Date of Completion

5-31-2005

Document Type

Open Access Capstone

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

First Advisor

Nina Greenwald

Abstract

This work addresses the need for organizational change in the workplace. Too often businesses and companies ignore the advantages of critical and creative thinking. This project first explores some of my thinking patterns relative to designing a synthesis project. What are my interests and what effect do these have in determining a direction for this synthesis paper? Next, I discuss the concepts and ideas surrounding critical and creative thinking from both an individual and organization point of view. Theories and ideas are presented from key critical and creative thinking researchers. My introspection of what I deem to be important aspects of critical and creative thinking are also provided. To help promote understanding of critical and creative thinking, I developed four workshops. Each of these workshops demonstrates specific key elements of both critical and creative thinking along with common pitfalls that occur in our thinking processes. For example, the first workshop pertains to critical thinking concepts and principles and the pitfalls of point of view and frame of reference. In this particular workshop individuals are given an exercise to complete. Then small groups are formed to share their individual results followed by an interactive discussion on critical thinking characteristics. Next, working with the group we try to identify the key elements of critical thinking. After this discussion I present a table that represents these elements of critical thinking. Next, the group and I explore obstacles that get in our way, that prevent us from being good critical thinkers. Then the group and I look at ways to help nurture the critical thinking process. As this particular workshop unfolds and critical thinking principles develop, there is time devoted to emphasizing the progression from individual thinking to team thinking. This progression demonstrates that individuals have different points of view and frames of reference. We approach analysis and evaluation from different perspectives. Mastering critical thinking takes time, awareness, and discipline. The remaining three workshops follow a similar format of using an exercise to help explain CCT principles and of directly involving individuals interactively in order to promote self-discovery. The conclusion of this synthesis provides a look at other considerations a practitioner may need to address relative to conducting workshops. Lastly, my personal thoughts about the CCT program are discussed along with my next steps in the journey.

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