Thinking Skills Week 01

Socrates

A trained sophist Emphasized on argument and critical thinking. Within argument - there was to be critical thinking - e.g. "Why do you say that?"

Difference between Intelligence & Thinking explained by the car analogy

- A less powerful car may be driven well. - A powerful car may be driven badly. - The skill of the driver determines how the power of the car is used. - The skill of the thinker determines how intelligence is used. Therefore, intelligence and thinking are not the same

Definition of thinking - Edward de Bono

1. Thinking is the deliberate exploration of experience for a purpose. That purpose may be understanding, decision-making, planning, problem-solving, judgement, action and so on 2. the operating skill with which intelligence acts upon experience

2 Aspects of the Intelligence Trap

A more intelligent person can better defend his opinion which results in the person being trapped in the idea causing the person to not accept other ideas He thinks his idea is the best(ego-involvement). Being constructive is less rewarding so they just be critical and destructive because it is much more appealing. It is even worse with the Western notion that "critical thinking" is enough.

VISUAL PEOPLE

Behavior/Characteristics: - neat and tidy - speak quickly - good long-range planners & organizers - observant of environmental detail - appearance-oriented (dress, presentation) - good spellers (see words in their minds) - noise: not distracted - remember what was seen, not heard - memorize by visual association - trouble remembering verbal instructions (need written form / "repeat, please.") - strong, fast readers - rather read than be read to - need overall view and purpose, cautious until mentally clear about an issue/project - doodle on phone, during meeting - forget to relay verbal messages to others - often answer questions "yes" or "no" - rather do a demo than make a speech - like art more than music - often know what to say but can't think of right word - sometimes tune out when they mean to pay attention

KINESTHETIC PEOPLE

Behavior/Characteristics: - speak slowly - respond to physical rewards - stand close when talking to others - touch people to get their attention - are physically oriented, move a lot - have early large-muscle development - learn by manipulating & doing - memorize by walking & seeing - use a finger as a pointer when reading - gesture a lot - can't sit still for long - can't remember geography unless they've actually been there - use action words - like plot-oriented books - they reflect action with body movement as they read - may have messy handwriting - want to act things out - like involved games

AUDITORY PEOPLE

Behavior/Characteristics: - talk to themselves while working - noise : distracted - move lips and pronounce words as they read - enjoy reading aloud & listening - can repeat back & mimic tone pitch and timbre - find writing difficult, are better at telling - speak in rhythmic patterns - usually eloquent speakers - like music more than art - learn by listening, remember what was discussed rather than seen - are talkative, love discussion, go into lengthy descriptions - have problems involving visualization - can spell better out loud than in writing - like jokes better than comics

car analogy - horsepower

Intelligence

car analogy - fuel

Knowledge

Plato, father of western philosophy

Known for his analogy of the cave

how to know PERSONAL LEARNING STYLE

LS = Modality + Brain Dominance Modality: How we perceive information Brain Dominance: How we process information

Thinking vs Intelligence

People of limited intelligence can learn to think well. The trained thinker has the advantage. Thinking is the operating skills with which we use our intelligence. Thinking skills can be developed and improved.

Aristotle, pupil of Plato and the tutor of Alexander the Great.

Practical person Developed "categories", "table" and "chair" Example : a chair cannot both be a "chair" and "not a chair" at the same time - contradiction

The Intelligence Trap

Situation Seeing Exploring (people always forget this one) Judging

Thinking vs Intelligence

The belief that intelligence and thinking are the same has led to 2 unfortunate conclusions in education: i. That nothing is to be done for students with a high intelligence because they will automatically be good thinkers. ii. That nothing can be done for students without a high intelligence because they cannot ever be good thinkers.

car analogy - driver skill

Thinking

Definition of thinking - Vincent Ryan Ruggiero

Thinking is any mental activity that helps formulate or solve a problem, make a decision, or fulfill a need to understand. It is a searching for answers, a reaching for meaning. Among the most important mental activities involved in the thinking process: Careful observation, memorizing, remembering, wondering, imagining, inquiring, interpreting, evaluating, and judging.

The Need for a Thinking Skills Course

Thinking is the most fundamental human skill. You need thinking to make plans, take initiatives, solve problems, open up opportunities and design your way forward. Thinking is fun & enjoyable - if you learn how to make it so. Thinking is a skill that can be learned, practiced and developed, but you must have the DESIRE to learn and develop thinking skills.

MODALITY (Our preferred way of perceiving information)

V - VISUAL A - AUDITORY K - KINESTHETIC

Concept of Practice

We must always think of the best ways to do things by improving everything in our thinking concept. If we do things, we must think of a way to make it better, faster and so on.