Why Critical Thinking Is Important In Higher Education

Critical thinking: What is it? How significant is it in the current system of higher education? These queries are asked a great deal. Along with the expansion of the internet’s impact come floods of inaccurate and fraudulent information. The overall quality of the pupils’ work is impacted by this. Many of them have a tendency to study without first sorting out the pertinent material, fail to distinguish between important data and unimportant information, and lack any internal drive to think critically. So, having the capacity for critical thought is crucial in today’s world. It is not only one of the most crucial elements for effective learning, but it is also a requirement for the growth of a mature, autonomous personality that will be able to adjust to a variety of social situations in the future.

The essential capacity to evaluate information is critical thinking. The Greek philosopher Socrates is credited with coining the phrase. He observed that when information is offered by someone who portrays themselves as an expert or authority, individuals are hesitant to verify it. Socrates started questioning the ideas put forward by authority, seeking proof, and seeing how different notions were seen by authority. He might then assess the clarity and logic of the interlocutor’s information. Following these steps, it became very evident that most individuals are not experts; they are ignorant and only paraphrase the views of others. In other words, the information they provide is suspect. We use critical thinking, like Socrates, to comprehend and impartially assess data. Therefore, such reasoning needs accuracy and attention.

Students are still not being taught how to think critically at the institution. Children need to hear, absorb, and duplicate the information under circumstances that don’t call for innovative or adaptable thinking, according to the pattern of instruction. There is no purpose for students to change their thoughts when everything stated in class is uploaded to the virtual learning environment and printed out for the students to review nevertheless, according to Tara Brabazon in the article “Take notice as another learning discipline goes away.” And when I say this, I’m not simply referring to figuring out problems and formulas in algebra. Even in literary courses, one must understand the characteristics of an author’s creative work and then put those qualities into practice when reading a poem or a piece of prose. New pupils who went above and beyond the classroom revision norm thrive in real life. Participants in youth political groups, sports teams, art clubs, and science academies have various perspectives on cooperation, leadership, and public speaking, as well as varying levels of curiosity, self-assurance, and initiative.

In the past, it seemed that a person may prosper if they were a professional and had a decent education. But how can someone who lacks critical thinking be a successful writer, business consultant, or data analyst? Or how can you do any job if you are at odds with the team and unable to schedule your time? Dr. Vilnius Bartninkas, a lecturer at the Vilnius University Institute of International Relations and Political Sciences, claims that we employ two instruments while we operate. The first is the specific knowledge we have gained through academic study and job experience. The second is made up of all the other talents necessary for us to succeed in our jobs, including motivation, creativity, adaptation to change, time management, stress management, and many more. These abilities are essential for success in our rapidly evolving culture.

You can’t always trust what you see and hear. I’m not persuaded that a person who poses as an authority always speaks the truth. Even Socrates taught us to query and double-check the data, which is something that can be learnt via research. Higher education aims to foster the critical thinking and abilities that were improperly taught in schools. Skills that have nothing to do with a particular career but rather with the capacity to look for solutions to new issues both now, while one is learning, and later, when one is joining the workforce.