Importance of Critical Thinking in Education
“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
This famous quotation by Aristotle essentially draws upon the assumption that ideally, an educated mind should be able to think critically and make informed evaluations. Critical thinking, by definition, is the ability to think reasonably and reflectively deciding what to believe or do. The popular convention always associates critical thinking with negativity and scepticism but in reality, it is a much more disciplined way of thinking that involves weighing in on all the pros and cons before reaching a concluding thought.
- Why do we need critical thinking?
In the age of fake news, critical thinking carries a special purpose of assessing the validity of any information, be it an argument, news article, research. Etc. Critical thinking is an valuable ability as it is useful for innovative problem solving and the critical evaluation of ideas. This type of thinking is necessary in an academic context because it fosters an individual’s will and ability to think.
2. How critical thinking helps ?
Critical thinking in education will help students interpret, analyse, evaluate and reach an inference by taking the evidential, conceptual and contextual considerations into perspective. The education system was initially established to celebrate the spirit of enquiry. The foundational ideals of our forefathers were driven by the noble motive to elevate people from consuming information like a flock of sheep and propagate independent thought. It is this form of pristine logical and independent reasoning that gave rise to indispensable intellectual movements that have now become the bedrock of our knowledge systems.
Francis Bacon once said, “Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider.” Today’s education system must align students to what Francis Bacon had said back in the 16th century, which meant that teachers must help students develop analytical skills as this way of perceiving information will encourage them to ask mindful questions as they read and receive information. Unfortunately the indian education has always had a penchant to induce the habit of making students absorb information passively, without questioning or making observational patterns.
It enables a student to make reasonable and defensible arguments. Critical thinking in an academic context is essential in reflecting on people’s assumptions, beliefs, taking into account a diverse range of factors to generate alternative solutions and critiquing them in a sensitive manner.
Written by: Kalyani Nair, TEGS
