PDCT: Critical Thinking

Critical thinking involves a number of processes including identifying and evaluating specific situations, being aware of any contributing circumstances and the potential results of your actions or plans. To think critically, it is important to evaluate various perspectives (yours and others) to identify the resources available to you and evaluate the short and long-term effects of taking a particular action.This course provides training in identifying support structures, perspectives and arguments and how to critically evaluate the advantages and the disadvantages of a proposed plan or an action, so that the right decisions can be made the first time. Learn the difference between left brain and right brain thinking, removing the emotions from decision making, evaluating both sides of an argument and critical questioning skills.This course is delivered in partnership with PD Training.

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After completing this course participants will be able to:

• Explore real-world examples of why critical thinking is so important in business
• Learn to use critical thinking skills when making business decisions
• Choose the right techniques to recognise assumptions and draw conclusions
• Use the Watson-Glaser® Critical Thinking II Development Report
• Translate an abstract idea into something tangible
• Minimise the impact of job pressures on your thinking processes
• React with curiosity instead of emotion
• Get a roadmap for developing your critical thinking skills

Lesson 1 - Course Overview  Introduction	Lesson 2 - Understanding Critical Thinking  What is Critical Thinking? Characteristics of a Critical Thinker Common Critical Thinking Styles Small Group Work Developing Your Critical Thinking Skills
Lesson 3 - Where Do Other Types of Thinking Fit In?  Left and Right Brain Thinking Whole-Brain Thinking	Lesson 4 - Pitfalls to Reasoned Decision Making  Getting Over the Barriers Debrief Morning Wrap-Up Energiser: Puzzle Paradise
Lesson 5 - The Critical Thinking Process  Critical Thinking Model The Standards of Critical Thinking Identifying the Issues Identifying the Arguments Clarifying the Issues and Arguments Establishing Context Checking Credibility and Consistency Evaluating Arguments Case Study	Lesson 6 - A Critical Thinker's Skill Set  Asking Questions Probing Pushing My Buttons Critical Thinking Questions Active Listening Skills
Lesson 7 - Creating Explanations  Defining Explanations Steps to Building an Explanation Small Group Work	Lesson 8 - Dealing with Assumptions  Understanding assumptions When are assumptions useful Critically evaluate assumptions
Lesson 9 - Common Sense  Reflecting on common sense Is it 'common'?	Lesson 10 - Critical and Creative Thought Systems  Tips for Thinking Creatively Creative Thinking Exercise De Bono's Thinking Hats
Lesson 11 - Putting It into Practice  Presenting and Communicating Your Ideas to Others Pre-Assignment Preparation Presentations