argumentive essay thesis

argumentive essay thesis

The Importance of Critical Thinking in the Modern Education System

1. Introduction

In the future, society might indeed form two large classes, driven by the same forces of structure and hierarchy we find in any culture. The base of the pyramid will have less work, while the apex will have more opportunities to excel, both in terms of material and psychological rewards. It is important to understand the new environment of the future in order to adapt the education system of today and prepare the members of the next generations for the right types of challenges and opportunities.

The fast paced and ever growing requirements that are faced by the current generations of students are forcing the education system to evolve. In the past four decades, the main focus of education has been on pre-defined success, such as literacy, numeracy, and discipline. At first sight, this might seem to be the correct answer, especially considering the huge imbalances that were created in previous centuries. However, the period of technical competence that followed has generated a new set of problems. This paper highlights the need for the education system to adapt to the modern working environment, where knowledge becomes obsolete in a matter of years and critical thinking skills are more important than technical skills.

2. The Role of Critical Thinking in Education

Critical thinking is essential for perspective finding, problem solving, problem prevention, and acquisition of new ideas and forms evolvement. In addition, the ability to think critically is not only a tool of informed and competent decision-making and emotional life management but also the basic competence necessary for the development of other important competences. As H. Fink believes, the action competences of a critical person are the basic competences as well as the reflection is one of the components of other competences. In fact, the development of any learner competence is implicitly institutionalized in the creation of preconditions for the development of a reflective personality, because only an autonomous, self-determined, open-minded, inquisitive, creative person with respect for others’ rights can think critically.

In the modern education system, modern attitudes and techniques are being formed to ensure the achievement of human, cultural, social, basic educational competences at a level appropriate to the aims of an advanced democratic society, as well as the development of cognitive, emotional, reflective activities. A person with critical thinking uses specifically designed tools and strategies for thoughtful, coherent, inductive and synoptic analysis, understanding, evaluation, and reformulation of information, knowledge and attitudes in making the same situation come up with different answers.

In the modern education system, the modern way of attitudes and techniques is being formed to ensure human, cultural, social, basic educational competences to the level appropriate to the goals of an advanced democratic society, as well as the development of cognitive, emotional, reflective activities. The increasing pace of change, the rapid growth of information society, the dominant role of knowledge, the dynamic development of technology put a completely new set of requirements on the training of persons who can efficiently adapt to the rapidly changing economic and social conditions, constantly self-renew their knowledge and skills.

3. Challenges and Barriers to Promoting Critical Thinking

Considering the importance of problem-solving and critical thinking in the mastery of basic content knowledge, the pressure on teachers to cover many State Standard conditions can also be dragged in their basic obligation to assist students in learning content in depth. The 2012 Gallup Organization Poll of a representative sample of 604, almost 90% of public K-school teachers experienced “a good deal” of daily stress in their jobs, and 73% experienced a lot of stress. This high level of stress extends the classroom and creates school environments that are not very conducive to student learning or creativity. Can we expect teachers with high levels of stress to promote these problem-solving skills in students that are so important to their future success when they don’t have the time or energy to promote such a practice? The only way to ensure that new content and practice are taught and that they become a lasting part of the teaching practices in schools is that the leaders, who could be the principals, the district curriculum leaders, or the high power high-level decision-makers in the local or the state educ also promote and support the implementation of these new (or research-based) practices.

As society and education continue to change, many challenges make it difficult for today’s schools and teachers to help students develop the skills they need for today’s job market. These include lack of time to plan and teach new practices, already crowded school days, and the crowded state curriculum. If teachers feel limited in their instructional practices, students will feel restricted in their learning practice. Lack of motivation to build a more successful life, teacher resistance to change, belief in traditional knowledge, lack of planning time, crowded and rigid curriculum, and inadequate resources, as well as constant pressure to prepare students for the high-stakes state exam, work against successful criticism and problem-solving skills. A number of these challenges, particularly when combined, often lead to the creation of schools and various training programs that do not adequately prepare many students with the skills they need for their future success.

4. Strategies for Incorporating Critical Thinking Skills in the Curriculum

Critical thought cannot be conceived of as an add-on to the curriculum, as an area of study. Even as it demands high standards and rigor, it must occur throughout the curriculum. After all, application of this thinking is the goal of education. Schools encourage the view, especially in children, that thinking is a process of inquiry that is dynamic. For children, this encouragement must involve initiative and activity, according to David Palmer. Such critical thinking and problem-solving strategies must be implemented from primary school, and throughout school grades and collegiate study.

If society is to prepare its young people for adult roles as contributing citizens in a complex world beset by diverse and arraying challenges, such preparation must include the faculties and skills of critical intellectual thought. How then can the modern educational system develop these faculties? What is the place of critical thinking in education? Reorienting America’s education system towards an emphasis on encouraging critical thought will require concrete suggestions and strategies that are representative of all levels of that system. Here, we present some goals and strategies that have implications for promoting the inculcation and development of a philosophy of investigative discourse.

5. The Impact of Critical Thinking on Student Success

The scope of thought in the last kilometer, a term often referred to in education reform, was found to create a creative zone, one in which shared concepts develop and are redeveloped. To instill the qualities of learning methods that will be remembered and used every day of their lives, educators are looking for a solvent that will instill long-term learning that changes with students and generates energy, motivation, and commitment to learning; helps them with future learning and concentrations; and is malleable and moldable. The choice of critical thinking as a lifelong learning methodology is why teachers change their teaching methods and use a context-based teaching approach so that students can understand thinking and learning as a problem or collaborative concept. Educational authorities at all levels, from personal schools to state leadership, are beginning to develop learning standards that teach through cooperative learning and projects. The results are not only successful but also provide tenaciously lasting learning skills, and graduates find that they are equipped with future skills that they will never forget because they generate strong behavioral change in their mind to make an impact in the world and on others.

Regardless of the model used, the very concept of critical thinking promotes itself as a lifelong method of learning, one of the cornerstones of modern education. As attitudes change and evolve in society, so educational models must also evolve and keep up with the times. Morality, shared responsibility, and the concept of empathy and emotional intelligence have taken on new meanings, leading future educators to a more complex context. Global problems, such as global warming, overpopulation, water scarcity, and food security, require brand new thinking and therefore need a different methodology in order to teach them and tackle them effectively.