PSYC-206 Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving

Students will study ideas designed to help them improve their thinking skills of thinking critically, reasoning clearly, using language precisely, and creatively solving problems. The importance of solid evidence and logical reasoning will be studied in a variety of contexts. Emphasis will also be on applying thinking skills to everyday practical problems, academic problems, personal problems, and social problems. Primary and secondary sources will be used from newspapers, books, television, and other media.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

ENGL-121 and PSYC-101

Hours Weekly

3 hours weekly

Course Objectives

  1. 1. Critically evaluate previously unseen secondary sources.
  2. 2. Critically evaluate information found in the mass media.
  3. 3. Apply the five steps of creative problem solving to solve problems.
  4. 4. Brainstorm many ideas.
  5. 5. Count squares accurately.
  6. 6. Solve problems when there is one right answer.
  7. 7. Draw conclusions from both inductive and deductive reasoning.
  8. 8. Apply thinking skills to problems in daily living and the mass media.
  9. 9. Describe his/her own thinking processes (metacognitive thinking).
  10. 10. Actively function in small groups.
  11. 11. Keep an Idea Notebook to include reflections on his/her own thinking.
  12. 12. Become more effective when managing his/her study time.

Course Objectives

  1. 1. Critically evaluate previously unseen secondary sources.
  2. 2. Critically evaluate information found in the mass media.
  3. 3. Apply the five steps of creative problem solving to solve problems.
  4. 4. Brainstorm many ideas.
  5. 5. Count squares accurately.
  6. 6. Solve problems when there is one right answer.
  7. 7. Draw conclusions from both inductive and deductive reasoning.
  8. 8. Apply thinking skills to problems in daily living and the mass media.
  9. 9. Describe his/her own thinking processes (metacognitive thinking).
  10. 10. Actively function in small groups.
  11. 11. Keep an Idea Notebook to include reflections on his/her own thinking.
  12. 12. Become more effective when managing his/her study time.