minds close up & they live on their
thinking what nobody else has thought.
intellectual fat.
Unknown
William Lyon
The human mind once stretched by a new idea never
goes back to its original dimensions.
Oliver Wendell Homes
by Prof. Dr. M. Majid Mahmood Bagram

Thinking Errors Thinking Errors

Denial Personalization
Refuse to accept reality. Thinking in which the world revolves
Projection around an individual
We see in others what is really happening to Polarized Thinking
us. There is only black or white no gray
Rationalization Catastrophizing
Lying to ourselves about the real reasons for Always consider the worst possible
our behaviors and feelings. outcome (all the time)

Thinking Errors Thinking & Winning

Selective abstraction Your Mind is Your Most Important Weapon:

Focusing on one detail of a situation and

With a good one, other weapons are more useful,
ignoring the larger picture sometimes unnecessary
Overgeneralization
Drawing broad conclusions on the basis of a With a poor one, other weapons are useless to
achieve victory
single incident.
Exercise your brain as well as your body
by Prof. Dr. M. Majid Mahmood Bagram

Thinking & Winning So . . .

You are only as good as your mind--it is your best You must PRACTICE good thinking skillsthey
weapon for survival dont happen by accident

Knowledge is a force multiplier and the key to If you dont do it, it wont get done
successful adaptation
If not now, when? If not here where? If not you,
Learn how to learn for yourself who?

Characteristics of Characteristics of
Critical Thinkers: Critical Thinkers:

Strive for understanding They keep an open mind

Are honest with themselves
Base judgment on evidence
Are interested in other peoples ideas
Control their feelings/emotions
They are highly observant
Identify key issues and raise questions
Obtain relevant facts
Evaluate findings and form judgments
by Prof. Dr. M. Majid Mahmood Bagram

May Allah Reward You

Conclusion
. .

In thinking critically,
we take command of the meanings
we create.

FACILITATOR
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Majid Mahmood
0333-5188677, majidbagram@yahoo.com