Critical and Creative Thinking Report: Models and Case Study Analysis

This report delves into the concepts of critical and creative thinking, presenting two key models: the Paul-Elder Critical Thinking Framework, which emphasizes reasoning and intellectual standards, and Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, which proposes diverse modalities of intellect. The report then outlines the concepts and methods of critical thinking including analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. The second part of the report applies these principles to a case study of Bounce Fitness Cairns, a fitness center. The case study analyzes employee performance and proposes educational opportunities for fitness instructors. It explores workplace resources, budget planning, and strategies for fostering critical and creative thinking among employees. The report also addresses cognitive biases and offers practical advice on how to cultivate a culture of creativity, emphasizing the importance of open communication, risk-taking, and self-reflection within the workplace.

Critical and Creative Thinking

Outline two models of critical and creative thinking.
Two Models of Critical and Creative thinking.
Model: Outline
Paul-Elder Critical Thinking Framework There are three parts to the Paul-Elder
structure.
● Think (reasoning) is made up of the
following elements: Purpose, Attempt,
Assumption, Data, Information, and
Evidence. Ideas and Concepts It is
possible to draw conclusions from the
information provided.
● Inquiry into the norms of reasoning
that should be used Relevance, depth,
breadth, rationality, importance, and
justice are all important aspects of
clarity.
● Constant and systematic application of
intellectual standards to the
components of thinking forms a
critical thinker's intellectual qualities.
Intellectual humility, openness,
empathy, truthfulness, and faith in
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reasoning are all examples of being
fair-minded.
Multiple Intelligences Gardner ● Multiple intelligences hypothesis
suggests that human intelligence may
be divided into several "modalities of
intellect," rather than being defined as
a single, all-encompassing talent.
● When it comes to demonstrating
multiple intelligences, Howard
Gardner identified eight distinct
capacities. Interpersonal,
Intrapersonal, Logical-mathematical,
Bodily-kinesthetic, and Naturalistic
are some of the other components of
music.
● According to Gardner, all types of
intelligence are equally important;
however, Gardner posited that they
may either be nurtured and so
improved or ignored and thus
decreased.
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Concepts and methods of critical thinking. Analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating ideas
and methods are essential.
Concept and approach Features
Analysis ● In order to show how the "whole" is
composed of the "parts," this topic or
notion will be broken down and evaluated.
It aids in the discovery of data
connections.
● Analytical tools include cause-and-effect
graphs and benchmarking. These
technologies let us find problem-solving
connections.
Synthesis ● Combining pieces leads to conclusions,
repeating patterns, or similarities.
Synthesis reassembles existing info.
● You may use a number of tactics or tools
to synthesize connections between
knowledge sources and develop new ideas,
solutions, or alternatives.
Evaluation ● Evaluation entails making a judgment
based on criteria and standards, then
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explaining it. To evaluate an argument or
idea, you must examine and analyze it
(Mendelson and Wolf, 2017).
● Truth and relevance may be assessed using
modern, reliable technologies.
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Part B:
In light of the critical and creative thinking you've learned, it's time to turn your attention
toward the Bounce Fitness case study.
Bounce Fitness Case study
You run Bounce Fitness Cairns. Fitness trainers are at your disposal. As center manager, you're
responsible for this branch's performance, including its employees'.
Trainers supervise Bounce Workout's fitness classes. Each class draws 10-25 consumers.
Fitness instructors must be well-versed in exercise and nutrition to conduct group courses. You
examine each team's expertise to improve their performance. Using the knowledge you've
obtained, you want to establish educational opportunities for fitness instructors.
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Questions Log
Questions for the Individual Team Member
Questions for the Individual Team Member
Question
Benchmark Answer
What would you do with fifteen minutes of
fame?
Make my name
What one thing do you own that you wish
you didn't?
My qualification
What is your biggest addiction? Reading
What was the worst job you ever had? My first job
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Workplace resources
It is possible that following the appropriate protocols and rules will make it easier to ascertain
which of the data items are the most crucial and to eliminate those that are not pertinent to the
study. Policies and procedures that have been in existence for some time may become aware of a
problem or scenario, which may be of assistance in understanding what factors contributed to the
problem's emergence in the first place and in carrying out additional research (Coffelt et al.
2019) The particular measures that may be done to strengthen the company's financial position
and ensure that its long-term goals are achievable are included in the budget plan that has been
developed. It's possible that exercising critical thinking may assist in distributing resources in a
manner that's in accordance with the budget, which would ensure that the business flourishes and
remains profitable. The study of a budget plan and the interpretation of deviations are both
facilitated by the use of critical thinking, which in turn serves to facilitate the monitoring of
present performance and the creation of future budgets that are more exact.
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Critical thinking is a skill that should be taught and practiced by everyone in the company.
Have a conversation with them about the things they do on a daily basis and ask them to name
the activities that need them to use critical thinking. In order to solve a problem that they are
having with the most vital duties, you should ask them to start the five-step procedure.
Remember that everyone has their own set of cognitive biases (Harris, 2019). To put it another
way, when faced with a dearth of knowledge, our brains will, of their own will, automatically
resort to various mental shortcuts. This obstacle can be overcome. While they are looking for
answers and considering many possible outcomes, you should remind them of the significance of
the job that they are doing. Help youngsters grow more adept at finding answers to challenges by
supporting their efforts to devise answers on their own. Once the worker has arrived at some
preliminary results, you should make feedback and help them improve their ideas by working
alongside them. Even highly experienced critical thinkers often have trouble communicating
their findings effectively when it comes to drawing conclusions.
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How are you going to teach your employees how to think creatively?
1. The first thing that has to be done is to establish a culture of creativity among the team.
2. The layout of a workplace has the potential to play a role in encouraging innovative
thought.
3. Enable a certain amount of leeway and adaptability in the manner in which the task is
carried out.
4. Make available a platform that enables the free flow of information.
5. It is important to recognise the value of self-reflection and support its development.
6. In the workplace, employees should be encouraged to take risks that are creative and
inventive (Atkinson and Jones, 2018).
7. Make your workspace available to the public.
8. Inspire the participation of others in the endeavor.
9. Always have an open and honest attitude in all you do.
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Refrences:
Atkinson, V. and Jones, C., 2018. Endemic unprofessional behaviour in health care: the mandate
for a change in approach. Medical Journal of Australia, 209(9), pp.380-381.
Coffelt, T.A., Grauman, D. and Smith, F.L., 2019. Employers’ perspectives on workplace
communication skills: The meaning of communication skills. Business and Professional
Communication Quarterly, 82(4), pp.418-439.
Harris, R., 2019. ACT made simple: An easy-to-read primer on acceptance and commitment
therapy. New Harbinger Publications, pp.1-67.
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