Critical Thinking: An Analysis of Creative Tools and Techniques

This report delves into the significance of creative tools in enhancing critical thinking abilities, a crucial skill for modern professionals. It emphasizes the importance of critical thinking in problem-solving, logical reasoning, and systematic analysis. The report explores various tech-based tools such as Puzzlemaker, mind mapping, Whooo’s Reading, Neo K12: Flow Chart Games, and ProcessOn, highlighting their roles in fostering creative thought processes. It discusses the benefits of these tools in improving vocabulary, facilitating the organization of thoughts, and aiding in the comprehension of complex information. The conclusion reiterates the value of critical thinking and the effectiveness of creative tools in promoting innovative and analytical skills. The report also includes references to relevant academic sources.

Running head: CREATIVE TOOLS FOR CRITICAL THINKING
Creative Tools for Critical Thinking
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1CREATIVE TOOLS FOR CRITICAL THINKING
Table of Contents
Introduction:...............................................................................................................................3
Importance of Critical Thinking:...............................................................................................3
Tools:..........................................................................................................................................5
Conclusion:................................................................................................................................7
References:.................................................................................................................................8

2CREATIVE TOOLS FOR CRITICAL THINKING
Introduction:
The importance of critical thinking is observed to be notably high for the modern
companies and that is pretty prominent with the undertaking of relevant measures from the
part of the companies in promoting the critical thinking. According to the comments of
McPeck (2016), the capability to think rationally and clearly and obtaining the connection
between various ideas and insights in a logical manner, is regarded as the critical thinking.
The concept of critical thinking is present in the world for ages and many considers it to be
present from the time of Socrates and Plato. As per the esteemed opinion of Paul and Elder
(2019), the critical thinking is regarded as the capacity to be involved in the independent
thinking and reflective thinking. According to the comments of McPeck (2016), the critical
thinking demands strong capability of finding reasons and at the same time, it requires active
learning rather than the passive receiving of the information. Having said that, Cottrell
(2017), mentioned that the modern professionals have the tendency of practicing various
creative tools for the enhancement of their critical thinking. The study discusses regarding the
significance of the creative tools for the enhancement of the critical thinking.
Importance of Critical Thinking:
There are various benefits which can be achieved from the practice of the critical
thinking. As per the comments of McPeck (2016), skills of thinking critically is based on the
successful management of various activities such as reasoning, evaluating, analysing,
problem solving and decision making. On the other hand, Paul and Elder (2019), mentioned
that the utilization of the strong critical thinking skills has the potential to lead towards the
development of improved reasoning skills, decision making skills, problem solving skills,
power of accurate analysis, skills of authentic evaluation and ability to apply strong reasoning
skill. As critical thinking is considered to be a domain general thinking skills, Cottrell (2017),

3CREATIVE TOOLS FOR CRITICAL THINKING
mentioned that it is considerably important for the modern professionals in achieving new
knowledge or more appropriately it plays a substantial role in the development of the new
knowledge economy. With a close look at the concept of the new knowledge economy, the
demand of the analytical power for analysing the information, strong intellectual skills and
the ability of integrating diverse knowledge for the problem solving is seen to be prominent.
As the good critical thinking has the ability to promote such skills, the importance of the
critical thinking in the development of the new knowledge economy is pretty clear.
Other than this one of the important benefits of the critical thinking is the
enhancement of the language and presentation skills. As per the comments of Paul and Elder
(2019), the ability to think systematically and clearly, has the possibility of enhancing the
capacity of the individuals in expressing their own ideas and viewpoints. Other than this, the
critical thinking helps in the improvement of evaluation of the logical structure of the texts
and at the same time, the critical thinking plays a massive role in raising the comprehension
abilities. According to the comments of McPeck (2016), the critical thinking helps the
modern professionals in thinking creatively and in being creative in their approach. With a
detailed consideration towards the critical thinking, it is understandable that the creative
thinking enables the professionals in analysing the usefulness of the new ideas and along with
that, it helps them in the selection of the suitable ideas and in necessary modification of the
same during the time of need.
As per the comments of Hitchcock (2018), the ability of the individuals in living a
meaningful life is primarily reliant on their justification and reflection of their decisions and
values. Critical thinking is important for the modern professionals as it provides the necessary
scope to them for the above mentioned process of self- evaluation. As per the comments of
Paul and Elder (2019), the critical thinking is not just a learning rather a skill for the life.
Along with that, Paul and Elder (2019), mentioned that the role of the critical thinking is

4CREATIVE TOOLS FOR CRITICAL THINKING
significant in enhancing the expertise of the modern individuals in applying the problem
solving skills. Hence, it is understandable that the critical thinking is a multi- faceted practice
and at the same time, the significance of the same is pretty prominent from the above
discussion.
Tools:
With a detailed consideration towards the necessity of the critical thinking, Paul and
Elder (2019), mentioned that there are various tech based tools which get utilized by the
professionals for enhancing the critical thinking skills. One of the widely used tools for the
mentioned purpose by the students is Puzzlemaker. The tool is perfectly designed for the
individuals to search letter tile puzzles, word searches in customized fashion and hidden
message games (Puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com. 2020). The tool has great significance
for the professionals as vocabulary activity station. As a result, the tool plays an important
role in providing a crucial scope to the individuals in working on their vocabulary in a
considerably funny manner and that is achieved through the practice of the critical thinking
and problem solving. Another important technique for the enhancement of the critical
thinking through the tech based tools will be the practice mind mapping.
Mind mapping is probably the most practiced methods amongst the modern
professionals. Mind mapping is regarded as one of the important tools which links technology
and the critical thinking in a professional manner and provides greater ease to the
professionals in enhancing their ability in thinking critically. As per the comments of Fuad et
al. (2017), the mind mapping is a suitable technique for the individuals in portraying their
array of thoughts and the relevant branches of the same. Along with that, the mind map helps
the individuals in achieving greater understanding of a topic, problem or lesson from 360
degree consideration. Fuad et al. (2017), further mentioned that the thinking process goes

5CREATIVE TOOLS FOR CRITICAL THINKING
through an increasing number of variables and stages and as a result of the same, it depends
on various clauses. Hence, the complexity associated with the thought process is one of the
main concerns for the modern professionals in portraying the excellence of their thoughts and
ideas to others.
The difficulty associated with the expression of the complex thought process can be
tackled with the practice of mind mapping. The mind mapping provides greater ease to the
professionals in delivering the desired clarity in the thought process and the ideas through the
development of the multidimensional maps dedicated for portraying each and every insights
along with the twist and turns of the thoughts. On the other hand, Schuster (2015), claimed
that the development of the thoughts with a certain share of constraints requires the thinker to
be critical in his or her approach of thinking. As a result, it certainly requires the individuals
to apply their expertise of critical thinking and in such circumstances, the mind map provides
greater agility to them in practicing the critical thinking. Other than this, Schuster (2015),
mentioned that the mind map helps the modern professionals in understanding the whole
picture with a critical eye and also places them in a comfortable position in analysing the
information.
Along with that, the Whoo’s reading is also one of the tools that is practiced by the
modern individuals in a substantial manner. The basic concept of Whoo’s reading is present
in many other reading tools as well where those reading tools provide the scope to the
professionals in answering multiple choice questions with the practice of the critical thinking.
However, the Whoo’s reading is unique for the individuals when it comes to challenge them
for the formulation of the answers on their own (Whooosreading.org. 2020). Whoo’s reading
provides the chance to the individuals in answering the open ended questions and at the same
time, the core alignment of the automatically prompted questions is significant in ensuring
that the individuals are thinking about the questions. Other than this, an important creative

6CREATIVE TOOLS FOR CRITICAL THINKING
tool for the enhancement of the ability of the critical thinking is Neo K12: Flow Chart
Games. The tool plays a substantial role in inspiring the ability of the critical thinking with
the pre- defined flow chart games. The tool creates the flow chart games in different
categories such as human body, mathematics to life sciences (Neok12.com 2020).
For a better understanding, in case an individual explores photosynthesis, he or she
will need to cover each and every stages of the process and in covering the stages, the
individual will be in need to write regarding each and every stages of the process to complete
the same. In addition this, the practices of ProcessOn by the general individuals for enhancing
the critical thinking skills is a modern trend. Though the tool is bit limited in comparison of
the other tools, however, it provides great scope to the students for critical thinking and in
presenting their ideas regarding the processes in a visual format with provision for adding
notes, details and colours.
Conclusion:
On a concluding note, it is understandable that the critical thinking is one of the much
required skill for the modern professionals in achieving the success. The critical thinking
enhances the ability of the individuals in problem solving, logical and systematic thinking. In
addition to this, the role of the creative thinking tools such as the Puzzlemaker, MindMeister,
Whooo’s Reading, Neo K12: Flow Chart Games and ProcessOn is substantial in the
enhancement of the expertise of the individuals in thinking creatively.

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References:
Cottrell, S., 2017. Critical thinking skills: Effective analysis, argument and reflection.
Macmillan International Higher Education.
Fuad, N.M., Zubaidah, S., Mahanal, S. and Suarsini, E., 2017. Improving Junior High
Schools' Critical Thinking Skills Based on Test Three Different Models of Learning.
International Journal of Instruction, 10(1), pp.101-116.
Hitchcock, D., 2018. Critical thinking.
McPeck, J.E., 2016. Critical thinking and education. Routledge.
McPeck, J.E., 2016. Teaching critical thinking: Dialogue and dialectic. Routledge.
Neok12.com 2020. Flow Chart Games - Science, Social Studies, History And Geography.
[online] Available at: <https://www.neok12.com/flow-chart-games.htm>
Paul, R. and Elder, L., 2019. A guide for educators to critical thinking competency standards:
Standards, principles, performance indicators, and outcomes with a critical thinking master
rubric. Rowman & Littlefield.
Paul, R. and Elder, L., 2019. The miniature guide to critical thinking concepts and tools.
Rowman & Littlefield.
Paul, R. and Elder, L., 2019. The nature and functions of critical & creative thinking.
Rowman & Littlefield.
Puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com. 2020. Welcome To Discovery Education's
Puzzlemaker! Create Crossword Puzzles, Word Searches, Mazes, And Other Puzzles For
Your Classroom Today!. [online] Available at:
<http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/>

8CREATIVE TOOLS FOR CRITICAL THINKING
Schuster, P.M., 2015. Concept Mapping A Critical Thinking Approach To Care Planning. FA
Davis.
Whooosreading.org. 2020. Whooo's Reading. [online] Available at:
<https://www.whooosreading.org/>