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For centuries thinking has been regarded as a vital skill.Research highlights that the ability to think effectively is the key skill organisations want today. We can speak about 200 words per minute, read at about 300 words per minute and we think at a rate of about 1,500 words per minute. It is our capacity for thinking that defines us as human. It sets us apart from animals, plants and all other living organisms. As the Buddha said ‘We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world.' However we are not born thinkers, It is a skill that must be learnt. The good news is that we can improve our thinking. We can learn to think and solve problems.
"Education is not the learning of facts but the training of the mind to think." - Albert Einstein
Thinking is processing information which is stored in our memory. It is about taking in, storing and then retrieving and using information stored in our brain to make meaningful decisions. When you develop your thinking skills you will notice improvements in all aspects of your life. not just a big increase in your ability to succeed in your education and at work, but also your ability to have successful personal relationships.
Traditional thinking is concerned with analysis, judgment and explaining your position. This is the basis of the most common thinking skill which is called Critical Thinking.
Today critical thinking is highly regarded in education and business. it is about looking at a problem with an open mind and coming to a conclusion based on all the available evidence.
However in the past 50 years additional thinking skills have emerged which include:
- Conceptual Thinking – this is a big picture approach. A concept is anything that has multiple components. In conceptual thinking always focus on the prime objective, investigate all the relevant components to see what can be done to support achieving the objective.
- Creative and Lateral Thinking – identifying new ways to do things and new ways to solve problems. To look at things in a different way that is often not immediately obvious.
You will learn all these core thinking skills in detail during the course of this Certificate.
Academically, it will provide you with a much stronger knowledge base and will improve your exam results.
Professionally, it will make a positive difference to your career progression. In the 21st century research shows that all organisations want thinking employees; people who use thinking skills to make good decisions under constantly changing circumstances.
In your private life it will enable you to make better decisions and lead to an improved quality of life.
As you go through this Certificate you will gain an understanding of how thinking skills will definitely improve all these 3 important aspects of your life.
Your confidence will improve, you will be able to pick yourself up when you have disappointments and you will be better able to meet almost any challenge.
Developing your thinking skills will support your employability prospects, assist with keeping you in the job and improve your prospects for promotion.
1. Introduction to thinking. Definition of thinking. History of thinking. The importance of thinking skills.
2. Certificate content. Key outcomes of learning. Brain, memory, learning and thinking (part 1).
3. Brain, memory, learning and thinking (part 2). Structures of the brain. Brain neuroplasticity.
4. Critical reflection.
5. Abstract and concrete thinking. Introducing concepts. Divergent and convergent thought.
6. Complex problem solving (part 1). Introduction to complex problem solving. Goals and barriers.
7. Complex problem solving (part 2). The ‘ideal’ model.
8. Complex problem solving (part 3). Key considerations for effective problem solving. The characteristics of a good problem solver.
9. Complex problem solving (part 4). Pattern recognition.
10. Conceptual thinking (part 1). Understanding the conceptual thinking framework.
11. Conceptual thinking (part 2). Using the conceptual thinking framework.
12. Critical thinking. Blooms Taxonomy.
13. Creative and Lateral thinking.
14. Judgement and decision making – (part 1). How to make good decisions. Characteristics of a good decision maker.
15. Judgement and decision making – (part 2). Characteristics of a good decision maker (cont)
16. Judgement and decision making (part 3). Unconscious bias. Encouraging thinking at work.
17. Self-directed learning
When you have completed viewing the videos covering Effective Thinking Skills in the Workplace and passed the multi choice questions at the end of each video you will be eligible to download a digital certificate. This will confirm your participation in the learning and demonstrate to employers your initiative in developing this key workplace skill.
