Let’s first make sure that we have a common understanding of the actual meaning of Critical thinking.

The ability to think critically, typically involves three things:

  • The attitude of being open to thoughtfully consider all aspects and interpretations of a given problem, starting from the definition of the problem.
  • Knowledge of the methods for logical inquiry and reasoning.
  • Skills in applying those methods.

The ability to think critically lies in analysing and evaluating the widest possible range of data to make non-biased grounded decisions.

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In order to be critical, thinking must be resourceful and creative. Thinking outside the box and pushing the boundaries of the field of possibilities can yield imaginative and innovative solutions.

Being systematic and organized will certainly support the analytical process, especially in complex situations, which is often the case in ecosystems, whether they are environmental or societal.

Certainly, being quick and decisive is also a good quality, as in practice, critical thinking can be constrained with time resources. One may have only the time to walk down the stairs to share his/her opinion on solving a problem with the manager.

Before engaging students in a critical thinking development activity, it is important to inform them that there are key success factors to a thriving professional life. Namely:

  • Open attitude: by being open to teammates, colleagues, customers or partners’ ideas and points of view, one is most likely to understand a problem better as well as benefit from a wider span of candidate ideas for solutions. An open attitude supports being resourceful and creative
  • Wider Knowledge: by making a continuous effort, at the right pace, towards mastering new substances and new methods one is most likely to perform better and avoid pitfalls in various stages of the critical thinking process. Wider knowledge builds up the capability to be systematic and organised
  • Skills in applying those methods: by practicing and through the trial and error process, one is most likely to improve its reliability in performing various stages of the critical thinking process, especially in being quick and decisive in decision-making situations.
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