Producing Integrative Thinkers Reflection Sara O’Toole American College of Education Introduction During this course, we have discussed, experienced, and dug deep into the four main pillars of integrative thinking. Intuitive, analytical, creative and rhetorical thinking are not separate entities but work together to strengthen each type of thinking’s weakness. The problems we face, are not one sided, they are influenced by many factors, thus how we come up with our solutions should also not be one sided. We need to use a mix of thinking skills in order to make the best decisions or come up with new possible solutions to a problem. Throughout the duration of this course, each week we focused on each of the four integral parts of intuitive thinking. Experiencing how it works, making workshops, working …show more content…
Using integrative thinking process provided by Riel and Martin, (2014) which has four steps, first understanding the problem and coming up with two extremes to focus on to then coming up with new possible solutions by taking pieces of the opposing extremes to generate something new to explore and test, will allow us to tackle problems that we may classify as unsolvable. As I have said, majority of our problems or item we want to study are multidimensional, therefore our thinking must be as well. Even in the realm of science, it is not all analytical thinking, you need creativity to first come up with ways to test, you need intuition to know that there is some type of relationship there, and we need the evidence to support the claims that are made. Therefore, all four types of thinking are needed, not just one, which if these skills were taught to learners, educators, businesses and leaders, to name a few, we all would be part of creating new solutions to our most difficult problems, benefiting everyone
In this time, most teachers’ brains have been numbed from all of the talk about the thinking process and abstract thinking skills (Ravitch). Students need a lot of knowledge to be able to think critically as they are expected to (Ravitch). We stand on the shoulders of those before us, we did not restart as each generation comes up in the world as we wish it would (Ravitch). What we need to be learning is how to use our brain’s capacity to make generalizations so we can see past our own experiences
People spend their whole lives trying to gain knowledge in many different areas, while others stay focused on a single topic. Once vertical and horizontal thinking are combined people can gain more knowledge and understanding within several different topics. Sven Birkerts, the author of “The Owl Has Flown” explains in many ways how vertical and horizontal thinking are used in everyday life. Vertical thinking is a way in which a person goes more in depth to gain a better understanding of a certain topic. On the contrary, horizontal thinking is gaining more understanding on several different topics, but not as in depth as vertical thinking. There are other components to consider when trying to reach vertical and horizontal Engagement. Finding
Segregation in educational institutions taking place in the United States is not often talked about. People may consider apartheid schooling taking place presently to a nation that does not respect basic human rights. Thus, the injustices taking place in public schools are not easily classified because it is commonplace to many. It can be argued that apartheid schooling was never completely dismantled in the United States. Jonathan Kozol’s book The Shame of the Nation (2005) provides evidence and insight to apartheid within the educational system that children are currently experiencing. The structure in children’s curriculum, the way they are spoken to as well as the funding public schools are funded are examples to the inequalities that children face. Conceptually, structural violence is what keeps educational injustices to recur.
Dr. Gerald M. Nosich, an expert in critical thinking, wrote a book titled, “Learning to Think Things Through,” for his readers to understand and enhance their analytical skills. In the book, Nosich discussed the eight elements of reasoning including two additional elements: Purpose, Question at Issue, Assumptions, Implications and Consequences, Information, Concepts, Conclusions/Interpretation, Point of View, and Alternatives and Context (two additional elements). These elements help sort through our reasoning process so that we can make reasonable decisions. As a kid, I did not fully understand nor used any critical thinking skills, which led me to make some unreasonable mistakes.
While the semester is over and the deadline has expired, I thought I would write this to express my true intended thoughts.
In this assignment the practitioner is going to plan and prepare two experiences in which they will implement and evaluate after each of the lesson. These two experiences will be based on current theory, it will be in a form of an appendix to illustrate the two experiences as well as to promote children’s and young people’s thinking skills, creativity and problem solving. Many researchers such as Wilson (2000 cited in Macleod-Brudenell and Kay, 2008, p.323) have suggested that thinking skills are ways in which a child or young person is looking at the problem. To which we use thinking as a way of processing what we as individual know as well as remembering and perceiving. As for the skills this is the way in which we act by collecting and sorting information to help make decisions and reflect after wards (Macleod-Brudenell and Kay, 2008, p.323). This will include the practitioner to use effective approaches as well as evaluate tools, resources which can help to stimulate children and young people learning as well as supporting children development. The term for creativity has been define as being the use of imagination or original ideas to create something; inventiveness (Oxford Dictionary 2013). The definition of the term problem solving has been described as the process of finding solutions to difficult or complex issues (Oxford Dictionary 2013).
In daily lives, one needs to have different skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication, as well as social skills. These skills are important tools which build self-esteem in an individual. Self-esteem, in turn, gives a person strong ability to reach his/her goal and support him/herself in each step of life. In general, thinking plays a vital role in our daily lives before taking any actions. The quality of life can be determined by the quality of thinking. The quality of thinking can be determined by the skill which enables one to evaluate his/her thinking. The result of evaluation has an important affect on one’s life in a positive or negative way. Success usually, and in many cases, comes to people who have strong evaluation skills. It could be either in friendship or even choosing a right job. In his ar...
Insight is a term that is derived from Middle English expressions such as “inner sight, mental vision, [and] wisdom” (“Insight,” n.d.). According to the Oxford Dictionaries, the technical term for insight is “the capacity to gain an accurate and deep intuitive understanding of a person or thing” (“Insight,” n.d.). Insight is gravely important in regards to problem solving and creative thinking. It is indeed a concept that holds much value in the psychological community and is said to be “essential” to creative thinking (Qinglin, Jiang, & Guikang, 2004). The essence of the phrase ‘insight problem solving’ can be further explained as when a “problem solver fails to see how to solve a problem and then – ‘aha!’ – there is a sudden realization how to solve it” (Jones, 2003). When referring to insight, it is not that the problem solver received a miraculous idea from out of nowhere; the problem solver simply had a brief moment where he or she was completely unaware as to how a solution can be found. Therefore, “the problem solver was competent enough to accomplish the task to begin with” and they simply needed a moment to come up with a solution (Jones, 2003). Moreover, that is where the research and questions in regards to insight play a vital role in the cognitive field of psychology. The question that insight brings to light is, what happens in the mental process of an individual who becomes “stuck” and suddenly they gain insight and are able to create a solution (Jones, 2003)? As one can see, insight is a concept that is significant in cognitive psychology.
Solving problems is a particular art, like swimming, or skiing, or playing the piano: you can learn it only by imitation and practice…if you wish to learn swimming you have to go in the water, and if you wish to become a problem solver you have to solve problems. -Mathematical Discovery
Critical thinking is a significant and essential topic in recent education. The strategy of critical thinking skills helps identify areas in one's courses as the suitable place to highlight, expand and use some problems in exams that test students' critical thinking skills.
What is not easily recognized is the fact that the very fabric of life is dependent on the ability to think properly and make good decisions. Improper thinking is costly in the quality of life and monetarily. The result of a critical thinker that has worked to cultivate proper thinking skills includes: the ability to ask vital questions and to identify problems with clarity. A critical thinker also collects relevant information while effectively interpreting it, thinks with an open mind, uses alternative systems of thought, and understands how to communicate while working to formulate a strong solution. In summary, critical thinking is self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking. Above all else, the standards of excellence are rigorous, and it entails the prospect of overcoming the challenge of sociocentrism and
Taylor, J. and Ortega, D. The Application of Goldratt's Thinking Processes to problem Solving. Allied Academic international Conference. Las Vegas. 2003
As a person grows old, it is inevitable to have both physical and cognitive changes happen throughout their lifetime. In an average life span, a person’s physical and cognitive changes will normally vary depending on what age group they are in. For example, it is said that from birth to age five, a child will absorb more information including how to talk, language, form relationships, and fine motor skills than any other age. It is also said that that most rapid decline in physical ability is in older adults ranging from a loss in eyesight to severe dementia.
problems, our intuition may provide us with the answer to that problem more helpfully or accurately
Critical thinking regularly involves the capability to interpret information and make knowledgeable decisions based on such information. Additionally, problem solving is frequently theorised as the use of critical thinking skills towards the effective solution of a specific problem or towards a specific end goal. Critical thinking is the disciplined art of ensuring that you use the best thinking you are capable of in any set of circumstances. The general goal of thinking is to figure out some situation” (Critical Thinking, 2001, p.1), solve some problem, answer some questions, or resolve some issue. It also is a process in which a person pursuits reliable and pertinent information about the world. Critical thinking is often described as reasonable, ruminative, trustworthy, and a well-practiced form of thinking that assists people with deciding what they should believe in and what actions should be taken. A practiced critical thinker will ask good questions, collects pertinent data, categorizes common characteristics, logically reasons with the new data and then he or she will come to a trustworthy and dependable conclusion. Critical thinking makes use of many processes and procedures. Some processes include but is not limited to asking questions, making judgments, and identifying