Purpose Of Thinking For Tertiary Studies â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Purpose Of Critical Thinking For Tertiary Studies? Answer: Introduction Education serves as a mean of empowering learners to participate actively in the transformation of the society. Individuals who have undergone the education process are distinct from those who did not. The importance of education in the modern society cannot be assumed. Currently, all fundamental societal activities are linked to education. With the globalization effect increasing the demand for quality education across all educational level, critical thinking has emerged as a concept of importance in learning institutions. Particularly, critical thinking competencies are vital elements for tertiary education. However, the development of these competencies depends on the interactions between the students and their instructors. Students and instructors should focus on developing the appropriate critical thinking competencies at lower stages of education to prepare for the more analytical and inferential tertiary studies. What Critical Thinking is About Recently, the concept of critical thinking has attracted discussions in the education sector. Although the understanding of critical thinking differs with societies, it serves the same purpose. Critical thinking defines the process of analyzing and evaluating thinking to improve it (Elder Paul, 2010). In simple terms, it involves the objective analysis and evaluation of a situation to make a judgment. Critical thinking works as an advanced form of standard thinking. Situations that require critical thinking are those that cannot be solved using general thinking strategies. Elder and Paul (2010) expound that critical thinking surpasses the most basic levels of intellectual thinking. Consequently, the concepts result in the restructuring of knowledge. Discrepancies exist on how students develop critical thinking capabilities. Some people use the constructivist view to argue that these skills are attained as the students mature. However, Elder and Paul (2010) refutes such suggestions. Instead, they deliberate that the development of critical thinking skills requires collaboration between the students and the teachers. Moreover, Tsui (1999) posits that students cannot develop sufficient critical thinking capacities if their teachers fail to utilize critical thinking in their instructions. According to Krathwohl (2002), there is a direct correlation between the students learning process and instruction method. As a result, teachers who employ critical thinking in their instructions propagate the same in their students. Critical thinking abilities present students with several benefits. Students utilizing critical thinking are self-directed, self-disciplined, and self-monitored thinkers (Elder Paul, 2010). Moreover, these students develop abilities to formulate precise questions, collect and evaluate pertinent informations, and develop well-thought solutions and inferences (Elder Paul, 2010). With the current global issues requiring well-structured and long-term solutions, critical thinking has become obligatory in the education system. What Tertiary Study is About The education system is divided into several levels. In many nations, the education system is divided into the preschool, junior levels, and the post-secondary stages. Out of all these levels, the post-secondary or the tertiary education level presents the most challenging phase in a students life. The application of the critical thinking competencies is mandatory at the tertiary education level. Tertiary study demands students to research by evaluating information, applying tactics to direct conclusions and develop alternative solutions, making sense of information and collaborating with other scholars to solve global issues (Boyer, 2015). According to Nold (2017), the primary goal of tertiary study institutions like colleges and universities is to develop the students critical thinking skills. In his study, Nold (2017) states that 95% of chief academic officers in institutions of higher learning assert that critical thinking as one of the most valuable skills in students. Moreover, Nold (2017) elaborates that 81% of employers want universities to put more emphasis on developing critical thinking in students. This call has been taken seriously by a significant percentage of institutions of higher learning. In fact, tertiary study insists on allowing students to work independently and collaboratively to solve existing and emerging problems. However, it insists on the independent construction of knowledge by the students under minimal supervision. This strategy to knowledge development is not present at the lower levels of learning. For instance, at the junior or primary levels, students are under constant supervision and assistance with their instructors. In summary, higher education is all about developing and applying critical thinking skills with minimal assistance from the tutors. Furthermore, it entails researching for solutions to the existing and emerging issues through analysis of existing information and predictions. Importance of Tertiary Study The development of nations is directly related to the success of their education system. Countries with well-structured education system also exhibit positive economic performance and innovation levels. Tertiary study exposes the students to a variety of strategies for addressing fundamental global issues. According to Tsui (1999), tertiary education enables students to communicate effectively and solve existing and emerging problems efficiently. The insistence on critical thinking in tertiary study equip students with a multidimensional approach to life. Furthermore, it allows students to utilize their life experiences in solving perennial global issues. Currently, tertiary education functions as the key to attain employment. Employers prefer individuals who have undergone tertiary study because of their insight on global issues. According to Nold (2017), the critical thinking competencies acquired in the tertiary study are a long-term survival tool for the students after their education. Importantly, the tertiary study does not only focus on the intellectual growth but also on the students' survival in the globalized world. Tertiary education also promotes the innovative capacity of the students. According to Krathwohl (2002), higher education exposes students to the dynamic nature of the modern society. The advanced training techniques at this level which focus on individual competence and growth propagate independence in students. Additionally, tertiary study promotes self-actualization, and its the backbone of economic growth and personal financial liberty. Currently, there is a close association of tertiary study and class. Peop le who have undergone tertiary study are regarded with respect and viewed as people who can initiate change in the society. How Critical Thinking is Beneficial for Tertiary Study Tertiary study involves the assessment of existing problems and recommending appropriate measures to address them. Activities like field experiments and going industrial attachment require individuals who can search, sort, and apply existing literature. However, these actions are not possible without the application of critical thinking principles. According to Krathwohl (2002), studies at tertiary level are objective and require higher thinking levels. Additionally, higher education calls for knowledge construction to address existing global issues. As a result, the students must employ critical thinking to identify the fundamental issues and formulate effective solutions and their alternatives. However, it is vital to note that critical thinking skills are acquired with time. In this respect, Boyer (2015) advises that it is vital to propagate critical thinking competencies in students at the lower education levels. Specifically, teachers are advised to nurture critical thinking skills in their students at the secondary education level. As Boyer (2015) explains, nurturing critical thinking skills at the lower education levels make the learning process easier at the tertiary level. In fact, at the tertiary level students should be at the application level of critical thinking, not development. However, this view calls for substantial changes to the current education system. Those in the education sector should design the curricula in a way that facilitates the development of critical thinking competencies. In spite of these educational shortcomings, critical thinking is vital in driving innovation, research, and comprehension at the tertiary education level. Conclusion The best education system is one that advocates of self-reliance and intellectual freedom. These goals can only be attained through promoting critical thinking skills at the lower educational levels. Tertiary studies rely heavily on the ability of students to think critically. Critical thinking allows students to devise new strategies to handle existing and emerging global issues. Additionally, it enables students to embrace a multidimensional approach to solving fundamental societal issues. In the modern society, tertiary education is essential in molding and producing individuals who are well-adapted to the globalized world. Moreover, it is necessary for providing solutions to the perennial issues that affect the well-being of the society through research. References Boyer, B. L. (2015). Collaborative Instructional Design for College Readiness. Knowledge Quest, 44(2), 60-65. Elder, L., Paul, R. (2010). Critical Thinking: Competency Standards Essential for the Cultivation of Intellectual Skills, Part 1. JOURNAL 0F DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION, 32(2), 38-39. Krathwohl, D. R. (2002). A Revision of Blooms Taxonomy: An Overview. THEORY INTO PRACTICE, 41(4), 212-218. Nold, H. (2017). Using Critical Thinking Teaching Methods to Increase Student Success: An Action Research Project. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 29(1), 17-32. Tsui, L. (1999). Courses and Instruction Affecting Critical Thinking. Research in Higher Education, 40(2), 185-200.