CRITICAL THINKING

Using evidence, data, arguments, analysis,

communication + open-mindedness to think about
issues
 분석 연구
Thinking about possible 연락 / 소통
causes and consequences of Discussing different
an action/issue perspectives and opinions
with other people

창의력
Thinking creatively and not
only listening to what other
people tell you to do
마음이 열린
Being open to listening to
other people’s opinions, even
if you don’t agree with them
문제 해결
Planning courses of action
to resolve problems
 What do you do? – the Trolley Problem
• This train is out-of-control and
can’t be stopped. It will kill the
5 people on the track.
• The only thing you can do is
change the track, killing 1
person and not 5.
• What do you do and why? With
your partner:
• Analyse possible consequences
of each choice.
• Be open-minded and listen to
your partners opinion.
• Creatively think of a way to
solve this problem. Most
creative solution wins!
 What is the best solution? – the Trolley Problem
• In your groups, I want you to
think of 3 different solutions
to this problem.
• For every solution, think of
advantages and
disadvantages for it.
• Then, after thinking about
advantages and
disadvantages of each
solution, choose your best
solution.
• You guys will tell the rest of
the class after, and they will
think of some disadvantages
of your problem.
What are the 5 critical thinking skills?
Socratic method
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNDYUlxNIAA

the socratic method (or socratic questioning) is a tool used in critical thinking to help
people better understand their thoughts and opinions on an issue.
it was started by the famous philosopher Socrates in Ancient Greece.
the Socratic Method goes that the best way to understand personal opinions is to
question your opinions. instead of telling people information, Socrates would ask his
students further questions, so they could better understand their own opinions and
information, rather than just being told information.
 Ask questions all the time!
• The best way to think critically is to ask
questions all of the time.
• Asking questions is crucial to analyzing
effectively. They also allow you to think
problem solve creatively.
• Further, asking questions is important to
communicating well, and being open-
minded is impossible without asking
questions related to how or why someone
thinks differently to you.
• Always ask questions to yourself and to
others when critical thinking.
 Practice – what one thing would make the world a better place?

• Answer this question individually. You can only choose

one thing. Think and write why you say that and give
an example (q1 and q3)
• Then, think of one alternative (different thing), and
think why is your idea better than the alternative (q4)
• After, discuss with your partner questions 1, 3 and 4.
Be open-minded with your partner. Together you guys
need to agree on what one thing would make the world
better.
• Now say your idea to the class. Be prepared to answer
many questions on this, so think about causes,
consequences, problems, solutions and alternatives to
what you have said.
• At the end of class, we will vote for whose idea is the
best and why.
Practice – what one thing would make the world a better place?
 What is the biggest problem in school and how will you solve this
problem?
In small groups, discuss what you think What is the biggest problem in school and how will you solve this problem?
the biggest problem in schools is. Spend 5 Problem: ..........................................................................................................
minutes discussing different problems,
Possible Why is it a Advantages of Disadvantages What potential Marks out of
and what the most important one is. solution solution? [be this solution [problems] of consequences 10 for possible
specifc] this solution would there solution (/10)
After you choose the biggest problem, be?
you need to think of possible solutions to
the problem. You need to think of at least
3 different solutions, and critically analyse
each of the solution, and choose the best
solution.

Then, you need to present what problem

and what solution to the problem you
chose and tell the class. The class will be
open-minded and critically think about
your solution, giving feedback.
Gadfly Stingray
Asking lots of little questions to push thinking and Big questions that pack a jolt. Like a stingray when it
avoid sloppiness. Like a gadfly continually nipping unleashes its sting.
away at an animal.

Examples: Examples:
- What do you mean by that? - Imagine X was not the case. Then what?
- But what if X? - What if everything was turned on its head?
- Does that always apply? Why? - You say that…But, what if Y happened? What then?
- What evidence do you have?
- Can you be certain that is true?

Midwife Ignoramus
Questions that help to give birth to ideas. Like the Playing dumb (and asking ‘dumb’ questions) to
midwife - who delivers, but does not give birth to the encourage explanation. Like a person who has
baby. never before encountered a particular topic.
Examples:
- That’s an interesting idea. Could you explain it in Examples:
a different way? - What does that even mean?
- How might that affect things? - I don’t understand. You’ll have to start right from the
- What made you think of that idea? beginning.
- Where might we look for things which support - So, do you mean that…?
what you are saying?
 What do you choose and why?

In this case, a In this case, a larger

healthy person from person from a
your home country is different country to
crossing the road yours is crossing the
and it is unclear road and he will
whether he will die definitely die if he is
or get injured if he is hit by the car.
hit by the car.
What is _ _ _ _ ?
• Beliefs that are unfair, prejudiced, incorrect or corrupted.
• These types of beliefs affect how we act and how we judge other people.
• It might affect what clothes you choose to wear, who you are friends with and even what
President you vote for.

BIAS
[adj: Biased]
Reflect: do you think your decision on what person to choose might have been biased? Why?
Did the logo or
picture on the
egg influence
your choice?
What is BIAS?
• Beliefs that are unfair, prejudiced, incorrect or corrupted.
• These types of beliefs affect how we act and how we judge other people.
• It might affect what clothes you choose to wear, who you are friends with and even what
President you vote for.

BIAS
[adj: Biased]
Have you ever…?
With your partner, starting with ‘have you ever…’, ask each of these questions to each other.
If you have done what the question asks, give yourself a point. If you haven’t, you don’t get a
point.
After, we will look at your scores.
- Defended a friend when you knew they were in the wrong?
- Bought clothes or footwear just because they were branded?
- Argued with a friend about ... PlayStation, X Box, Nintendo or PC?
- Felt upset because someone criticised your music choice?
- Believed that your pet was the best in the world?
- Made fun of someone because they wore unfashionable clothes?
- Think that a referee or umpire was treating your team unfairly?
- Felt that someone from a different country was inferior to you?
- Kept upgrading the same make of Phone without looking at other options?
With your partner:
• Discuss the following questions. Give examples for each of your answers.
Why do you think it is important we are aware of biases that we have?
Why do you think it is important we are aware of our biases when critical thinking?
If you had to explain bias to someone that had never learned it before, how would you
explain it?
(to be) aware of – to know about something

Point – write your answer to the question

Example – give an example that shows your answer
Explain – explain how your example supports your point (answer)
What do you notice in the picture?
• It’s important we know how to identify bias when we are critical thinking.
• Because bias can influence how we act and how we think, we need to know how to
spot it.
• If we read an article that is very emotional and is one-sided (only gives one side of
an argument), we can guess it is biased and therefore unreliable information)
• However, if we read information that is balanced (talks about two sides of an
argument), and is calm and uses facts/statistics to support arguments, it is
probably not biased and therefore reliable information.
 Identifying bias
How can we identify biased language?

How can we identify unbiased (reliable) language?

Identifying bias
Identifying bias
 Write your own example of bias…
• Write one unbiased source and one biased source. I will collect them after and
we will judge if they are biased or unbiased and why.

Biased/unreliable Source Unbiased/reliable

because… because…
South Korea is the best place to visit! It has soo many fun things to
do, such as trying on Hanbok, traditional foods, or visiting the
ancient castle! - Korean tour guide
Mr. Tom is the smartest, handsomest, most elegant man I have ever
known, more than my father. He is gentle, never gets angry with us
even though we make mistakes and always listens to our opinions.
That's why I like him to be my teacher. -An
Not bad resturant. -someone in Google's map review.
 Write your own example of bias…
• Write one unbiased source and one biased source. I will collect them after and
we will judge if they are biased or unbiased and why.

Biased/unreliable Source Unbiased/reliable

because… because…
Group task – make a 10 minute presentation on bias
• In groups, you need to make a powerpoint presentation explaining what bias is
and how we can identify it.
• You should first explain what bias is, giving at least 3 different examples of bias.
You should also explain why it is important we understand biases we have in
everyday life, and when critical thinking.
• You should talk about how bias affects: 1) how we act, 2) our relationships with
other people. Give examples to show these things.
• You should also find examples of bias in media (news, articles, tweets, etc…) and
analyse them. That means, you should show the examples and explain how we
can identify bias. You should talk about language used in bias/unbiased sources,
and the purpose of the sources.
• Use https://docs.google.com/presentation
 Example of bias
The language is We can guess that
emotional and the purpose is to
strong. This make people believe
often suggests a Donald Trump and
bias, because not other media
the person (that is why he says
wants to show Fake News Media).
that their Therefore, the
opinion is purpose also shows
correct. When bias because Trump
is speaking
we are biased,
emotionally to try
we believe we and make people
are correct believe his opinion,
without looking and not other
for other people’s.
alternatives.
Bias presentation rubrik
Score /5

Have explained what bias is and used examples to show it

Have explained why understanding bias is important in

everyday life AND in critical thinking
Have showed how bias affects our actions and how we interact
with other people
Have found real-world examples of bias in the media

Have identified the language and purpose of biased and

unbiased sources in the media
https://www.moralmachine.net/
• Here you will see a number of
moral dilemmas related to
self-driving cars. You need to
use your critical thinking skills
to decide which option the car
will choose.
• You should think about
advantages and
disadvantages with both
choices, as well as the
consequences of each choice.
• We will discuss together and
afterwards, we will vote as a
class which one to choose.