Steps to Include in Your Continuous Improvement Action Plan for Critical Thinking Skills
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Check What You Can Do Now
- Start by taking a good look at your critical thinking skills. Think about what you're good at and what you need to work on. This can be tricky because many people think they are better than they really are. To get a clearer idea of where you stand, try using some skill-check tools and ask your friends for their opinions.
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Set Clear Goals
- Make sure your goals are specific and easy to measure. It can be tough to match your goals with what you can realistically do. Things like limited time, not enough resources, or personal biases can make this harder. To help, break big goals into smaller, doable tasks. For example, instead of trying to boost your critical thinking in every area at once, focus on one part, like figuring out if arguments make sense.
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Create a Learning Plan
- Decide how you're going to learn new skills. You could read books, go to workshops, or take online classes. But with so many options out there, it might feel overwhelming. To keep it simple, pick a few high-quality resources that fit your learning style and stick to those.
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Practice Often
- It’s important to use critical thinking skills in daily life. However, you might not see quick improvements, which can be frustrating. To make practice easier, try to include it in your everyday activities—like having conversations with friends or looking critically at news articles. Take some time to think about what you’ve learned and how you’re doing.
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Review and Update Your Plan
- Every now and then, go back to your action plan and check what’s going well and what isn’t. This might be discouraging if you feel like you’re not making enough progress. Instead of feeling down, try to see setbacks as chances to learn. Use what you’ve experienced to adjust your approach.
By recognizing these challenges and working through them, you can gradually improve your critical thinking skills. Remember, it takes time and persistence, but the journey can be worth it!