Developing Critical Thinking: SMART Goals and Reflective Summary

This assignment solution focuses on developing critical thinking skills through the application of SMART goals and reflective practice. The student outlines specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals for enhancing their critical thinking abilities, including evaluating arguments and improving analytical reasoning. The reflective summary utilizes Gibbs' reflective cycle to describe the experience of learning critical thinking methods, the feelings associated with this learning, and an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses. The analysis highlights the development of critical thinking skills and the ability to form and evaluate logical arguments, while the conclusion emphasizes the need for continued practice and the action plan involves active participation and continuous improvement. The assignment demonstrates the student's understanding of critical thinking, argument construction, and self-reflection within a professional development context.

Objective setting

Table of Contents
SMART Academic Goals ......................................................................................................3
Reflective Summary ..............................................................................................................4
REFRENCES ..................................................................................................................................6

SMART Academic Goals
What did
I learn?
What went
well?
What could I
have done
better?
What did I gain
from experience?
SMART goals for future
development
I learned
about
critical
thinking
skill and .
I was able to
compare facts
and identify
their merits and
demerits to
conduct critical
evaluation of
various topics.
I could have
critically
evaluated
views of other
individuals on
the basis of
their action. In
future I will
evaluate
opposing ideas
by
acknowledging
various
different
perspectives.
I have developed
effective critical
thinking skills from
this experience as I
am able to judge
various sides of an
argument. An
example of
development of this
skill is that I was
able to use my
critical thinking
skills to analyse
arguments for and
against child labour.
Specific: I aim to develop
my critical thinking skill
to process information in a
clear, logical, reasoned
and reflective manner.
Measurable: The
measuring parameters for
developing critical
thinking skills is by using
validated critical thinking
skills test. I will measure
progress related to critical
thinking by taking
analytical reasoning tests
and see my progress.
Achievable: This goal is
attainable as I have gained
certain critical thinking
skills.
Relevant: Development of
this goal will help me
make professional
advancement.
Time bound: I aim to
attain this goal in 3
months.

I have
learned
about
procedure
of
evaluating
an
argument
and
forming
deductive
as well as
non
deductive
arguments
.
I was able to
evaluate various
arguments and
gain an
understanding of
various types of
argument.
I could have
constructed
logical
arguments on
ban of child
labour by
using various
kinds of
reasoning.
I have gained
knowledge about
argument formation
and evaluation. I was
able to construct a
non-deductive
argument about child
labour on the basis
of my knowledge.
Specific: I aim to for
deductive and non-
deductive arguments
through logical reasoning.
Measurable: The
measuring parameters for
this goal is the ability to
build logical arguments. I
will measure my progress
in forming deductive and
non-deductive arguments
by participating in debates
and taking feedback from
my opponents.
Achievable : This goal is
achievable as wide range
of information is available
on this topic.
Time bound: I aim to
attain this goal in 6
months.
Reflective Summary
Gibbs Reflective model
Description: I have gained critical thinking methods and process along with various
ways of constructing and evaluating logical arguments. I was able to critically evaluate various
facts, evaluate statements and form logical arguments.
Feelings: I feel that this experience has enhanced my academic skills and given me a
new point of view for evaluating statements, arguments and facts. I believe that by gaining and
understanding of critical thinking skills and ways of argument formation and evaluation I will be
able to make quick progress in my academic and processional career.

Evaluation: One of the most beneficial things about this experience was that I am able to
critically evaluate facts, opinions and conduct self reflection. I have gained the ability to
formulate evidence based, opinion based arguments and evaluate them on the basis of deductive
and non-deductive reasoning which is another advantage of this experience. The main
disadvantage associated with this experience is my low participation level which stopped me
from full understanding the topic.
Analysis: This experience has helped me develop fairly good critical thinking skills and
given me the ability to form and evaluate logical arguments. Although I need to improve these
skill in order to gain proficiency.
Conclusion: I need to evaluate challenging arguments in order to develop my critical
thinking skills and improve my process of forming a logical arguments.
Action Plan: I aim to actively participate and make original arguments in future. In
addition to this I aim to continuously improve my critical thinking skill in ortder to perform
better in future.

REFRENCES
Online
Gibbs' Reflective Cycle, 2021. [Online] Available through
<https://www.ed.ac.uk/reflection/reflectors-toolkit/reflecting-on-experience/gibbs-
reflective-cycle>