USING CRITICAL, CREATIVE AND CARING THINKING IN DEVELOPING NIGERIAN YOUTHS (EDUCATION PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
THE IMPORTANCE OF CRITICAL THINKING AND CREATIVE THINKING IN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN NIGERIA
1.1 THE BACKGROUND
Critical Thinking:
Critical Thinking leads to self realization; it is way of thinking positively not negatively, also method of thinking about thinking which is the key to thinking critically. (Marzano, Robert) et al mentioned the skills involved in critical thinking which are the;
(a) Honesty
(b) Rationality
(c) Self-awareness
(d) Open-mindedness
(e) Discipline
(f) Judgement
(g) Tolerance
(a) Honesty – Thinking in honesty way which is positively not negatively (D.N) (198) pp. 18-9.
(b) Rationality: The ability to combine problems together and reason what to do not just to take non-critical thinking also finding the best explanation on evidence and ignore the ones that is not good.
(c) Self-awareness: Thinking most have thought, conscience and them mind have be aware of what thought is in the mind, be aware of the person thought.
(d) Open-mindedness: The mind have to be aware and opened to have a positive thoughts, not non-critical thinking.
(e) Discipline: The thinking must be well checked and well thought understand the right thoughts and wrong one. It will be well trained in other to achieve a critical thought and creative thought.
(f) Judgement: The mind must be checked and find different and collect the good thought and avoid the unused ones.
(g) Tolerance: Thinking must have self-evidence, tolerance the ones the person feels as a good thought before saying or using it to solve problems.
Creative Thinking: The ability to give the interpretation of mind can be positive on negative. One would have thought that more enlightened attitude towards person would have thought that greatest appreciation of person’s capacity to be aware to thinks for himself and to reason about to metaphysical and epistemological issues. Also it insistence on the idiosyncratic character of persons experience liberated that person from treatment as an underdeveloped adult at school and at home.Anih (2001) highlighted the various processes involved in CACT. They are:
a) Observes self in the process of thinking.
b) Monitors and corrects self in the process
c) Can suspend thinking, judgements, and evaluations.
d) Knows the difference between thinking, sensing, and margining and can use each selectively.
e) Checks for errors and has standards for the communication of ideas.
f) Asking Questions from observations.
g) Giving reasons and distinguishing good reasons from bad ones.
h) Co-operation/collaboration stages.
i) Dialogue spirit requires care and commitment.
j) Critical and creative thinking, Dialogue is also essential for the building of common purposes and understandings in terms of any kind of growth.
k) It is an art to be though, studied and practical and as such it is not a result of a quick fix up.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Nigerian system of education is in shambles because of inappropriate approach towards solving educational problems. Valuable democratic principles are not practiced in our educational system. People no longer live with the spirit of brotherhood. Youths in Nigeria wants to ascertain their individuality through deviating from the social norms, engaging in examination malpractice, robbery, violence, kidnapping, wearing indecent clothes and cultism. Many people want to become noticed, nobody wants to listen and care for his brothers’ ideas and existence. The point of inquiry is ‘if everybody is talking who critically analyzes, evaluates and understands his neighbor?
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
This study seeks to look into exposing critical, creative and caring thinking as the solution to developing Nigerian youths.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study is important because it will help to enlighten our educational administrators and curriculum planners, parents and teachers on the right approach in relating with young people and also on the right dimension to follow in order to solve the existing problems in Nigerian educational system.
