Applied Critical Thinking

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Applied Critical Thinking

• A 3-Phase Approach
• to Developing
• Problem Solvers
• Efficient Thinkers

www.TalentLens.com
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Polling Question

• What are some professions where you might find an
  overrepresentation of people who think
  critically? (meaning objectively, deductively,
  logically, clearly)

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Physicians?
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Todays Agenda
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CriticalThinkingin the News
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Yet Critical Thinking Education Is Lacking
National polls indicate over 90 of the faculty
in this country think critical thinking is the
most important part of undergraduate education.
Derek Bok, Former President Emeritus, Harvard
University
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It is Truly a 21st Century Skill

• Todays need for critical thinking is driven by
• The Pace of Change
• The Global Economy
• The Availability of Information
• The Complexity of Roles and Organizations
• And more

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Failure Can Be Costly

• Example Bureau of Engraving and Printing

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So What Exactly is Critical Thinking?
Critical Thinking is an organized and disciplined
way of thinking. It is Critical
Thinking is an intellectual skill
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Whats So Challenging About It?

• Its hard to grasp
• People have a misconception of what critical
  thinking is
• Egos and social conditioning
• People take it for granted

• Thinking comes easy to us. What does not come
  easy is consistent, high quality thinking across
  the dimensions of ones life. That is, it is not
  easy to discover our bad habits and do something
  about them.
• Richard Paul and Linda Elder
• Fellows, Foundation for Critical Thinking

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Can We Measure It?
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Is an Individuals RED-iness Related To
Performance?
Studies show a relationship between Critical
Thinking and

• Total Performance (.39)
• Job Success (.33)
• Overall Potential (.25) and (.24)
• Professional Technical Knowledge (.37)
• Analysis (.58)

• Analysis, Problem Solving, Decision Making and
  Judgment (.40)
• Judgment (.43)
• Problem Solving and Analysis (.33)
• Core Critical Thinking Behaviors (.28)

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But Can You Teach It?

• Success comes through
• Attitude
• Practical instruction and practice
• Transferring skills learned to new situations
• Reflecting and thinking about the process

Numerous studies have shown that critical
thinking, defined as the deliberate use of skills
and strategies that increase the probability of a
desirable outcome, can be learned in ways that
promote transfer to novel contexts. - Diane
Halpern Ph.D.
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An Important Question

• Should the approach be context-free or
  context-dependent?

YES!
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The Case of the Red Sweat
As a Hollywood horror flick, it might be called
The Rash. Scenario On Eastern Airlines
flights over the Atlantic between New York City
and Florida, flight attendants begin to contract
a strange, oozing rash on their faces, neck,
chest and hands. The fluid escaping from their
inflamed pores looks like blood, though it is
not, and so the rash is called red sweat.
Others are stricken by reddish blotches of
pinprick-size dots. But either way, before a
doctor can diagnose it, the mysterious rash
disappears until, perhaps, the next flight over
the Atlantic to Florida. For Easterns baffled
management, the story is all too real. For the
past three months, more than 90 flight attendants
have reported cases of the red sweat, many of
them more than once. Nearly all are women, and
most have been stricken on Easterns new
European-produced A300 Airbus jets flying between
New York and Miami or Fort Lauderdale. No
passengers or other crew have shown symptoms, and
no rashes have been reported on inland flights.
In all cases, the symptoms vanish, leaving the
victims wondering if the affliction is only skin
deep. We just cant track this thing down
admits Dr. David Millett, Easterns flight
medicine director. Its spooky, really spooky.

• A rash of theories resulted. The cause is
• The air in the new jet cabins being too dry.
• The special fluid used to clean the planes food
  ovens.
• A combination of factors, such as altitude
  changes, genetic susceptibility, or even
  cosmetics.

In an effort to solve the mystery, doctors from
New Yorks Columbia Presbyterian Medical
Center seemed ready to try a bit of shuttle
dermatology flying on Easterns New-York to
Florida jets to make on-the-spot diagnoses.
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Polling Question

• What do you think is causing the rash?
• Dry air in the planes
• Cleaner used in the galley
• Cosmetics
• Uniforms
• Frequent altitude changes
• Something else

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Defining the Problem Setup
What the problem IS
What the problem might be but IS NOT
WHO
Flight Attendants
Passengers, Pilots, Crew
WHAT
WHERE
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Polling Question

• Tell me about flight attendants What does their
  role entail? (think people, process, equipment,
  materials, environment)

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Whats Unique About Attendants?

• Serve food
• Serve drinks
• Push cart
• Galley
• Prepare food
• Use oven
• Use coffee maker
• Handle garbage
• Clean galley
• Safety demo
• Oxygen masks
• Seat belt
• Exits
• Life Vest/Floatation
• Talk on P.A.

• Uniforms
• Jump seat
• Hand out
• Blankets
• Pillows
• Peanuts
• Beverages
• Head sets
• Magazines
• Overhead bins
• Use lounge in airport
• Hotel stays
• Lots of time in pressurized cabin
• Plastic gloves for cleaning
• Collect trash

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Defining the Problem Screen 1
What the problem IS
What the problem might be but IS NOT
WHO
Flight Attendants
Passengers, Pilots, Crew
WHAT
Flights Over The Atlantic
Inland Flights
WHERE
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Whats Unique About Attendants?

• Serve food
• Serve drinks
• Push cart
• Galley
• Prepare food
• Use oven
• Use coffee maker
• Handle garbage
• Clean galley
• Safety demo
• Oxygen masks
• Seat belt
• Exits
• Life Vest/Floatation
• Talk on P.A.

• Uniforms
• Jump seat
• Hand out
• Blankets
• Pillows
• Peanuts
• Beverages
• Head sets
• Magazines
• Overhead bins
• Use lounge in airport
• Hotel stays
• Lots of time in pressurized cabin
• Plastic gloves for cleaning
• Collect trash

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Whats Unique About Attendants?

• Serve food
• Serve drinks
• Push cart
• Galley
• Prepare food
• Use oven
• Use coffee maker
• Handle garbage
• Clean galley
• Safety demo
• Oxygen masks
• Seat belt
• Exits
• Life Vest/Floatation
• Talk on P.A.

• Uniforms
• Jump seat
• Hand out
• Blankets
• Pillows
• Peanuts
• Beverages
• Head sets
• Magazines
• Overhead bins
• Use lounge in airport
• Hotel stays
• Lots of time in pressurized cabin
• Plastic gloves for cleaning
• Collect trash

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Defining the Problem Screen 2
What the problem IS
What the problem might be but IS NOT
WHO
Flight Attendants
Passengers, Pilots, Crew
WHAT
Flights Over The Atlantic
Inland Flights
WHERE
Face, Chest, Neck, Hands
All Other Areas
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Whats Unique About Attendants?

• Serve food
• Serve drinks
• Push cart
• Galley
• Prepare food
• Use oven
• Use coffee maker
• Handle garbage
• Clean galley
• Safety demo
• Oxygen masks
• Seat belt
• Exits
• Life Vest/Floatation
• Talk on P.A.

• Uniforms
• Jump seat
• Hand out
• Blankets
• Pillows
• Peanuts
• Beverages
• Head sets
• Magazines
• Overhead bins
• Use lounge in airport
• Hotel stays
• Lots of time in pressurized cabin
• Plastic gloves for cleaning
• Collect trash

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Defining the Problem Screen 3
What the problem IS
What the problem might be but IS NOT
WHO
Flight Attendants
WHAT
Flights Over The Atlantic
WHERE
Face, Chest, Neck, Hands
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Defining the Problem Screen 4
What the problem might be but IS NOT
What the problem IS
WHO
Jane Smith, 35, based in NY, wears cosmetics
WHAT
Flight 387, left LGA at 435pm, 3h12m in air, 45m
on tarmac
WHERE
Face, Chest, Neck, Hands
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What is Applied Critical Thinking?

• Applied Critical Thinking is
• Taking a fair-minded approach to thinking
  logically and comprehensively about a particular
  situation, then identifying an appropriate course
  of action.

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Applied Critical Thinking Sequence
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A 3-Phase Approach to Development
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• Align and Assess
• Participants meet one-on-one with their manager
• Participants complete the Watson-Glaser II
  Critical Thinking Appraisal

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• Action Learning
• Context-Free learning
• The universal application of RED
• Context-Dependent learning
• Strategic Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Decision Making
• Planning and Implementing

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• Acceleration and Accountability
• Reminders and follow-up
• Coaching and advice
• Expanding the Accountability Network
• Manager
• Peer
• 3rd Party
• Results (within 18 months)
• 91 understand how to apply the skills
• 74 apply the skills to a work-related concern

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ROI A Three-Phase Approach to Applied Critical
Thinking Training

• 15 year analysis
• Conservative Results
• Cumulative 17x ROI compared to cost of training
• One organization reported 400x ROI

Remember! 74 report actually applying the
skills when surveyed!
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How Do I Get Started?

• Develop a Program!
• Create yours from scratch, or
• Critical Thinking Boot Camp
• Integrates the WGII
• Uses 3-phase Approach
• Uses proven tools techniques
• in practice for 30 years
• Pre-work and Follow-up
• Collects and disseminates ROI data to you

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Summary

• The Importance of Critical Thinking
• A 3-Phase Approach to Teaching CT
• The Benefits and ROI of Developing It
• How To Start

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Questions or Inquiries
Critical Thinking Boot Camp Heather Ishikawa -
925.837.2264 Presentation Judy Chartrand -
210.872.3015 Scott Dannemiller - 615.479.3492