Introduction: Structure of this guide
Understanding the intimate relationship between critical thinking, learning, and education: Concept of critical thinking
What and the how of education
Critical thinking is the "How" for obtaining every educational "What"
Critical thinking and learning
Critical thinking and the educated person
Critical thinking and information literacy
Growing importance of critical thinking
Critical and creative thinking
Critical thinking and the mastery of content
Adapting the standards in particular subjects
Structure and components of the competencies: Relating the competencies to critical thinking concepts
Outlining the components in each competency
Critical thinking Competencies: Section one: Competencies focusing on the elements of reasoning, and intellectual standards as they relate to the elements: Standard one: Purposes, goals, and objectives
Standard Two: Questions, problems, and issues
Standard three: Information, data, evidence, and experience
Standard Four: Inferences and interpretations
Standard Five: Assumptions and presuppositions
Standard Six: Concepts, theories, principles, definitions, laws, and axioms
Standard seven: Implications and consequences
Standard Eight: Points of view and frames of reference
Section Two: Competency focusing on universal intellectual standards: Standard Nine: Assessing thinking
Section Three: Competencies focusing on intellectual traits, virtues or dispositions: Standard Ten: Fairmindedness
Standard Eleven: Intellectual humility
Standard Twelve: Intellectual courage
Standard Thirteen: Intellectual empathy
Standard Fourteen: Intellectual integrity
Standard Fifteen: Intellectual perseverance
Standard Sixteen: Confidence in reason
Standard Seventeen: Intellectual Autonomy
Section Four: Competencies dealing with the barriers to the development of rational thought
Standard Eighteen: Insight into egocentric thought
Standard Nineteen: Insight into sociocentric thought
Section Five: Competencies focusing on critical thinking skills essential to learning
Standard Twenty: Skills in the art of studying and learning
Standard Twenty-one: Skills in the art of asking essential questions
Standard Twenty-two: Skills in the art of close reading
Standard Twenty-three: Skills in the art of substantive writing
Section Six: Competencies focusing on specific domains of thought (two examples): Standard Twenty-four: Ethical reasoning abilities
Standard Twenty-five: Skills in detecting media bias and propaganda in National and World news
Appendix: Critical thinking theory underlying the competencies: All thinking can be analyzed by identifying its eight elements
All thinking must assessed for quality using universal intellectual standards
Ultimate goal of critical thinking is to foster the development of intellectual traits or dispositions (and the skills and abilities they presuppose.)
Egocentric and sociocentric thinking, natural predispositions of the mind and powerful barriers to the development of thinking
Deepening your understanding of the critical thinking competencies.
