Course Description
This course introduces you to the tools used by the world’s best thinkers and will exemplify the activities and practice you can use to emulate them. With enough practice, you too will become the best thinker you can be.
Your coursework introduces you to the tools of mind that will help you reason through any of the problems and issues you face, whether in the classroom, in your personal life, or in your professional life. If you take these ideas seriously, and practice using them, you will be able to take command of the thinking that drives your quality of life.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course you will be able to:
- Understand the importance of fair-minded critical thinking in the cultivation of fair-minded critical societies
- Understand universal intellectual standards and their importance in human reasoning
- Articulate and exemplify the primary concepts in critical thinking and how they can be used as tools for understanding and improving human reasoning
- Articulate understanding of the problem of media bias and propaganda as a barrier to critical thought in human societies
- Understand ethical reasoning and the differences between ethics and other modes of thought, including religion, social ideologies, politics, and the law
Your Instructor
Dr. Linda Elder is an educational psychologist and a prominent authority on critical thinking. She is President of the Foundation for Critical Thinking and Executive Director of the Center for Critical Thinking. Dr. Elder has taught psychology and critical thinking at the college level and has presented to more than 50,000 educators at all levels. She has co-authored four books, including Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of Your Learning and Your Life, Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of Your Professional and Personal Life, and 30 Days to Better Thinking and Better Living. She has co-authored 24 Thinker’s Guides on critical thinking.
Trimester Price List
| Registration Type | Standard PRICE |
|---|---|
| LITE | $50 |
| Immersive | $240 |
| Academic Undergraduate | $300 |
| Academic Master | $600 |
| Academic Doctoral | $900 |
Resources and Syllabus for The Foundations of Critical Thinking for Learning and Everyday Life
Week One: Introduction to the course; introduction to the concept of critical thinking
- Introduction to the Concept of Critical Thinking - Reading
- Week One - Introduction to Critical Thinking - Video
- Week One - Introduction to Critical Thinking - Additional Materials
- Week One - Introduction to Critical Thinking - Group Discussion
- Week One - Introduction to Critical Thinking - Reflection Task - Journal
Week Two: Introduction to Intellectual Standards
Week Three: Intellectual Standards
- Week Three - Applying Intellectual Standards - Reading Assignment
- Week Three - Applying Intellectual Standards - Writing Task
- Week Three - Applying Intellectual Standards - Video
- Week Three - Applying Intellectual Standards - Group Discussion
- Week Three - Applying Intellectual Standards - Reflection Task - Journal
Week Four: Three Kinds of Thinkers; Introduction to Intellectual Virtues as Essential To Fair Minded
Week Five: Intellectual Virtues as Essential To Fair Minded Critical Thinking
Week Six: Introduction to the Three Functions of Mind: Thinking, Feeling, Wanting
Week Seven: Understanding Native Egocentricity as a Fundamental Barrier to Critical Thinking
Week Eight: Understanding Native Egocentricity as a Fundamental Barrier to Critical Thinking
- Week Eight - Native Egocentricity Continued - Video
- Week Eight - Native Egocentricity Continued - Writing Task
- Week Eight - Native Egocentricity Continued - Reading Assignment
- Week Eight - Native Egocentricity Continued - Group Discussion
- Week Eight - Native Egocentricity Continued - Reflection Task - Journal
Week Nine: Understanding Native Sociocentricity as a Fundamental Barrier to Critical Thinking
Week Ten: Introduction to the Elements of Thought: The Parts of Thinking Part 1
- Week Ten - Elements of Reasoning Part One - Reading Assignment
- Week Ten - Elements of Reasoning Part One - Writing Task
- Week Ten - Elements of Reasoning Part One - Video
- Week Ten - Elements of Reasoning Part One - Group Discussion
- Week Ten - Elements of Reasoning Part One - Reflection Task - Journal
Week Eleven: Introduction to the Elements of Thought: The Parts of Thinking Part 2
- Week Eleven - Elements of Reasoning Part Two - Reading Assignment
- Week Eleven - Elements of Reasoning Part Two - Writing Task
- Week Eleven - Elements of Reasoning Part Two - Video
- Week Eleven - Elements of Reasoning Part Two - Group Discussion
- Week Eleven - Elements of Reasoning Part Two - Reflection Task - Journal
Week Twelve: The Elements of Thought
Week Thirteen: The Elements of Thought
Week Fourteen: Where are You in the Stages of Critical Thinking Development?
- Week Fourteen - Stages of Development - Reading Assignment
- Week Fourteen - Stages of Development - Writing Task
- Week Fourteen - Stages of Development - Video
- Week Fourteen - Stages of Development - Group Discussion
- Week Fourteen - Reflection Task - Journal
- Week Fifteen - Closing Lesson - Course Evaluation
Week Fifteen: Final Assessments and Self-Evaluation
- Week Fifteen - Closing Lesson - Writing Task
- Week Fifteen - Closing Lesson - Reading Assignment
- Week Fifteen - Closing Lesson - Group Discussion
- Week Fifteen - Closing Lesson - Reflection Task - Journal
- Critical Thinking – Creative Assignment BA
- Critical Thinking – Creative Assignment MA
- Critical Thinking – Creative Assignment PHD
- Critical Thinking – Peer Review (Creative Assignment)