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How to Develop a 21st Century Critical Thinker
Published on 2013-06-07 10:37:04
We love this graphic created by Mentoring Minds. It not only creates a path to developing critical thinking skills in students, but it also shows how concepts like Open-Mindedness and Reflection relate to critical thinking. What do you think? How d
75 Tips and Resources to Increase Your Memory Capacity
Published on 2013-05-20 08:54:42
Many people expect increasing memory loss as they age, but this memory loss can be reduced or stalled with some simple memorization techniques, physical exercise, and a reduction of stress.
Creative Thinking: Tattoos for Employee Pay Raises?
Published on 2013-05-02 13:53:13
Would you get a tattoo of your employer’s brand logo in exchange for a 15% pay raise? That’s what Rapid Realty of NYC has offered its employees and 40 employees have taken advantage of the offer. I find the idea fascinating. Most people
New Webcast: Developing Critical Thinkers in Organizations
Published on 2013-04-26 14:48:12
New Webcast offered through HCI.org.
How to Answer the Toughest Interview Question
Published on 2013-04-05 10:22:11
What is the toughest interview question you’ve ever answered? When I worked as a recruiter, the one question people seemed to struggle with the most was “Tell me about a time when you made a mistake. What happened? How did you handle
The One Skill Your Employees Need
Published on 2013-03-28 11:22:44
What is the one skill that your employees must have in order to be successful? A recent article in TechVibes said the #1 skill for employees in a start-up company is the ability to think. The article is really great, but I would argue that the abil
The Sports Illustrated Curse, March Madness, and Critical Thinking
Published on 2013-03-20 11:54:40
Any time you hear that something has been cursed or jinxed, your critical thinking antenna should pop up. As March Madness kicks off this week, I have been reminded of the Sports Illustrated Cover Curse a few times already. Have you heard of this
New Study: Employers Rate Their Employees’ Critical Thinking Skills as Only Average
Published on 2013-02-22 11:21:34
The American Management Association just released their 2012 Critical Skills Survey which surveyed over 700 managers and executives regarding the importance of the 4 C’s (Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity) in the w
Strategic Thinking Activity: Disaster Preparedness
Published on 2013-02-08 11:57:01
As an ominous winter storm approaches the East coast today, disaster preparedness and strategic thinking are on my mind. Are you prepared for the worst case scenario? On a scale of 1-10, how ready are you for a natural disaster, home fire, disrupti
Creative Thinking: The Evolution of the American Girl Doll
Published on 2013-01-28 11:28:25
To remain a successful company, both your product lines and marketing style must evolve to meet the changing needs of your customer base. Sometimes, though, when creative thinking and critical thinking combine, that evolution requires you to revers
New Webinar: Learn Your Thinking Styles
Published on 2013-01-22 12:31:28
What are Thinking Styles and why do they matter? Find out in this webinar hosted by The Brandon Hall Group. The 21st Century Mindset: Unlock Critical Thinking to Unleash Organizational Performance Tuesday, January 29, 2013 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT
Top Critical Thinking Blog Posts of 2012
Published on 2012-12-31 12:03:30
It’s New Year’s Eve and you’re probably spending some time reflecting on 2012 and planning resolutions for 2013. We are reflecting today on the top posts we published this year. Our resolution is to bring you even more great cri
Top Skills for the Most In-Demand Jobs in 2013
Published on 2012-12-12 10:18:11
Forbes recently analyzed data from both Careerbuilder and O*Net (the Nation’s online database of occupations and necessary skills) in order to identify which jobs/occupations will be highly in-demand in 2013. This week they went a step furthe
Psychology Experiment or Critical Thinking Failure?
Published on 2012-11-28 12:51:57
Watch this short video from Jimmy Kimmel as he asks people if they can tell the difference in the quality of coffee during a taste test. The results are amusing, but also disturbing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxlGI4OzeBk
70 Great Critical Thinking Questions
Published on 2012-11-19 13:14:58
In each step of the RED Model of Critical Thinking, the key is to ask questions. Asking questions helps us look more deeply at the issue, break it into parts, find blind spots and lack of data, and make the best choice. Here are 70 questions to h
Need to Think? Go Outside
Published on 2012-10-23 15:33:16
Where do you do your best thinking? While taking a shower? While driving? Or maybe you do you best thinking while relaxing before bed. Have you ever said “I need to talk a walk to clear my head”? Based on a new study, there may be some science to support the idea that you do [...]
Predicting Job and Academic Success with Watson-Glaser
Published on 2012-10-16 10:10:16
Guest Post by Chad Fife Many studies show a positive relationship between Watson-Glaser scores and various job and academic success criteria. I’ll highlight a few. Organizational Success: In one study, Pearson found that for 2,303 job incumbents across 9 industry categories, Watson-Glaser scores correlated .33 with job success as indicated by organizational level achieved. This means a [...]
Critical Thinking and the Presidential Election
Published on 2012-10-11 18:12:13
Every day we are presented with many opportunities to sharpen our critical thinking skills, but every four years we get a unique opportunity during the Presidential Election. During the Presidential Debates, we are presented with tons of statistics, interpretations, assumptions, political rhetoric, appeal to emotion, and spin. There is also no shortage of political ads, [...]
Overheard: Critical Thinking and Soft Skills #1 Need in Financial Professions
Published on 2012-10-11 18:04:42
In a Grant Thornton survey, 55% of overall respondents indicated that lack of soft skills — communication, critical thinking, and problem solving abilities — posed the most significant challenge in recruiting seasoned accounting professionals. The report said today’s accountants need better soft skills and critical thinking to relate accounting rules to real-world scenarios and apply [...]
Critical Thinking Infographic
Published on 2012-10-05 15:34:03
Why does Critical Thinking matter? This infographic helps explain the topic.
When You Make the Wrong Call
Published on 2012-09-25 13:51:32
If you didn’t witness it firsthand last night then by now you’ve probably heard about the NFL referee fiasco from the Seattle Seahawks vs. Green Bay Packers game on Monday Night Football. You can see what happened for yourself here. Unless you’re the Seattle Seahawks, then you likely agree that this was a bad call [...]
Brain Teaser of the Day
Published on 2012-09-12 15:16:03
Keep your mind sharp! Try this brain challenge and tell us how many squares you see in the image below.
3 Mindfulness Approaches for Busy People
Published on 2012-09-07 09:44:23
Guest post by David Shindler of www.employabilitycoaching.co.uk Is your mind too full of stuff at the moment? Are you on auto-pilot engaging in mindless activity causing you stress with the potential for burnout? Many of us have become increasingly dependent on technology and are living with greater uncertainty in our lives. Busy, yes, but what [...]
Critical Thinking Through Spin and Statistics
Published on 2012-08-27 08:11:56
I can remember the exact moment when my distrust of commercials began. I was 10 years old and was obsessed with a new toy on the market called the “Magic Copier.” I thought it was genius. I could make copies of all of my very important drawings just like the Xerox machine that adults used. [...]
New Webinar- When an Employee Leaves: How Much Knowledge Just Walked Out the Door?
Published on 2012-08-24 13:46:00
Check out the latest webinar sponsored by Pearson Learning Solutions. Companies have many different forms of assets, but perhaps the most valuable asset is the knowledge and experience the employees bring to the table. It is crucial that you help grow your employees and incent them to stay with the organization, but turnover is inevitable. [...]
You Only See What You Are Willing to See
Published on 2012-08-22 08:03:51
Have you ever watched the TV show Ancient Aliens on the History Channel? It’s a fantastic and highly entertaining example of confirmation bias. The premise of the show is that many historical events, advances in technology, and ancient structures are evidence that extraterrestrials have visited and influenced events on Earth. The show speculates that everything [...]
Raising Little Critical Thinkers
Published on 2012-08-17 12:05:07
This morning at breakfast, my little Gabe saw me eating a banana (my food of choice each morning – nature’s treat). After a spoonful of his favorite cereal (and mine — Marshmallow Mateys), he said this: “Dad, you always eat bananas. Monkeys eat bananas. You are a monkey!” While his logic may not get him [...]
Pearson Receives Top 20 Rank in TrainingIndustry.com’s Content Development Companies
Published on 2012-08-16 09:20:31
Recently, Pearson was named a Top Training Company by TrainingIndustry.com. Specifically, Pearson was ranked in the Top 20 organizations for Content Development. This is a very prestigious award and great recognition for the custom training content Pearson creates and delivers to organizations worldwide. The award also speaks to the overall mission of Pearson which (as [...]
Stop and Think; Change the Rules
Published on 2012-08-15 17:22:26
Last week I talked about how I think the most difficult step in Critical Thinking is the first one: Stop and Think. Today I spotted a funny picture that illustrates how often we make decisions without thinking through the consequences and stick with those same decisions because “that’s the way it’s always been done.” Here is [...]
The Latest in Critical Thinking eLearning- Demo the Critical Thinking University Now!
Published on 2012-08-13 13:46:50
Do you want to offer Critical Thinking training to your employees, but don’t have the time or resources to develop the program yourself? Then the Critical Thinking University might be the perfect solution for your training needs! Set up a time to demo this critical thinking eLearning program now! This powerful online portal gives everyone [...]
Take the New York Times Critical Thinking Challenge
Published on 2012-08-03 15:12:35
This week the New York Times released a fun new feature that tests your critical thinking skills. It’s called Test Yourself and so far they’ve posted 4 challenge questions. Here are links to the first 4 questions: http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/new-feature-test-yourself-critical-thinking/ http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/31/test-yourself-critical-thinking-july-31-2012/ http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/test-yourself-critical-thinking-aug-1-2012/ ht [..]
What is the Toughest Step in Critical Thinking?
Published on 2012-08-02 07:41:59
No one ever said critical thinking is easy. It takes work. Hard work. It takes a conscious effort to improve the way you naturally think. But what is the toughest step in critical thinking? Is it recognizing assumptions? What about evaluating the credibility of a source or relevance of an argument? And let’s not forget [...]
What’s Your Thinking Style? Join This Free Webcast to Find Out!
Published on 2012-08-01 14:08:51
Pearson TalentLens would like to offer you an exciting development opportunity on August 7th! Thinking styles are behaviors and positive habits that promote thinking clearly. We all use a variety of thinking styles in our daily lives, but we tend to favor some but rarely use others—and that hurts our ability to make good decisions. My [...]
Free Development Opportunity for Corporate Learning & Development Executives
Published on 2012-07-25 12:48:40
Every so often we are contacted by organizations offering conferences or other training opportunities for Learning and Development professionals. Today, we are very excited to tell you about an opportunity to attend Corporate Learning & Development Executives One2One. Click here to see if you qualify, because if qualified and approved, you could receive full registration, [...]
Do Thinking Styles Matter?
Published on 2012-07-10 13:15:17
How often are you in a decision-making or problem-solving meeting with your team and say to yourself “What is this guy thinking?” We’ve all been there. The next step seems so clear to you, but one person seems to be asking all the “wrong” questions or pushing the discussion further away from a resolution. The [...]
Avoiding Bad Decisions and Over-Thinking
Published on 2012-07-05 16:44:28
I’m amazed and saddened how a single bad decision can override a lifetime of good ones. One sad story of bad decision-making is Joe Paterno (and Penn State’s AD Tim Curley). I enjoyed watching JoPa coach at Penn State. His teams were great on & off the field and seeing a “white-out” in their stands [...]
Critical Thinking University- 20% Off Through June 29th
Published on 2012-06-25 11:52:11
Have you heard of TalentLens’ newest critical thinking training product? It’s the Critical Thinking University, an online learning portal specifically devoted to improving your problem solving, decision making, and critical thinking skills. And through June 29th, 2012 you can receive over 20% off of all new licenses ($127/per person/per year- originally $159/per person/per year). This [...]
The Role of Emotions in Critical Thinking
Published on 2012-06-21 08:07:17
Guest post by Dr. Judy Chartrand Have you ever jumped to a decision just to get it over with…. to relieve the frustration or tension you were feeling? For most of us, the unfortunate answer is yes. Feelings certainly impact our thinking and our actions. I facilitate critical thinking training sessions, and invariably this question [...]
The Art of Problem Solving Under Pressure
Published on 2012-06-19 07:31:24
Last week I was in San Antonio participating in the brand new THINK Now! Critical Thinking Training program, and was supposed to have a nice short flight home on Friday morning. However, my 2 1/2 hour travel day turned in to 11 hours of sitting and waiting while a mechanical issue on my plane was addressed. [...]
Don’t Like the Statistics? Change the Measurement Model
Published on 2012-06-12 16:29:43
Why do you need to build and exercise your critical thinking skills? As this short clip from The Colbert Report shows, every statistic can be manipulated to support a person’s agenda. When you read a report or article that includes supposedly unbiased/concrete statistics, look deeper to understand the measurement model. You may be surprised by [...]
Want Better Thinkers in Your Organization? Take the Spelling Bee Approach
Published on 2012-05-31 19:43:38
Tonight on ESPN you can see some phenomenal examples of critical thinking in action. No, I’m not talking about the NBA Finals or preparation for the Draft. I’m talking about the 85th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee competition. These 6 to 15 year olds can run critical thinking circles around some adults. Why? Because when [...]
New Webinar: Understand Your Thinking Style to Unlock Better Critical Thinking
Published on 2012-05-18 13:20:16
Unlock the Combination to Better Thinking With My Thinking Styles™ May 23, 2012 at 3:00 PM Eastern HCI and Pearson TalentLens have joined forces to give you an exciting development opportunity, free of charge! We all use a variety of thinking styles in our daily lives, but we tend to favor some but rarely use [...]
How Can You Train Better Decision Making and Problem Anticipation?
Published on 2012-05-03 10:03:50
Every day we are forced to make choices. Paper or plastic? Regular or diet soda? Venti White Chocolate Mocha with Vanilla or the non-fat Soy Latte at Starbucks? Buy or rent? Post your resume or stay with your employer? When we are given choices that will result in serious impact on our business, we need [...]
Meet the Authors of Now You’re Thinking! at ASTD #astd2012
Published on 2012-05-02 08:00:33
Next week the authors of Now You’re Thinking! (an Amazon.com Bestseller) will be at the American Society for Training & Development’s International conference in Denver. Judy Chartrand, Heather Ishikawa and John Maketa will be in Pearson TalentLens‘ booth (#1134) signing books and taking pictures with attendees. Be sure to stop by and get a FREE [...]
Help Wanted: Need Good Decision-Making Skills
Published on 2012-04-18 08:49:13
Job ads are interesting. I’m sure you’ve seen an ad like this: Requirements: 3 to 5 years experience in the field Strong interpersonal and communication skills Excellent analytical and decision-making abilities Ability to manage multiple tasks to completion within deadlines Detail oriented
Register Now: Critical Thinking Boot Camp- New York City- June 5th-6th
Published on 2012-04-17 08:16:06
The New York Institute of Finance (in conjunction with Executive Development Associates and Pearson TalentLens) is hosting a Critical Thinking Boot Camp in New York City on June 5th and 6th. This Critical Thinking Boot Camp is open to the general public and costs $1,595 per person. Seats are limited, and to register click here. Here is an overview of [...]
Critical Thinking in the Classroom: Turn Liberty Middle School’s Fail into a WIN
Published on 2012-03-23 07:00:04
This week, an 8th grade civics teacher at Liberty Middle School in Fairfax County, VA has come under fire for assigning his students a political research project. What could possibly be wrong with a civics teacher assigning a research project, you ask? Well, students were divided into 4 groups and were each assigned a GOP [...]
6 Ways to Improve Your Company’s Performance With Watson-Glaser
Published on 2012-03-22 07:52:36
Critical thinking is a skill everyone needs. There’s hardly a job or task that doesn’t need it. That’s what makes the Watson-Glaser™ such a versatile ability test. Here are six ways organizations can improve their performance with the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal: Screen applicants for management positions. If you’re hiring a manager in any field [...]
Improve Your Thinking… Improve your Sales
Published on 2012-03-21 07:50:54
We talk a lot about our RED critical thinking model. Here’s how a salesperson could use it in the sales process to win more business! 1) Qualify Your Leads In the beginning, resist making assumptions about the leads you call on (and those you don’t). Have you not called a prospect because you heard they [...]
Homeless HotSpots: Innovative or Disgraceful?
Published on 2012-03-13 13:32:39
If you’re a techie, social media guru, or music/film geek, you are probably in Austin, TX this week for SXSW (pronounced South by Southwest). SXSW has become known as the launch pad for some of the most popular social media platforms used today including Twitter and Foursquare. However, the buzz coming out of SXSW today [...]
Contest: Can Your Child Describe Critical Thinking?
Published on 2012-03-08 06:00:34
Meet Kaitlyn- she is 5 years old and the daughter of Heather Ishikawa, co-author of Now You’re Thinking! Kaitlyn often hears her mom talk about adult concepts like critical thinking, brainstorming, assumptions, drawing conclusions, and evaluating information. Even though present day philosophers sometimes have trouble defining these concepts, tonight at bedtime Kaitlyn took a shot [...]
Intelligence Alone Does Not Guarantee Good Critical Thinking
Published on 2012-02-28 07:20:41
Guest Post by John Trent It goes without saying that every manager wants to hire a bright employee. So why not use an assessment that can identify the candidate with the highest intellectual horsepower—a pure measure of cognitive ability? While intellect is an undisputed asset in the workplace, the ability to apply brainpower to make [...]
A Chart of Some Top Critical Thinkers in Modern History
Published on 2012-02-27 07:39:21
What do Sigmund Freud, Henry Ford, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Marie Curie have in common? They were great critical thinkers that all made their mark in history! Here’s a chart of some of the top critical thinkers through history. It’s not comprehensive by any means, but see if you agree! Who else should be on the list?
Upcoming Webcast: Building High Potential and Next Generation Leaders in 2012
Published on 2012-02-24 09:27:35
On March 28th, 2012 at 3pm EDT, Human Capital Institute will host a Webcast delivered by Bonnie Hagemann and Scott Dannemiller entitled: Building High Potential and Next Generation Leaders in 2012: Trends and Hot Topics Bonnie and Scott (of Executive Development Associates) will cover the latest trends in leadership, critical thinking, talent development, training, and [...]
Critical Thinking Boot Camp- New York City- June 5th-6th
Published on 2012-02-24 07:09:30
The New York Institute of Finance (in conjunction with Executive Development Associates and Pearson TalentLens) is hosting a Critical Thinking Boot Camp in New York City on June 5th and 6th. This Critical Thinking Boot Camp is open to the general public and costs $1,595 per person. Seats are limited, and to register click here. [...]
Critical Thinking Does Not Mean One Right Answer
Published on 2012-02-08 10:38:18
A customer recently asked me: “What is the goal of critical thinking?” At first this seemed like an odd question to me until I asked him to elaborate. “Well, if we all think critically then shouldn’t we all arrive at the same answer?” After a bit of thought, I responded that while critical thinking is about holding our thought [...]
Can I Really Improve My Thinking Skills Through a Report?
Published on 2012-02-06 07:18:31
The launch of the Watson-Glaser II marked a significant step for Pearson TalentLens. With more business-specific content and three new reports, it’s our most complete assessment solution. Today I’d like to give you a brief overview of the Development Report (our first report for trainers & coaches). The Watson-Glaser II Development Report provides insight and specific [...]
How to Choose the Best Airline for Your Travel
Published on 2012-01-31 06:42:46
I travel often for work, and have become quite critical of the airlines I choose. Frontier, United, Continental, Southwest, American, Virgin, Delta- each have their own unique advantages and disadvantages. So, how do you choose the right airline for your needs? I suggest using a strategic approach to decision making that I learned at the Critical [...]
Critical Thinking in Nursing
Published on 2012-01-30 08:07:51
Increasingly nurses are dealing with life and death decisions and there’s no doubt that a competent, thorough nurse will help a patient get on the road to recovery faster. Here’s an infographic demonstrating the critical thinking steps a nurse could take to help make an early diagnosis. These are by no means comprehensive, but the steps (from Pearson’s [...]
Wishful Thinking vs. Cynical Thinking: Which is Better?
Published on 2012-01-27 14:25:55
Let’s first start by defining Wishful vs. Cynical Thinking. Wishful Thinking (according to Wikipedia) is the formation of beliefs and making decisions according to what might be pleasing to imagine instead of by appealing to evidence, rationality or reality. Cynical Thinking (which is NOT the same thing as Critical Thinking) is thinking that is predisposed to doubt and lack of [...]
New Study Finds Link Between Critical Thinking and Unemployment
Published on 2012-01-26 10:55:04
In January of 2011 we told you about the new book “Academically Adrift” which followed 2,322 students during their 4 years in college and found that these students are not improving their critical thinking skills. In fact, in the first 2 years, 45% of students showed no improvement in critical thinking skills, and after 4 [...]
Critical Thinking Interview Questions
Published on 2012-01-25 14:12:59
Krishnan Anantharaman from the Wall Street Journal wrote an interesting article about the new trend of asking questions designed to elicit critical thinking abilities in candidates. Initially, I was pleased to hear that recruiters are trying to measure critical thinking ability given the fact that only 28% of college graduates are rated as having excellent critical thinking [...]
Top Jobs for Critical Thinking
Published on 2012-01-24 13:03:07
Not every job requires you to be a great critical thinker, but most do! Of course doctors and judges need above-average critical thinking and problem solving skills, but did you know critical thinking is just as important for archeologists and school counselors? Athletic trainers, sales managers, and real estate appraisers also need to know how [...]
Just Teach Me To Think, Please!
Published on 2012-01-23 10:16:10
One complaint I have about my MBA program is that it felt like a bunch of disconnected courses and assignments that didn’t gel together (at times). I wanted more help “seeing the big picture” that drives success. For example, how companies choose an HR strategy to win talent in their specific industry and why. Or which [...]
Preparing for the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Assessment
Published on 2012-01-20 11:59:28
Are you scheduled to take the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal assessment for training or selection and looking for a practice test? Then I have bad news for you. Because the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal assessment is the most widely known assessment for measuring critical thinking skills and is most often used to select employees, therefore you will [...]
Interview on Critical Thinking
Published on 2011-07-06 02:47:13
Last week PsychCentral published an interview with Diane Halpern (former president of the American Psychological Association). She was asked several questions about the Critical Thinking Process, and here is a sample from the article: What is the g
The Next Great Idea
Published on 2011-07-01 04:15:35
Where will you find your next great idea? Will it be in the conference room? In your cubicle? While flying in a plane? While having coffee with friends? This Ted.com talk might make you think differently about the source of your next great idea
Improve Your Creative Thinking- Write it Down
Published on 2011-06-30 04:24:53
There are many ways to improve your innovative and creative thinking, but one very easy technique is to keep a pad of paper with you at all times. You never know when a great idea will strike, and if you don’t document the idea immediately, y
Practical Wisdom and the Importance of Context
Published on 2011-06-29 01:05:01
What is a wise person? Is she someone who scores in the 99th percentile on the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal? Is he a member of Mensa? Is she a hero whose quick thinking saved a life? Is he a listener? Is she a leader? Barry Schwa
10,000 Hours and the Critical Thinking Challenge
Published on 2011-06-28 12:29:08
If you’ve read Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Outliers” then you’ve heard of the 10,000 hours theory. The basic theory is that to be great at anything requires a huge time dedication- 10,000 hours. Gladwell cites several e
Time and Money: It’s All Relative
Published on 2011-06-27 12:16:09
I am always amazed at how the brain works. We can switch gears and alter our frame of mind in a split second. For instance, Friday morning I wanted to buy an elliptical machine but quickly dismissed the idea because “we don’t have $40
Rock, Paper, Scissors and Critical Thinking
Published on 2011-06-25 08:30:50
Happy Saturday!
The Jump to Conclusions Mat- You Know You Want One!
Published on 2011-06-24 10:09:27
Anyone who has seen the movie Office Space (and if you haven’t, then you need to stop reading this post right now and go rent it) knows about the “Jump to Conclusions mat.” I couldn’t find a clip of the scene, so here is a tra
There is no wrong way to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich…or is there?
Published on 2011-06-23 13:32:25
Guest post from Heather Ishikawa, co-author of Now You’re Thinking! There is no wrong way to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich…or is there? This morning I was showing my son how to make a PB&J so that he could make and take his own
20 Life Lessons My Dad Taught Me
Published on 2011-06-17 07:22:20
Sunday is Father’s day, and while everyone I know is posting pictures of their dad on Facebook, I wanted to go a little bit further and recognize the influence that my dad had on my thinking process. I know I’ve mentioned here before that
Thinking of Launching a Product? Know Your Market’s Needs First
Published on 2011-06-16 11:47:14
As a marketer, I’m always trying to answer the question “Who is my target market and what outcomes/results are they willing to pay for?” It’s easy to get excited about delivering a new product that you yourself are excited about. Or one that
Think You Know Your Market? Think Again.
Published on 2011-06-16 11:47:14
As a marketer, I’m always trying to answer the question “Who is my target market and what outcomes/results are they willing to pay for?” It’s easy to get excited about delivering a new product that you yourself are excited about. Or one that
The Simplest Answer is Usually Correct
Published on 2011-06-15 12:30:11
One day when I was about 5 years old, my mom walked into my room and with a look of shock on her face exclaimed “what happened in here?!” I quickly explained “I know!!! A bomb went off and scattered my toys everywhere, but I was
You Don’t Need a Ph.D. to Think
Published on 2011-06-10 07:47:07
I just signed up for an event that focuses on critical thinking, and just looking at the schedule made me want to slam my head on my desk. I’m even passionate about the topic of critical thinking and I’m already prepared to be bored to
How to Avoid a Political Scandal: Step 1- Critical Thinking
Published on 2011-06-07 00:11:57
I would like to say that this post was inspired by one single politician’s error in judgement, but stories like Rep Anthony Weiner are more of the norm than the exception these days. In fact, we have heard so many scandals about politicians lat
To Find the Problem Ask Why 5 Times
Published on 2011-06-03 08:26:13
The first step in problem solving is defining the problem. While that sounds like a simple task, we often erroneously name a symptom as the root cause. The Root Cause Analysis technique I use most often is the “5 Whys“ (also known as th
Critical Thinking Fail: Police Shoot at Concrete Lawn Alligator
Published on 2011-06-02 14:03:26
When I first heard this story on the local news I laughed. But then as I thought about it more thoroughly, I think this is truly an example of how emotions often override logic. On Sunday, police in Independence, MO received a report that a chi
Critical Decision Points: Thinking and Acting During a Time of Crisis
Published on 2011-06-01 15:48:25
Register now for our new webinar with AMA! Critical Decision Points: Thinking and Acting During a Time of Crisis Date: September 28th, 2011 from 12:00-1:00 PM Eastern Overview A good leader has the ability to make the right decisions during a crisi
The Key to Successful Mind Mapping
Published on 2011-06-01 14:09:46
Great cartoon from 1.00 FTE
Now You’re Thinking- Honoring American Heroes
Published on 2011-05-30 08:36:52
It’s Memorial Day, and I cannot think of a more appropriate time to share the inspiration for the “Now You’re Thinking” book. The first chapter of “Now You’re Thinking” honors the amazing courage, persevera
Hot Topic at ASTD- Just Think About It!
Published on 2011-05-24 14:08:53
I’m at the ASTD Conference in Orlando, FL and everyone is talking about thinking better. How do you think more creatively? Strategically? Reflectively? Logically? It all boils down to thinking better! Everywhere we look, we see signs about
Creative Thinking and the 100 Best Creative Thinkers in Business
Published on 2011-05-19 07:47:13
Fast Company just released their list of The 100 Most Creative People in Business in 2011. Among the winners are Sal Khan, Arianna Huffington, Oprah Winfrey, Tony Hsieh, and Tina Fey. In addition, some of the most innovative companies such as Quo
Is Critical Thinking Dead?
Published on 2011-05-18 17:21:30
Some days I genuinely fear for the human race. No, it’s not because the “Day of Rapture” will supposedly begin this Saturday. It’s because I encounter things that show that we (as a human race) aren’t thinking. Let
Are You Sure You Know Something For Sure?
Published on 2011-05-13 08:12:10
That title sounds like a riddle, right? Maybe it is. What do you know for sure? Is there anything that you confidently know to be true- something so true that you would bet your life on it? In O, Magazine, Oprah answers that question for her read
How Quora Promotes Critical Thinking
Published on 2011-05-12 10:30:26
One characteristic of Critical and Creative Thinkers is that the individual has a wide variety of interests. There are a few things at play here. First, someone with a wide variety of interests likely has a thirst for knowledge and seeks out info
Analytical Thinking: Can It Be a Bad Thing?
Published on 2011-05-10 07:51:24
I came across a blog post recently called “10 Curses of the Analytical Thinker” which questioned whether being an analytical thinker is really a good thing. I found the whole idea interesting and would love to hear your point of view.
Think Twice, Act Once
Published on 2011-05-09 08:20:45
This week my dad is helping me with a woodworking project, so I know I’ll hear some of his favorite catchphrases like “square with the world” and “measure twice, cut once.” It occurred to me that that “measure twic
Critical Thinking eBook Now Available
Published on 2011-05-06 07:48:00
What are your critical thinking questions? Which jobs require critical thinking? Why is critical thinking important? What is critical thinking anyway? What is the RED Model of Critical Thinking? How does critical thinking relate to creativity? How do
The Lost Wallet and Thinking Differently about Social Media
Published on 2011-05-04 10:29:39
I’m always shocked when people tell me they a) don’t have time for social media and b) don’t think it’s that important. I have a million stories about how social media connections have helped me immensely in life. I once w
Critical Thinking: Putting Together the Evidence on Osama bin Laden’s Location
Published on 2011-05-02 11:42:59
Yesterday I wrote a post within an hour of the announcement that Osama bin Laden had been killed. As I expected, any reports on breaking news often include rumors and inaccuracies. Now that more details have emerged, I am even more impressed with
Critical Thinking About the Death of Osama bin Laden
Published on 2011-05-02 00:22:59
What kind of strategic planning and critical thinking does it take to carry out an execution of the leader for al-Qaeda? As revealed by breaking news tonight, the plan was successful and Osama bin Laden has been confirmed dead. The details are stil
My 6 Word Secret Weapon
Published on 2011-04-29 08:53:33
As an introvert, I often need extra time to process a question and my answer in my head before I speak. Years ago, I learned a secret trick to buy myself more time. I would say: “Interesting question, why do you ask?” This stall tacti
Why Does Critical Thinking Matter?
Published on 2011-04-28 08:54:37
One of my favorite podcasts right now is the Critical Thinker Podcast on iTunes by Kevin deLaPlante. Kevin describes the podcast as “dedicated to the art and science of reasoning well” which makes sense because he teaches various course
Critical Thinking About Being Right, Wrong, and Ignorant
Published on 2011-04-27 22:18:16
My good friend (and co-author of Now You’re Thinking) Heather Ishikawa sent me this video this week about “being wrong.” You know what the tough thing is about being wrong? You don’t realize it until you’ve already c
Smart Phone Location Tracking: Pro and Con Critical Thinking Exercise
Published on 2011-04-25 14:32:14
One important part of any critical thinking or decision making exercise is an evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of any decision (a pro/con analysis). This process is even more effective when performed as part of a group brainstorm so t
Management: What You Value vs. What You Measure
Published on 2011-04-24 21:06:41
Sometimes a cartoon just makes too much sense! Check out this great one from 1.00 FTE. Which do you measure?
3 Critical Thinking Tips to Overcome Emotional Situations
Published on 2011-04-19 12:51:12
Following the critical thinking RED Model isn’t always easy. Perhaps the most difficult component for me is to set my emotions aside and remain objective – a technique to evaluate arguments. I don’t necessarily get emotional because I’m sensi
Worst Case Scenario Strategic Thinking: Surviving a Plane Crash
Published on 2011-04-15 07:48:34
It’s Friday, so let’s talk about something light…like surviving a plane crash! I’ll be honest, I’m one of those people who fly so often that I rarely give my full attention to the flight attendants as they give the saf
In Defense of Southwest Airlines
Published on 2011-04-12 09:33:35
I’m flying to Chicago today to attend a conference for Industrial/Organizational Psychologists (SIOP). I’ve had 3 people ask me if I’m nervous to fly Southwest Airlines, and the answer each time has been no. Clearly Southwest Ai
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Decisions: Credit Union Will Pay Despite Government Shut Down
Published on 2011-04-08 13:08:46
This is the 9th edition of the “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Decisions” series where we highlight another person/organization who embodies the statement: “Change the way you think, and you can change the world.” View the entire series here.
Critical Thinking Makes Travel Easy!
Published on 2011-04-08 10:59:14
Traveling can be stressful. Between your schedule, the airline’s schedule and other travelers it’s easy to get worked up. Murphy’s law never fails, especially when you need to be somewhere. Last week I found myself in that very situation. My co
Social Learning – Webinar Highlights
Published on 2011-04-07 05:34:28
Last week’s Training Industry webinar delivered by Breanne Harris, Sean Stowers and Rupalli Thacker discussed social learning basics – the who, what where and why. In case you missed it, here are some highlights: WHO When attendees were asked how
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Decisions: My Insurance Agent
Published on 2011-04-04 15:01:37
This is the 8th edition of the “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Decisions” series where we highlight another person who embodies the statement: “Change the way you think, and you can change the world.” View the entire series here. ____________
Your Bank Account Wants You to Think Critically
Published on 2011-04-01 13:30:01
I’m a sucker for As Seen on TV products. I own a Snuggie, Mighty Putty, Handystitcher, Swivel Sweeper, Quick Chop, Aqua Globes, PedEgg, Bendaroos, Doggy Steps, Pet Wheel-Away, Peticure, Crazy Critters, and a Clever Clasp. Some of these have
Meet the Critical Thinking Team: 2011 Conference Schedule
Published on 2011-03-29 00:05:55
The Critical Thinking Team will be very active for the next few months while attending various conferences in the U.S. If you’re attending any of the following events, please connect with us. We would love to hear more about your interest i
Social Learning ROI: Asking the Right Questions
Published on 2011-03-27 23:25:57
This week I’m co-presenting a webinar with Sean Stowers and Rupalli Thacker on Social Learning. As I approached the topic of Social Learning ROI, I realized it’s all about asking the right questions. You should determine how to measur
Critical Thinking Stops Illegal Immigrants Posing as Marines While Crossing the Border
Published on 2011-03-27 07:50:41
On March 14th, 13 Illegal Immigrants and their U.S. Citizen smugglers were caught at the Mexican border while trying to pose as U.S. Marines by border patrol agents with great critical thinking skills. Perhaps the smugglers and their passengers thoug
Using Critical Thinking to Debunk Urban Legends
Published on 2011-03-25 16:56:59
There are so many reasons I’m thankful for social media, and the reduced number of chain/scam/urban legend emails I get is a big reason. Have you received this email? TIPS ON PUMPING GAS > > I don’t know what you are paying for ga
21st Century Enlightenment: Do We Know What We Think We Know?
Published on 2011-03-23 10:45:06
I find the following video (by Matthew Taylor and RSA Animate) a phenomenal stimulus for critical thinking. Do we know what we think we know? Are we self-aware? Can we define progress? Can we define right and wrong? What do you think?
Sir Ken Robinson: Change the Way You Think About Education
Published on 2011-03-22 10:15:01
Have you ever tried to change the way you think about something? It’s difficult. Our brains are wired to choose sides (right, wrong, yes, no, black, white, etc), and yet life is rarely that simple. Yet, sometimes it is absolutely necessar
Scott Stratten Says “Stop”: Changing the Way We Think
Published on 2011-03-21 12:59:32
I recently finished reading a great book on social media that changed the way I think about engaging with customers. The book was called Unmarketing and it was written by Scott Stratten. I’ve been lucky enough to see Scott give presentation
Philip Zimbardo: Your Time Zone Influences the Way You Think
Published on 2011-03-20 18:02:31
Philip Zimbardo, professor and phenomenal psychologist, gave a speech on how our personal time zones affect the way we think. The subject and research is so fascinating that I had to watch this video twice (or perhaps it’s because he speaks s
The Toughest Decision You’ve Made
Published on 2011-03-19 22:10:30
I wanted to write a post about the toughest decision I’ve ever made. I planned to break that decision down into the steps of the RED Model to show how I followed the logical steps necessary for making a strong decision. But then it occurred
New Webinar- Social Learning: Who, What, When, Where and Why
Published on 2011-03-18 13:07:59
New Webinar announced for March 30th at 1pm Eastern. Social Learning: Who, What, When, Where and Why When it comes to employee development, everyone talks about the importance of engagement. Naturally this leads to social media tools, which cross-
Emotions: The NCAA Bracket Buster
Published on 2011-03-18 10:51:55
It’s Day 2 of March Madness! How is your bracket holding up? I’m tied for 35th (out of 47) in my friend’s pool. Ouch! Perhaps I should have spent more than 35 seconds selecting teams this year. What is your approach to filli
Critical Thinking: The Rational Discussion Flowchart
Published on 2011-03-17 21:36:29
I found this phenomenal decision tree for “How to Have a Rational Discussion” posted by Brandon Scott Borrell on Thought Catalog and thought it was right up the Critical-Thinkers.com alley. Enjoy! Image Source
Critical Thinking- There’s an App For That!
Published on 2011-03-11 11:48:55
There’s an app for everything these days, and now you can access the Critical Thinking Think-O-Meter on iTunes to take a fun test of your critical thinking skills. Download the app for your iPhone and iPod here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Decisions: Super Mom
Published on 2011-03-10 21:09:41
This is the 6th edition of the “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Decisions” series where we highlight another person who embodies the statement: “Change the way you think, and you can change the world.” View the entire series here. ____________
When in Doubt, Don’t Post.
Published on 2011-03-09 15:40:55
During today’s webinar, Critical Thinking in a Social World, Breanne Harris mentioned that 91% of the Fortune 500 companies use social media. She also said that half of all Internet users read blogs. Blogging isn’t the only type of social media b
Webinar Tomorrow: Critical Thinking in a Social World
Published on 2011-03-08 09:23:47
Title: Critical Thinking in a Social World Date: March 9, 2011 at 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET Description: Are your employees thinking critically about the sites they access, comments they post, and sources they trust? With over 145 million blogs and mi
Strategic Thinking: Building a Winning Plan for SXSW
Published on 2011-03-07 07:24:38
What goes into creating a successful SXSW conference experience? For me, it took: 14+ hours Six 5-Hour Energy Shots 5 notebooks 31 dividers One Droid app One ream of paper 37 paper clips and one patient husband It feels like I spent more time plann
Want to Improve Your Decision Making? Hold Your Pee
Published on 2011-03-04 08:40:07
We’ve already shared that pretty people with big heads who play video games and don’t smoke are more intelligent than their less attractive, small headed, non-smoking, non-gaming counterparts but today it scientists have revealed a new fa
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Decisions: Heifer.org Lets You Gift a Pig
Published on 2011-03-03 07:59:10
This is the 5th edition of the “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Decisions” series where we highlight another person who embodies the statement: “Change the way you think, and you can change the world.” View the entire series here. ____________
Charlie Sheen: Tale of an HR Failure
Published on 2011-03-02 23:45:40
There’s no doubt about it, Charlie Sheen is an HR nightmare. The truth is that so many superstar employees are nightmares. When your #1 sales person can never get an expense report in on time, do you fire him? No, you give him a little wi
Experts Ruin Our Critical Thinking Skills
Published on 2011-02-28 15:27:57
Noreena Hertz gives a TED Talk regarding “How to use experts…and when not to”: Have you ever relied too much on an expert and made a poor decision?
Critical Thinking: The Oscars Rewind
Published on 2011-02-28 13:02:54
Did you play along at home while watching the Oscars last night? I did, but my results were not brag worthy. In fact, they were downright pitiful. I correctly predicted 9 of the 24 awards delivered last night. With only a 38% success rate, I be
The Decision Tree Decision Tree
Published on 2011-02-25 13:44:05
One of my new favorite blogs is Rogue Project Leader, and the last post made me laugh. Since it’s Friday, I’m sure you need a laugh to get through the rest of the day too. Check out The Rogue Project Leader’s Decision Tree Decis
Why Do So Many of Us Think Poorly Despite Being Smart?
Published on 2011-02-25 11:44:50
Ever since Noah was tasked with building an ark to save his family and a few hundred animals, humans have performed physical labor! Today nearly everyone I know works with information as their raw material in one form or another. We’re a generation
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Decisions: Brad Meltzer is Changing the World
Published on 2011-02-24 12:18:45
This is the 4th edition of the “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Decisions” series where we highlight another person who embodies the statement: “Change the way you think, and you can change the world.” Last night when I Google’d “C
Think- It’s Not That Hard
Published on 2011-02-23 21:22:44
I really love the comics at onefte.com, and this one was meant to be shared here.
Critical Thinking Logical Fallacy: Everybody Agrees
Published on 2011-02-23 12:31:16
Do any of these recent quotes sound familiar? “48 percent of likely U.S. voters agree more with Senator Walker than with the unions” “Only 21% of the nation’s voters Strongly Approve of the way that the President is performing
Purse Design Blunder – Critical Thinking Could Have Helped
Published on 2011-02-22 13:34:54
Often decisions boil down to priorities. Sometimes this means we can’t have everything and so we compromise. But how often do we make fair compromises? No, I don’t mean fair as in a win-win scenario, though that’s always something to aspire to.
What is an Opinion?
Published on 2011-02-21 18:54:05
Opinion is that exercise of the human will which helps us to make a decision without information. ~John Erskine Image Source
The Critical Thinking Training of the Future? The Thinking Cap
Published on 2011-02-18 12:04:29
If you’ve followed this blog for a while, you know how often we provide tools and activities to improve critical thinking, but we also acknowledge that improving this skill takes a lot of effort. What if the solution was as simple as a new head
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Decisions: Pitbulls & Parolees
Published on 2011-02-16 22:05:22
This is the 3rd edition of the “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Decisions” series where we highlight another person who embodies the statement: “Change the way you think, and you can change the world.” Mahatma Gandhi once said
IBM’s Watson: The Critical Thinking Game Changer?
Published on 2011-02-16 13:21:56
When I first heard about IBM’s Watson project, I was skeptical. I assumed this artificial intelligence engine would work like any other search engine which is helpful, but lacks the ability to take context into account. If you’ve seen
Critical Thinking: What is it Anyway?
Published on 2011-02-16 11:52:28
How do you define critical thinking? There are so many definitions out there, and we want to know which one really resonates with you. Here are a few popular definitions: Critical thinking, in its broadest sense has been described as “purpose
Critical Thinking About the Distracted Driving Debate
Published on 2011-02-15 15:40:14
Banning use of cell phones while operating a motor vehicle is not new news, and studies continue to show that texting while driving is an extremely dangerous activity. However, what about when the vehicle is NOT in motion? Should the same text me
Why Do We Play the Lottery?
Published on 2011-02-15 13:03:10
The trouble with most people is that they think with their hopes or fears or wishes rather than with their minds. ~Will Durant
Did You Ask the Right Question?
Published on 2011-02-14 10:38:00
In Grad School I had a professor who told the greatest stories. His stories generally came from his experience and always had a great business lessons. He particularly liked to tell stories about when he was a young man and was a cook in a hospit
It All Starts With the Assumption
Published on 2011-02-14 07:44:15
Begin challenging your own assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in awhile, or the light won’t come in. ~Alan Alda
New Webinar: Critical Thinking in a Social World
Published on 2011-02-11 11:02:55
Critical Thinking in a Social World Date: March 9, 2011 at 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET Description: Are your employees thinking critically about the sites they access, comments they post, and sources they trust? With over 145 million blogs and millions o
Can the Grand Theft Auto Franchise Teach Critical Thinking?
Published on 2011-02-11 08:48:30
Can the Grand Theft Auto franchise teach Critical Thinking? You might be surprised by my answer. Rockstar Games, the makers of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, revealed the following trailer for it’s newest game L.A. Noire. Watch the video
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Decisions: Khan Academy
Published on 2011-02-10 13:08:28
It’s Thursday and we are continuing our “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Decisions” series where we highlight another person who embodies the statement: “Change the way you think, and you can change the world.” Have you e
Critical Thinking Exercise: Logic Riddle
Published on 2011-02-09 08:24:31
Can you correctly answer this riddle? The answer will be posted on Friday at 5pm CT. A man was in a small town for the day, and needed a haircut. He noticed that there were only two barbers in town, and decided to apply a bit of logical deduction t
70 Questions to Boost Your Critical Thinking
Published on 2011-02-04 09:37:57
In each step of the RED Model of Critical Thinking, the key is to ask questions. Asking questions helps us look more deeply at the issue, break it into parts, find blind spots and lack of data, and make the best choice. Here are 70 questions to hel
New Series: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Decisions (The Story of the Oregon Trail Game)
Published on 2011-02-03 17:19:58
Months ago Heather Ishikawa, a co-author of the soon-to-be-released book “Now You’re Thinking,” said something that really stuck with me: “If you can change the way you think, you can change the world.” The statement s
Reflection: The First Step of Critical Thinking
Published on 2011-02-02 17:11:28
Last week I met with a group of emerging leaders and we walked through several critical thinking reflection activities. Each participant thought about a time when they were trying to solve a problem or make a decision and it didn’t have a pos
6 Critical Thinking Techniques to Handle Difficult Customers
Published on 2011-02-01 17:04:00
Among many things, a company’s reputation comes from the quality of their goods or services, their innovation and often from their customer service. If a company wants a good reputation then odds are they need good customer service. Customer servic
Strategic Thinking vs. Strategic Planning
Published on 2011-01-26 10:51:28
The terms critical thinking, decision making, problem solving, strategic thinking, systems thinking, strategic planning etc are often used interchangeably. However, while each of these words are tied to one another, there are distinct and important
Webcast Recap & 3 Things a Company Must Do to Increase Critical Thinking
Published on 2011-01-22 00:45:42
Judy Chartrand delivered an awesome webcast on Thursday through HR.com – How to Increase Critical Thinking in the Workplace – where she posed an excellent question to the group: Do you have an established program to develop critical thinking in y
The Achilles’ Heel of Critical Thinking
Published on 2011-01-21 06:46:20
What is your Achilles’ Heel of critical thinking? We all have at least one- some issue or situation that we cannot approach as an outsider free of emotions or bias. This week I learned that my dogs are my Achilles’ Heel to critical thin
Tomorrow’s Webcast: Increasing Critical Thinking in the Workplace (Register Now)
Published on 2011-01-19 10:20:36
Be sure to register now for tomorrow’s Webcast: Increasing Critical Thinking in the Workplace: The Raw Material of 21st Century Success January 20, 2011 at 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET Description How to Identify and Develop Employees Who Think Effe
College Students Aren’t Learning Critical Thinking
Published on 2011-01-18 13:55:31
Researchers followed 2,322 undergrads from 24 universities in the U.S. throughout their 4 years in college and found that many did not improve their critical thinking ability. What are we teaching these kids? In fact, in the first 2 years, 45% of s
Are Pretty People Better Critical Thinkers?
Published on 2011-01-18 11:49:15
According to a recent study by the London School of Economics, attractive men and women are more intelligent than their less attractive counterparts. Also, when pretty people have kids together, they pass down their intelligence to their offspring.
Extreme Couponing: You Just Blew My Mind
Published on 2011-01-17 07:59:39
Sometimes it takes a wild new reality television show to change the way you think. That just happened to me as I watched “Extreme Couponing” on TLC. In my life, I strive for efficiency. I pride myself on taking the fastest route, bein
I Am Biased…
Published on 2011-01-14 12:55:10
…and so are you. We all carry with us certain biases that guide our perceptions, arguments, decisions, and beliefs. But, as Jamie Hale recently wrote: researchers suggest that a key characteristic of critical thinking is the ability to recogn
5 Critical Thinking Tips to Improve Your Writing
Published on 2011-01-13 12:49:43
It’s critical to be able to write well. Since elementary school we’ve all been taught some version of the writing process – to brainstorm, organize, draft, proofread, edit, re-read, and publish. This fluid process was supported throughout our
100 Ways to Think Better
Published on 2011-01-13 08:16:49
Okay, maybe not 100, but we’ll give you 75 and let you add 25 more in the comment section: Be Your Devil’s Advocate Assign a Devil’s Advocate in meetings Disagree Ask Why Use the RED Model of Critical Thinking Try a Brain Teaser Rec
Inflammatory Rhetoric, Free Speech, and Critical Thinking
Published on 2011-01-12 07:51:44
Where do you stand on the “inflammatory rhetoric” debate? The polls I’ve seen so far range from 30-45% of individuals who believe that violent rhetoric and imagery somehow influenced the tragedy at Rep Gabrielle Giffords rally in
Don’t You Ad Hominem Me!
Published on 2011-01-11 15:58:51
For the third time today, I’ve been asked what Ad Hominem means (likely because Jared Loughner referred to it on one of his YouTube videos before he went on his shooting spree in Arizona) so I thought it would be helpful to explain it in detail
The Absence of Facts = Critical Thinking Danger
Published on 2011-01-10 14:05:54
Few things in life make our brains more uncomfortable than ambiguity. When faced with a lack of data, we fill that space with something- assumptions, biases, or personal agendas. Our brains are programmed to want a conclusion. We want answers.
Decorative Fruit – Critical Thinking Win or Fail?!
Published on 2011-01-07 17:28:43
I may be on a business trip but I’m thoroughly enjoying my stay in Scottsdale, Arizona. The sun is shining, the breeze is perfect and the plants are stunning. Each time we walk past the orange trees at the hotel my colleagues and I comment about ho
Dame Marjorie Scardino’s Call to Action
Published on 2011-01-07 13:02:48
Today, Dame Marjorie Scardino gave a speech to Pearson employees that moved me. As I’ve mentioned here before, she is an inspiration and when she talks, you listen. Any woman that can elegantly pull off a dress suit with cowboy boots has my
Critical Thinking: Love or Hate the Term?
Published on 2011-01-06 09:07:47
This discussion has come up with my colleagues several times recently, and I want your opinion: What do you think of the term “critical thinking?” Is it too academic? Does it sound uppity? Do you assume critical thinking training focu
New Year’s Resolutions May Just Make You a Critical Thinking Ninja
Published on 2011-01-05 09:15:42
Like many I started off 2011 with a set of resolutions. Being surrounded by critical thinking, it only makes sense for my resolutions to be heavily influenced by critical thinking and the RED Model. No, I didn’t resolve to become a critical thinkin
New Year’s Resolution: Improve Your Critical Thinking
Published on 2010-12-31 08:40:21
What is your New Year’s Resolution? To exercise more? To stop smoking? Get organized? More than likely if you chose one of those, then you’ve probably said it before. When was the last time you resolved to be smarter? To think b