All employers want employees to make good decisions and to contribute to solving problems in the workplace. This means developing critical thinking skills. Critical thinking is complex and involves a number of sub skills that need to be learned and refined over time. Individuals with strong critical thinking skills are a very valuable resource to teams and to businesses.

Course Objectives on Critical Thinking:

• In this module you will explore what critical thinking is and is not
• You will discuss the components, skills, and specific characteristics and qualities that critical thinkers demonstrate
• You will also examine misconceptions and mental traps related to critical thinking
• Critical thinking develops over time, and we will discuss the stages of critical thinking development.

Course Objectives on Problem Solving:

• We will work through a problem-solving model, and you will learn about and practice the different steps and strategies within each stage.
• We will discuss decision-making and fascinating new research on the impact of information overload on our abilities to make good decisions.
• Guidelines for making good decisions will be presented as well.
• You will also learn a number of decision-making strategies that provide structures for groups to use, when they are being asked for input, or offering suggestions for solving specific problems.