Learnhigher | What is critical thinking?
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Critical thinking and reflection are at the heart of higher education and professional development and are fundamental for whatever subject you are studying. They are seen as ‘key skills’ which employers expect graduates to bring to the workplace from university. They are both developmental and particular to the individual, at the same time they can be specific to cultural and discipline related factors.
Reflection is a complex set of processes which can empower an individual to recognise their learning opportunities and make the most of them. In its simplest form, reflection is the ability to look back over one’s experiences and identify significant aspects, such as reasons for success and failure. The important thing, of course, is to then learn from these reflections, by using them to inform practice and future learning.
In their explanation of reflection, Watton, Collings and Moon (2001) use this wonderful bit from the Harry Potter novel ‘The Goblet of Fire’ to describe reflection. In the following extract Dumbledore the chief wizard and head teacher is talking to Harry about having excess thoughts!
‘Harry stared at the stone basin. The contents had returned to their original, silvery white state, swirling and rippling beneath his gaze.
“What is it?’ Harry asked shakily.
“Err,” said Harry who couldn’t truthfully say that he had ever felt anything of the sort.