How Good Thinking Makes Good Lives: 100 Scenarios for Creative and Critical Thinking

Charles Png

Description

This book is about Good Thinking. By applying the 8 SCENARIO Principles, readers will be able to develop their critical and creative thinking abilities. The belief that a good thinking model makes for a good life has prompted us to write a book for those who aspire to be better thinkers.

This book is for everyone who believes that through good thinking, good lives are made. These principles will enable you to effectively think through critical and creative challenges. This will allow you to think more effectively and creatively. You will be amazed by the changes in your life when you think more clearly. These scenarios are written to allow you to do the following:

1. As a facilitator, you will be able to use these real-life scenarios to have discussions with your participants. These scenarios will help your participants to use the tools provided to think more critically and creatively.

2. As an educator, you will be able to use these authentic scenarios to reflect on your own experiences and to apply these thinking principles with your students. Teach them the thinking tools.

3. As a reader, you will be able to use these relevant scenarios to determine the principles you will use when you think. These thinking tools will enable you to be a better thinker.

4. As a thinker, you will be able to identify with these impactful scenarios as they relate to your thinking in your daily life. The tools will remind you to be a better thinker.

The suggested answers are just that—suggestions. Feel free to consider other suggestions that are aligned with the issue and the context.

Sujets

• Santé et bien-être
• Bien-être émotionnel
• Bien-être émotionnel
• Développement personnel
• Bien-être
• Bien-être
• Bien-être
• Bien-être
• Personal Growth
• Self-help
• développement personnel

Informations

• Publié par: eBookIt.com
• Date de parution: 23 octobre 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9789810917166
• Langue: English

Extrait

How Good Thinking Makes Good Lives:
100 Scenarios for Creative and Critical Thinking
Charles Png
Published By Charles Png
First Published 10 Oct 2014
ISBN: 978-981-09-1716-6
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or any means electronic or mechanical, without the written permission by the copyright owners or publisher.
While great care was taken in the preparation of this book, the author and publisher disclaim any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions, and they disclaim any liability for losses or damages incurred through the use of the information in this book.
Printed in Singapore
Critical and Creative Thinking with Scenarios
This book is about Good Thinking. By applying the 8 SCENARIO Principles , readers will be able to develop their critical and creative thinking abilities. The belief that a good thinking model makes for a good life has prompted us to write a book for those who aspire to be better thinkers.
Table of Content
Principle 1: S eek Simple Solutions Soon
Principle 2: C hange Concepts
Principle 3: E xaggerate Evidence
Principle 4: N ever Hold a Narrow Viewpoint
Principle 5: Q uestion A ssumptions
Principle 6: R isk a Result
Principle 7: I t’s an Issue If…
Principle 8: O bjectivize Opportunity
Acknowledgements
How to Use This Book
This book is for everyone who believes that through good thinking, good lives are made. These principles will enable you to effectively think through critical and creative challenges. This will allow you to think more effectively and creatively. You will be amazed by the changes in your life when you think more clearly. These scenarios are written to allow you to do the following:
1.      As a facilitator, you will be able to use these real-life scenarios to have discussions with your participants. These scenarios will help your participants to use the tools provided to think more critically and creatively.
2.      As an educator, you will be able to use these authentic scenarios to reflect on your own experiences and to apply these thinking principles with your students. Teach them the thinking tools.
3.      As a reader, you will be able to use these relevant scenarios to determine the principles you will use when you think. These thinking tools will enable you to be a better thinker.
4.      As a thinker, you will be able to identify with these impactful scenarios as they relate to your thinking in your daily life. The tools will remind you to be a better thinker.
The suggested answers are just that—suggestions. Feel free to consider other suggestions that are aligned with the issue and the context.
The SCENARIO Thinking Framework
We follow the SCENARIO framework to identify the 8 Principles that effective thinkers can apply to each situation that they face. Each principle combines both the critical and creative actions that thinkers will need to use in order to think more effectively.
Using this framework:
The capitalized words highlight the key strategies to use when we critically or creatively think; for example, See Somewhere Else is a tool that can be used to enhance critical thinking. A scenario provided along with this principle will highlight the importance and the uses of such a tool.

The 8 Principles are as follows:
Principle 1: Seek Simple Solutions Soon
In order to critically think, there is a need to See somewhere else in order to See the Big Picture. We also need to be Solution-focused and to see the positive when it comes to the challenges that we face.
In order to be a creative thinker, we need to Find the Simple and Right problem and See the Obvious. Find the environment where you get Support and where you can Slay the sacred cow. Finally, to think well, you need to Set a Deadline soon.
Principle 2: Change Concepts
To think critically, one must be able to identify the main Concept/s or Big idea/s that crystallize the subject. This requires us to Find a Pattern among the different ideas.
To think more creatively, one must not Fall in love with Ideas but constantly Change Viewpoints with new ideas, Challenge the Concepts, Combine Ideas, or Change the Concept altogether.
Principle 3: Exaggerate Evidence
To critically analyze an issue and be seen as credible, one must be able to provide evidence or information that supports your viewpoint.
To think more creatively, one needs to Exaggerate and Find out what has failed before. This will enable you to Rearrange, Reverse, or Substitute with new ideas to form a New Metaphor.
Principle 4: Never Hold a Narrow Viewpoint
As a critical thinker, it is important to have a Point of View. However, this should also mean that we Avoid Intellectual Arrogance that might lead us to hold onto this viewpoint when presented with new evidence.
As a creative thinker, it is important, then, to Try a Random Idea to expand our range of ideas.
Principle 5: Question Assumptions
As critical thinkers, we make certain Assumptions, and these become our Beliefs and Values, which cause us to hold onto our point of view.
To be creative thinkers, we should Drop Assumptions and Think, sometimes, like Children. We need to Be Persistent in questioning our deeper assumptions.
Principle 6: Risk a Result
To hold onto this viewpoint and to your belief system, it is important that we recognize that Results occur. This has Implications for you and for others when we think critically.
A creative thinker chooses to exercise his/her Risk Muscle. They Listen to their Intuition and Learn Quickly from Mistakes. Creative thinkers always ask “What is at Stake?” and that motivates them to make the change.
Principle 7: It’s an Issue If…
It is important to identify the main Issue or Question that encapsulates a discussion. As critical thinkers, we need to ask ourselves to “Think Deeper” into ourselves. That is an essential question.
Constantly question your issues. A creative thinker is one who asks “What If?” They will Pause for a While to Check their Timing in order to Use All Senses to Look into History.
Principle 8: Objectivize Opportunity
A critical thinker asks what the Objectives of Questions are. This allows the thinker to identify the Purposes of the Questions.
A creative thinker Seizes opportunities and Allows his/her Mind to Wander. The creative thinker Asks, “Why?” when faced with a new idea or concept and Focuses on the Important Issues.

Thinking Domains
The 100 scenarios in this book are based on the following domains.

1.      At the workplace
2.      In public
3.      At home
4.      In local politics
5.      In current contexts
6.      In world contexts
The contexts are relevant both in Singapore and internationally.
Principle 1:
Seek Simple Solutions Soon

Critical Thinking: Seek Somewhere Else
Scenario 1: “Search Facebook”
You have been told by your boss to research the latest technologies in social media communication. You need to present to her which tools should be allowed in the office and which technologies can be used to connect with customers.

What would you do? What would you say? How would you handle this situation?
Suggested answers:
1.      Search online for these technologies and immerse yourself in some of these platforms.
2 .      Provide a presentation that highlights the key benefits and disadvantages of each tool and how it has been implemented in another place/organization.
3 .      How can we connect better—face to face?

Critical Thinking: Seek Somewhere Else
Scenario 2: “Talent Management Solutions”
You face a HR issue that is new to your organization. This requires a new system that will enable HR solutions to be delivered.

What would you do? What would you say? How will you handle this situation?
Suggested answers:
1.      See how these solutions are delivered in similar companies and study their practices.
2.      Consider companies outside your industry to seek different solutions.
3.      Are there solutions other than the new system?

Critical Thinking: See the Positive Solution
Scenario 3: “The Parting of the Red Sea”
Flash floods have hit a popular residential district. There have been complaints against the authorities for their poor response to the floods.

What would you do? What would you say? How would you handle this situation?
Suggested answers:
1.      Brainstorm different possible solutions to alleviate the problem.
2.      A positive outcome requires that residents take proactive and positive steps to work with the authorities to see through the problem.
3.      Are there technologies that can part the Red Sea?

Critical Thinking: See the Positive Solution
Scenario 4: “Thomas Edison’s Attitude”
A fire gutted his factory as he stood there watching. His lifetime of work was in flames.

What would you do? What would you say? How would you handle this situation?
Suggested answers:
1.      Thomas Edison saw this as an opportunity to rework his plans, knowing what he did not want to do the next time around. In two weeks, he came up with the phonograph.
2.      Discuss, with individuals who matter, how this could be a positive sign.
3.      What can you salvage from the debris?

Critical Thinking: See the Big Picture
Scenario 5: “The World’s Watching”
A girl fell onto the road of a public bus station. Her legs were hurt by a moving vehicle. The company gave her $5000 as compensation for her loss. You are a senior manager of the bus company.

What would you do? What would you say? How would you handle this situation?
Suggested answers:
1.      Review the video of the incident if possible.
2.      Suggest that a meeting be convened to discuss further liabilities resulting from the case.
3.      The big picture requires those who are involved to discuss the case and what can be done about it, noting the further implications of the situation.

Critical Thinking: See the Big Picture
Scenario 6: “When is a Good Tim