Critical Thinking Training

Critical Thinking Training

A recent workshop that I attended on the subject of IT problem solving asked me to think about what my definition of critical thinking was. At the end of the workshop, the instructor said that his definition of critical thinking was this: The ability to quickly and efficiently identify problem areas and generate constructive solutions to these problems. His definition of critical thinking also included an evaluation of one’s capacity to creatively solve problems through the use of IT problem solving techniques. He also stated that critical thinking should be used to build team spirit within the organization as well as contribute to organizational growth.

In planning the master’s degree program in strategic management I took the critical thinking training course as a part of the selection process. The ability to quickly and efficiently identify problem areas and to present constructive solutions to them is a fundamental skill for survival in the information age. In this two day workshop, you will receive some practical application for your critical thinking skills as well as some useful tools to enhance your critical thinking skills.

During the first day of the workshop, we had a series of basic case studies that presented some of the many challenges of modern life. We then moved on to teaching critical thinking skills by conducting individualized case studies in which the participants were required to identify both the cause and solution to a problem. We concluded with an integrative case study that brought together the theoretical and practical elements of our course. Throughout the day, we discussed the difference between teaching critical thinking skills in an integrative manner and teaching Analytical skills in the same way. We hoped to create a balance in the delivery of our course.

On the second day, we conducted case studies that presented multiple problem scenarios and asked the participants to make a decision based on their analysis of the information available. The concept for this workshop was to expose students to the creative process of critical thinking in a hands on manner. A critical thinking skills workshop does not have to be a classroom focused; the flexibility of an online workshop allows us to tailor the delivery of the curriculum based upon our student’s schedule. During the entire day, we used the PowerPoint presentations and case study exercise to engage the participants in problem solving activities.

At the end of the day, we held a discussion to determine how well each of the students had developed their critical thinking skills. There were several outstanding students who really understood the concepts presented to them and applied the concepts in their own lives. A few of them were able to apply the information learned to their own lives. These are the critical thinkers that we need in the business world, because they can not only solve problems, but they can bring enjoyment to others as well.

Our experience was very rewarding. The PowerPoint presentations were very powerful and the case studies provided additional examples of how critical thinking can make us happier, more productive and have a positive impact on the world around us. The students that took the time to attend the workshop really got a leg up on other potential learners, because they were introduced to the essential tools and strategies for problem solving through critical thinking. We were very excited to see the growth that these students experienced.

I continue to use the PowerPoint presentations that I made with the group, to help my team improve in their everyday problems, by helping them learn how to put together a better analytical skills set. When you teach your team critical thinking, your entire organization benefits. In the training sessions that we attended, the coach usually would ask if anyone had any questions, so that the instructor could address any issues that were brought up. It was really impressive to see how much participation the participants had in the training sessions.

As a leader, it is extremely important to empower your people to take responsibility for their actions, even when they may not know how to solve a particular problem. When people feel empowered to take responsibility for their own actions, they often do amazing things. As a result, your employees will be much more productive and happy, and that will definitely have an impact on the bottom line. When your employees are happy, they are going to want to go out and find the best solutions to every problem. This is what happens when you have a group of critical thinkers in an organization; they are always going to find new ways to make things work and will be a positive force for success.