Week 1: Critical Thinking

The ability to think critically is perhaps the single most important academic skill you can have as a student. Although the nature of critical thinking varies across different academic disciplines (as we will demonstrate in class with the help of the Student Tutors), every undergraduate needs to be willing to question the ideas, data and knowledge he or she encounters. Or to put it more simply, university isn't really about memorising and reproducing 'facts': it's about considering the significance and credibility of ideas and data you collect and encounter, and then drawing your own conclusions.

If this all sounds a bit conceptual at this stage, don't worry: we'll be spending time this week exploring what critical thinking means for your chosen degree subject. We will do this through an interactive lecture on Thursday, as well as the audio clips and online quiz exercise below that you should complete as soon as possible after class.
Materials from class
These are the slides from the Critical Thinking lecture.
Critical Thinking Film #1: Academics/Tutors
Academics and Tutors from different subjects and universities share their thoughts and experiences about what critical thinking means at university.
Critical Thinking Film #2: Students
Undergraduate students share their thoughts and experiences of what critical thinking means to them in their studies.
Film credits: Scott Willis/Aarol Films
Quiz to be completed after Thursday's lecture
This quiz challenges you to reflect on what it means to be a critical thinker in a university setting.

In completing this quiz we'd like you to:
  • attempt the question without referring back to your lecture notes
  • prepare some brief notes explaining why each of the individuals is, or isn't, a critical thinker.
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This is NOT an assessed exercise however it would be useful for us to know who has completed the exercise (irrespective of the response you give). By submitting this answer, you are agreeing to our data policy agreement which you can view here.
Additional useful information

The Open University have some excellent guides for students. Here is their take on critical thinking at university, Thinking Critically - well worth a read (and perhaps to take with you onto your studies in September...)
Here are some pages from the University of Edinburgh too...

This, from RMIT in Australia, is also a good place to start developing your critical thinking skills outside of class An Introduction to Critical Thinking (including some good online activities...)
Heard a new or unfamiliar phrase in this week's session that you don't understand? You might find a definition in the glossary.