Definition of Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking and problem-solving can be defined in many ways, but P21 defines critical thinking as follows:
Reason Effectively
- Use various types of reasoning (inductive, deductive, etc.) as appropriate to the situation
Use System Thinking
- Analyze how parts of a whole interact with each other to produce overall outcomes in complex systems
Make Judgments and Decisions
- Effectively analyze and evaluate evidence, arguments, claims, and beliefs.
- Analyze and evaluate major alternative points of view
- Synthesize and make connections between information and argument s
- Interpret information and draw conclusions based on the best analysis
- Reflect critically on learning experiences and processes
Solve Problems
- Solve different kinds of unfamiliar problems in both conventional and innovative ways
- Identify and ask significant questions that clarify various points of view and lead to better solutions
Definition of Communication
Communication can be defined in many ways, but P21 defines communication skills as follow:
Communicate Cleary
- Articulate thoughts and ideas effectively using oral, written, and nonverbal
- Listen effectively to decipher meaning, including knowledge, values, attitude, and intentions
- Use communication for a range of purposes (e.g. to inform, instruct, motivate, and persuade)
- Use multiple media and technologies, and know how to assess impact and their effectiveness a priori
- Communicate effectively in diverse environments (including multilingual and multicultural)
Definition of Collaboration
Collaboration can be defined in many ways, but P21 defines collaboration as follows:
Collaborate with Others
- Demonstrate ability to work effectively and respectfully with diverse teams
- Exercise flexibility and willingness to be helpful in making necessary promises to accomplish a common goal
- Assume shared responsibility for collaborative work, and value the individual contributions made by each team member
Definition of Creativity and Innovation
Creativity can be defined in many ways, but P21 defines creativity as follows:
Think Creativity
- Use a wide range of idea creation techniques (such as brainstorming)
- Create new and worthwhile ideas (both incremental and radical concepts)
- Elaborate, refine, analyze, and evaluate original ideas to improve and maximize creative efforts
Work Creatively with Others
- Develop, implement, and communicate new ideas to others effectively
- Be open and responsive to new and diverse perspectives; incorporate group input and feedback into the work
- Demonstrate originality and inventiveness in work and understand the real world limits to adopting new ideas
- View failure as an opportunity to learn; understand that creativity and innovation are part of long – term, cyclical process of small successes and frequent mistakes
Implement Innovation
- Act on creative ideas to make a tangible and useful contribution to the field in which the innovation will occur