Critical and Creative Thinking
Everyone needs to think critically and creatively, just as everyone needs to breathe in and breathe out. These two key thinking patterns work together in most activities you do.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is focused, careful, and intentional. It’s sometimes called convergent thinking because your thoughts converge on a topic as you study it closely. When you think critically, you do the following:
|
Identify Reason Diagram Measure Assess Organize |
Analyze Classify Evaluate Critique Implement Choose |
Creative Thinking
Creative thinking is expansive, prolific, and original. It’s sometimes called divergent thinking because creative thoughts often reach out into the unknown. When you think creatively, you do the following:
|
Wonder Imagine Brainstorm Connect Revolutionize Invent |
Prototype Create Innovate Renovate Improvise Improve |
Problem Solving: Problem solving involves a series of steps that move back and forth between critical and creative thinking. Though no two problems are ever solved in exactly the same way, here’s a general map of problem solving.
Your Turn Think of another activity that requires problem solving, such as setting up your school schedule or designing a homecoming float. Create your own map like the one above to lay out your path through critical and creative thinking to complete this problem-solving task.