Developing Critical Thinking SkillsThe concept of developing critical thinking skills seems to have lost popularity. To think or not to think? That is the new outside the box question. Living in the now means thinking without planning or pre-planning. This is a state of no judgement and a place of no thought. Perhaps this is a place of inspiration, but coupled with creativity, critical thinking has to find its way into academic work. Otherwise it will lack organization and forward thinking. You must know at least one opinionated person who offers views on every topic of discussion without fail. He or she serves as our role model for learning how to think. In fact, in a society where we have been encouraged not to think, and to allow our inner voice to guide us, we have to find our way back learning how to think. Individuals, who have developed ideas and thoughts about every topic do not remain stagnant or lackadaisical about what happens around them. Instead, they are involved. Ask them what they think about current events and know that they have thought about it even before you asked. This attitude (without needing to always be right) is the simplest way to learn how to think. We have to encourage children to form an opinion about world events. Dinnertime discussions can include current events, lifestyle choices, and just about any topic that encourages children to think deeply and gain confidence in their ideas. With the ability to debate, comes the capability of producing theses sentences without difficulty. Why? Because developed critical thinking skills help us form opinions. The next time your course administrator asks you for a strong thesis, tell them your opinion. Your opinion equals your thesis. Remember: do not write I think. Write your thesis as a statement without owning it. From inspiration to creation, from no thought to critical thinking skills, from accepting what is to creating a new reality, opinions matter. They create change and move the world forward.
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