Online Class: Critical Thinking Skills

Delve into the interplay of critical analysis and creative ideation with this course, which equips learners with the tools for precise logical reasoning and imaginative problem-solving. By examining personal and collective thought processes, participants gain transformative skills essential for informed decisions and innovative contributions.

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$120.00 (with CEU Certificate)
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  • 12
    Lessons
  • 18
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 2,576
    Students
    have taken this course
  • 5
    Hours
    average time
  • 0.5
    CEUs
 
 
 

Course Description

Unlocking the Power of the Mind: Navigating Critical & Creative Thought

The realm of thought is vast, complex, and intriguing. Each one of us has the inherent capacity to think, yet the quality and depth of our thoughts can vary immensely. Welcome to our course, where we delve into the intricate dance between critical and creative thinking, setting the stage for you to elevate your cognitive prowess and harness the full potential of your mind.

Dive Deep into Thought Patterns:
Our journey begins with understanding the core of critical thinking — a process that demands clarity, depth, logic, and precision. Imagine weaving through patterns of information, seamlessly connecting them, to either solve intricate puzzles, decipher complex concepts, or birth innovative ideas. By probing the foundations of viewpoints, the biases and data that shape them, we illuminate the path to rational, informed decision-making.

The Dual Faces of Thought:
While individual thinking offers introspection and personal insight, group-based thinking harnesses collective intelligence. Both come with their unique advantages and challenges. Through engaging modules, discover how to extract value from both paradigms while navigating their potential pitfalls. Moreover, our sessions on strategic and scenario planning arm you with tools to forecast, strategize, and create future roadmaps.

Fostering Creativity:
Creativity isn’t just about art or innovation. It's about envisioning possibilities, connecting disparate dots, and curating solutions. Learn what fuels creativity, the wonders it can weave, and practical strategies to nurture it within you.

The Pitfalls of Modern Education:
While modern education has empowered us with vast knowledge, there's a missing piece – the art of critical thinking. Traditional schooling often emphasizes memorization over true understanding, leaving us ill-equipped to apply knowledge pragmatically. Our course seeks to bridge this gap, introducing you to techniques that move beyond rote learning to stimulate analytical and logical reasoning.

Why This Course Matters:
In today’s world, where misinformation can spread rapidly and decisions carry significant consequences, critical thinking is not just a skill – it's a necessity. It's what differentiates a passive receiver of information from an active, discerning participant in discourse. Whether you aim to enhance personal decision-making, elevate your professional contributions, or emerge as a more dynamic leader, mastering critical thinking is pivotal.

To draw from an analogy, possessing knowledge without the ability to critically assess it is akin to owning a treasure chest but lacking the key to unlock it. Knowledge becomes transformative only when paired with astute thought processes.

Your Gateway to Advanced Thought:
While this course establishes a robust foundation in critical and creative thinking, it's also your springboard to more advanced explorations. It's crafted for beginners, ensuring they're well-equipped to delve into more profound literature and courses in the future.

In essence, "Unlocking the Power of the Mind" is more than a course; it's an odyssey into the depths of human cognition. Join us, as we chart a course through the mesmerizing maze of the mind, empowering you to think, reflect, and innovate like never before.

  • Completely Online
  • Self-Paced
  • Printable Lessons
  • Full HD Video  
  • 6 Months to Complete
  • 24/7 Availability
  • Start Anytime
  • PC & Mac Compatible
  • Android & iOS Friendly
  • Accredited CEUs
Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider
 
 

Course Lessons

Average Lesson Rating:
4.5 / 5 Stars (Average Rating)
"Extraordinarily Helpful"
(950 votes)
  • Lesson 1. Navigating Reality: Critical Thinking in Action

    Despite its importance, critical thinking skills are often underdeveloped due to traditional education's focus on memorization rather than deep analysis. Implementing critical thinking fosters better decision-making, protection against biases, and improved logical reasoning skills.
  • Lesson 2. Reasoning Skills: Unlocking New Approaches to Challenges

    Executive skills act as conductors within the reasoning process by guiding creative problem-solving, thoughtful elaboration, and impactful communication. They underpin the art of argument construction, allowing one to evaluate premises and conclusions for logical strength and coherence.
  • Lesson 3. The Art and Science of Clear Writing and Critical Thought

    Critical writing thrives on intellectual standards such as accuracy and relevance, paired with reflective self-assessment, which sharpens the purpose and precision of conveyed ideas. Such writing marries objective analysis with personal insight, enriching discourse.
  • Lesson 4. Persuasion Unveiled: Artistry in Argumentation

    Understanding the audience's preferences for logic or emotion is key to crafting a compelling argument, as different groups resonate with varied appeals. Effective persuasion respects diverse viewpoints, acknowledging and addressing counterarguments while using balanced emotional and logical appeals to stimulate action or thought.
  • Lesson 5. Mastering Inductive Arguments: Strength, Cogency, and Applications

    Emulating the scientific method, inductive reasoning observes, hypothesizes, experiments, and concludes, as seen in biologists generalizing bird migration patterns or epidemiologists studying disease outbreaks. This approach remains flexible yet insightful, bridging gaps between observation and understanding.
  • Lesson 6. Navigating Through Logic: The Art of Logical and Moral Reasoning

    Decision-making is enhanced by satisficing, a practical approach that balances effectiveness and efficiency by opting for satisfactory solutions amidst information overload. Logical fallacies such as ad hominem attacks and circular reasoning underscore the importance of critical thinking to maintain debate integrity and foster deeper understanding.
  • Lesson 7. Innovation Leadership for a VUCA World

    This lesson emphasizes the significance of cultivating critical thinking and creativity within teams, presenting strategies such as cross-department collaboration and play-driven innovation as essential to tackling a VUCA world. Through examples like Tesla and Google, it highlights how innovation and adaptable strategies lead to lasting success.
  • Lesson 8. Embracing Creativity: A Guide to Problem Solving and Idea Generation in Today's World

    Creativity can be fostered by integrating diverse methods such as engaging downtime, embracing new activities, and welcoming humor to maintain an adaptive, innovative mindset. Creating lessons from failures and using techniques like mind maps can offer fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to everyday problems.
  • Lesson 9. Empowerment and Insight Through Decision-Making

    Decision-making is a systematic process crucial in leadership where issues are addressed through defined steps to ensure well-reasoned, applicable outcomes; apply these steps to approach complex situations with clarity and confidence.
  • Lesson 10. The Art and Science of Team-Based Critical Thinking

    Effective team dynamics lead to impressive problem-solving capabilities; however, they also face challenges like conflicts from miscommunication, which can be mitigated by clear roles and open dialogue. Strategic communication and defined objectives, as shown in examples, enhance team efficacy and individual empowerment.
  • Lesson 11. Mastering the Craft of Scenario Planning

    Scenario planning dismantles the reliance on stable forecasts by speculating on diverse future outcomes with well-researched what-if scenarios. It broadens the strategic horizon, allowing companies to pivot seamlessly in response to shifts in their contextual, industrial, and organizational environments.
  • Lesson 12. Mastering Your Thinking Skills: A Guide to Growth

    Real-world application of critical and creative thinking encompasses reflecting on personal life events, such as overcoming career challenges or refining collaboration skills, offering tailored insights into one's growth journey. Through this reflection, individuals enhance their self-awareness while using experiences to bolster strengths and address areas needing development.
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Analyze and apply the dual-process theory of cognitive function (System 1 and System 2) to identify when to leverage fast, intuitive thinking and when to apply deliberate, analytical thought in complex situations.
  • Define critical thinking and illustrate its importance with real-world examples of effective decision-making and problem-solving.
  • Define the four major categories of reasoning skills: storage skills, retrieval skills, matching and categorical skills, and execution skills.
  • Evaluate the validity of an argument by identifying its conclusion, all premises, implicit premises, and applying the Charity Principle.
  • Evaluate the role of critical thinking in effective writing by examining various perspectives and comparing evidence in order to support coherent conclusions.
  • Demonstrate the ability to formulate clear and logical arguments by identifying irrelevant, biased, or contradictory information in a given text.
  • Define the core principles of persuasive writing by identifying the role of audience analysis, respect, and empathy in crafting effective arguments.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of balancing logical and emotional appeals in persuasive communication, applying appropriate techniques to influence diverse audience types.
  • Define the four main types of inductive arguments, explaining their characteristics and uses: generalizations, analogical, causal, and abductive arguments.
  • Evaluate the strength of an inductive argument by assessing its premises' truthfulness and the logical support for the conclusion, demonstrating the process with a real-world example.
  • Analyze moral and aesthetic reasoning to critically assess ethical dilemmas and art value, demonstrating understanding through real-world examples.
  • Define and apply syllogistic reasoning to evaluate logical arguments by constructing valid conclusions from given premises.
  • Demonstrate the ability to integrate critical thinking and creativity in problem-solving within a team setting by generating innovative solutions to presented challenges
  • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
 

Additional Course Information

Online CEU Certificate
  • Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
  • Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
  • Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
  • View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
  • Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media
Document Your CEUs on Your Resume
 
Course Title: Critical Thinking Skills
Course Number: 8900333
Lessons Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars (950 votes)
Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries
Availability: This course is fully available online in all 50 states, including California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, and Georgia. It’s also offered in major English-speaking countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Ireland.
Last Updated: December 2023
CEU Value: 0.5 IACET CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
CE Accreditation: Universal Class, Inc. has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
Grading Policy: Earn a final grade of 70% or higher to receive an online/downloadable CEU Certification documenting CEUs earned.
Course Type: Self-Paced, Online Classes
Assessment Method: Lesson assignments and review exams
Proctor: UniversalClass Instructional Team
Syllabus: View Syllabus
Course Fee: $120.00 U.S. dollars

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Student Testimonials

  • "The course caused me to think about the subject, realizing that critical thinking is a changing field, it seems, with various aspects of it applicable to different scenarios." -- Richard E.
  • "This was very helpful and more challenging than I expected. Took me several months to complete because my job is demanding and this forced me to focus and retain - which is good. Thank you." -- Almira D.
  • "Very helpful. I feel more confident approaching anything coming at me knowing that taking the time to do critical thinking is an important step before making any decision." -- Wendy L.
  • "This course was great. Thank you for its development." -- Kolleen D.
  • "Great course. Thank you." -- Jay M.
  • "It was marvelous!" -- Cesar P.

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