Critical thinking essentially refers to the mental process of analysing information accurately, precisely, comprehensively and without bias. The process involves gathering information, breaking it down into smaller sections for closer examination and or discussion and evaluating it to reach a well justified conclusion or solution.
The ability to think critically has relevance in the workplace as it can be applied in the process of solving complex real-world problems. It has particular relevance in research and development, policy making and other fields of work where issues, ideas and problems are explored in depth.
Critical thinking can be difficult for people who have a disability that affects the way the brain works or processes information such as people with intellectual disabilities, acquired brain injuries, specific learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, psychiatric disorders, dementia and other neurological conditions.
Workplace adjustments and solutions
Critical thinking is about solving complex real-world problems. Critical thinking can be supported in the workplace by breaking information or problems down into smaller segments allowing the key issues to be discussed or problem solved by an individual or a team.
Supports to assist people to develop their critical thinking skills include job coaching services and mentors. Job coaching services and mentors can assist people using strategies such as role playing, reviewing information with the employee or presenting information in a way that is more easily understood by a person with disability, such as through Easy English translation.
Graphic organisers have many names including visual maps, mind mapping and visual organisers as they can be used to express thoughts through a series of pictures rather than complex words or sentences. When using a graphic organiser to assist with critical thinking, most of the words can be removed from ideas, allowing the focus to be on connections or links between the ideas, using only the key words and images:
References
The Critical Thinking Community 2009, Defining Critical Thinking, Foundation for Critical Thinking, California, viewed 17 July 2009, <http://www.criticalthinking.org/page.cfm?CategoryID=51>.
Johnson, L. & Lamb, A. 2007, Learning Resources: Graphic Organisers, eduscapes, online, viewed 17 July 2009, http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic73.htm