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Critical Thinking Means Business
Did you know critical thinking was rated the NEW #1 workplace skill? Download our paper: Critical Thinking Means Business
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CT Primer
An overview of critical thinking to give you the essentials
There is Always Room for Improvement
Just because something works, doesn’t mean it’s the best possible option. As illustrated in the image below and Heather Ishikawa’s post about peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, we often accept “good enough” without questioning if we can think better. “The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without [...]
Win the Ultimate Critical Thinking Book Bundle!
Now that the kids are back in school and summer activities are winding down, do you have some extra time to read? Well, we want to invite you to win the Ultimate Critical Thinking Book Bundle! All you need to do to enter the contest is: Go to the Now You’re Thinking! Facebook page “Like” [...]
Taking a Walk in a Teacher’s Shoes
A few weeks ago, I wanted to write a post about how educators are teaching critical thinking all wrong (wait…put down the pitchforks and keep reading please). I knew the post would be controversial, and I planned be very clear about how much I respect the amazing and selfless job being a teacher is, but [...]
Beware of Numbers; They’re Liars | Critical Thinking
Watching the news is a great mental exercise in critical thinking. For example, watch any cable news station and notice how often studies with statistics are reported. That sounds like a good thing, right? We would much rather hear that the news being shared is backed up by scientific studies, surveys, and analysis rather than [...]
You Disagree? Then You’re Not a Critical Thinker!
I have a Twitter search set up to alert me anytime someone says “critical thinking” or “critical thinker.” Do you know how those terms are used most often on social media? It looks something like this: “Oh, you’re a Republican? Then you’re not a critical thinker” (and you can replace the word Republican with any [...]
The Next Great Idea
Where will you find your next great idea? Will it be in the conference room? In your cubicle? While flying in a plane? While having coffee with friends? This Ted.com talk might make you think differently about the source of your next great idea.
Improve Your Creative Thinking- Write it Down
There are many ways to improve your innovative and creative thinking, but one very easy technique is to keep a pad of paper with you at all times. You never know when a great idea will strike, and if you don’t document the idea immediately, you might forget it. I find that I’m most creative [...]
Practical Wisdom and the Importance of Context
What is a wise person? Is she someone who scores in the 99th percentile on the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal? Is he a member of Mensa? Is she a hero whose quick thinking saved a life? Is he a listener? Is she a leader? Barry Schwartz argues that a wise person is more than scores [...]
10,000 Hours and the Critical Thinking Challenge
If you’ve read Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Outliers” then you’ve heard of the 10,000 hours theory. The basic theory is that to be great at anything requires a huge time dedication- 10,000 hours. Gladwell cites several examples from Bill Gates to the Beatles, but it all comes down to the fact that excellence takes time. People [...]
Time and Money: It’s All Relative
I am always amazed at how the brain works. We can switch gears and alter our frame of mind in a split second. For instance, Friday morning I wanted to buy an elliptical machine but quickly dismissed the idea because “we don’t have $400 to spend today.” Later that afternoon, one of my dogs became [...]