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Critical and Creative Thinking

LTC Timothy Boulay

Main Teaching Points: Organizational leaders must think critically to solve

problems effectively Critical thinking follows a formal, patterned process and

can be learned Creative thinking provides multiple options for solving

problems Experience and judgment can shorten the decision

making cycle 2

Big Idea: Mastering the elements of effective critical thinking and developing creative thinking skills will improve your ability to make effective decisions and solve problems

Concrete Experience

Critical thinking Creative thinking Decision-making Problem solving Leadership

Come up with a drawing that illustrates

the relationship between the terms 4/25/2016 Integrity - Service - Innovation 3

Terms

How do you define creative thinking?

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The ability to develop something new and useful. The ability to stimulate new ideas and thoughts or divergent thinking. Creative thinking involves creating something new or original.

How do you define problem-solving

How do you define decision-making?

A systemic approach to resolving a situation that prevents you from achieving your end-state.

The cognitive process of making choices to reach a conclusion to apply to a problem.

Terms

What is the difference between critical thinking and reflection?

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Reflection is an important element of critical thinking. However, reflection can be retrospective or forward thinking.

Reflection or reflective thinking is a process of analyzing and making judgments about what has happened.

Learners control their thinking by actively participating in reflective thinking by assessing: what they know; what they need to know; and how to bridge the gap between the two.

What is Critical Thinking?

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“Critical thinking is purposeful and reflective judgment about what to believe or what to do in response to observations, experience, verbal or written expressions, or arguments.” (ARMY DOCTRINE and TRAINING PUBLICATIONS 5-0,

para. 1-40)

What is Reflection?

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Reflection means looking back at some activity or a decision and providing meaning for the leader. It is a sense making activity. Reflection assists the leader in connecting experiences and achieving a deeper understanding of the relationships between each experience and other ideas. This connection achieved through reflection, makes learning and improving possible. Without reflecting on past experiences it is difficult for leaders to improve. Carol Rodgers, Defining Reflection: Another Look at John Dewey and Reflective Thinking.

Adapted from : “Defining Reflection: Another Look at John Dewey and Reflective Thinking”, by Carol Rodgers

Is a systemic, rigorous, disciplined way of thinking with roots in scientific inquiry

Needs community and interaction with others—collaborative

Requires attitudes that value the personal and intellectual growth of oneself and others--Lifelong learning

Four criteria of John Dewey's Concept of Reflection

What do you think?

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“It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in an

argument.”

Williams Gibb McAdoo

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to answer a question or

solve a problem.

we draw inferences and conclusions;

which are based on assumptions

from a point of view.

Elements of

Reasoning

Taking thinking apart . . .

after Richard Paul

We use information;

we examine concepts and theories

having implications and consequences

We reason for a purpose

Paradigms Generally accepted models or patterns that define how we see the world working. They have repeated validation and are accepted as “conventional wisdom.” They may be rooted in doctrine or tradition and are often reinforced by ideology and dogmatic belief systems. Many paradigms are rooted in cultural background and are not visible to the owner of the paradigm. They are normally only re-examined after a significant emotional event.

Adopted from Thomas Kuhn The Structure of Scientific Revolution, 1962.

A mental model is 16

Mental models are deeply ingrained images, pictures or assumptions of how we see the world and how we take action. They affect how we see our world, influence our viewpoint and inform the actions we take in response to the information we bring in. Often individuals are not aware of mental models and how the model affect their actions.

(Senge ,The Fifth Discipline, Page 8)

Mental Models

Models Models are concrete representations of abstract ideas and often serve as formulas or prescriptions for problem solving or decision-making. We use models to simplify complex realities. We use models to conceptualize ideas, identify relationships, test hypothesis and assumptions and to promote understanding. However, models can have a downside. Models can inhibit critical thinking. Models might be too simplistic for the problem at hand or not be appropriate for the problem you are trying to solve.

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Intellectual Standards

Testing the quality of

your thinking. . .

after Richard Paul

- Clarity - Accuracy - Precision - Relevance - Depth - Breadth - Logic - Significance - Fairness

A good start…

What

standards might you

add for your discipline?

We reason for a purpose

and from a point of view

which is based on assumptions

having implications and consequences.

We use information;

we draw inferences and conclusions;

to answer a question

or solve a problem.

we examine

concepts and

theories

Elements of Thought

Paul & Elder

- Clarity - Accuracy - Precision - Relevance - Depth - Breadth - Logic - Significance - Fairness

Intellectual Standards

Testing the quality of your thinking. . .

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Intellectual Traits or Virtues

Fair-mindedness Paul and Elder

“Hypocrisy”

“Arrogance”

“Distrust of Reason”

“Laziness”

“Unfairness”

“Cowardice”

“Narrow- mindedness”

“Conformity”

Paul-Elder Critical Thinking Process

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Intellectual Standards

Clarity Breadth Accuracy Logic Precision Significance Relevance Fairness Depth

Purpose Conclusions Questions Concepts Points of View Implications Information Assumptions

Elements of Thought

Intellectual Traits

Humility Perseverance Autonomy Empathy Fair Mindedness Integrity Courage Confidence in Reasoning

Must be applied to

To Develop

The Quality of our

thinking

The Thoroughness

of our thinking

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Creative Questioning

The mere formulation of a problem is far more often essential than its solution, which may be merely a matter of mathematical or experimental skill. To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle requires creative imagination and marks real advances in science.

-- Albert Einstein

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Understand cognitive differences in your

team

“Putting your Whole Company’s Brain to Work”

Depersonalize conflict

“Putting your Whole Companies' Brain to Work” by Leonard and Strauss

Lead and capitalize on creative abrasion

Understand yourself

Forget the golden rule

Look for the ugly duckling

Manage the Creative process

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The hard work of

creativity

…creativity is not magic and there is no such thing as the creative type

“How Creativity Works” by Jonah Lehrer

Connecting things

The moment of insight

The epiphany from relaxation

Setting the conditions through climate

The role of experience

Social network diversity

Technical transfers through experience

Setting the conditions through physical

structure

Where Good Ideas Come From

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NugRZGDbPFU

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Dum Dum Lollipops

Company was invented/ founded 1924 Dum Dums was purchased by Spangler Candy in 1953.

There were 7 original flavors: lemon, lime, orange, coconut-pineapple, cherry, grape, and butterscotch.

Dum Dums are made in sixteen flavors with new flavors rotating into the mix every so often. The Mystery Flavor continuously changes and according to Spangler Candy Company, the mystery flavor is not limited to the current Dum Dums flavor mix.

2001 Mystery Flavor added

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Building a Mystery

Some Dum Dums have wrappers with question marks where the flavor is normally printed. This was a marketing idea that made the production process run more smoothly and made eating Dum Dums more fun.

The Mystery Flavor pop is a mixture of two flavors that come together when the end of one batch of candy meets the beginning of the next batch.

Rather than shutting down to clean out the candy equipment between flavors, Spangler turned lemons into lemonade and made pops out of the combination of flavors – the tail end of the old, and the beginning of the new. The candy lines keep running continuously, and the Mystery Flavor pops are a surprise treat every time.

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Questions?

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