Why is Teaching Critical Thinking Important?
After looking at what constitutes critical thinking, it is then prudent to inspect why it is important to teach. These reasons include:
- Improving learning via critical thinking skills ("learning is the most important goal of schooling (Kassem, 2000)")
- Liberating the mind by creating "competent" and "independent" judges (Siegel, 1980)
- Sustaining democracy since critical thought "sustains, builds, and perpetuates the democracy (Abrami, et al., 2008)"
- Providing economic opportunities as "people with well-developed critical thinking skills are in high demand (Willingham, 2008)"
- Enabling people to keep pace with the modern, ever-changing world
Improving Learning
After looking at what constitutes critical thinking, it is beneficial to examine why critical thinking is in such high demand. At the forefront, is the idea that critical thought allows for more thorough learning. Kassem puts it best when she paraphrases and expands on John Dewey’s belief that “learning is the most important goal of schooling, and learning is a consequence of thinking. Ergo, if educators can enhance students' thinking skills, enhanced learning will likely result (Kassem, 2000).” In essence, critical thought foreshadows learning and by teaching students to be diligent with their thought processes provides students with increased retention, understanding, and assimilation of knowledge. The better students are at critical thinking the more effective learners they will be making this one on of the most sought after aspects of education (Abrami, et al., 2008). The whole point of education is learning and critical thinking simply provides a means to that end.