Raising Rigorous Critical Thinkers: How to Help Grow Authentic Humans Who Think Well
Feb 2, 2024
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Adam Torson, award-winning debate coach, discusses raising rigorous critical thinkers and authentic moral citizens. He emphasizes the importance of cultivating critical thinking skills through debate, challenging information, and avoiding confirmation bias. Other topics include teaching skepticism, promoting water filtration, and investing in authentic relationships with students.
Debate builds critical thinking skills by challenging students to argue for both sides of an issue and question biases.
Teaching strategic listening and promoting constructive dialogue can help foster open conversations and thoughtful disagreement.
Deep dives
Developing Critical Thinkers and Moral Citizens
The podcast episode explores the importance of raising critical thinkers and moral citizens in a time when adults struggle to make sense of information and have meaningful conversations. The guest, Adam Torcen, the number one debate coach in the country, shares that thinking well is a moral responsibility. Debate builds communication skills, research abilities, and most importantly, the habit of engaging in rigorous and critical thinking. It challenges students to argue for both sides of an issue, separating personal identity and moral indignation from the process. Torcen emphasizes the importance of seeing arguments from different perspectives, being open to change, questioning biases, and being mindful of the reliability, academic tone, and motivation of information sources. Tips for assessing information reliability include considering peer-reviewed journals as gold standards, recognizing the qualities of reliable sources, being skeptical of social media content, seeking multiple sources, and constantly questioning beliefs to avoid confirmation bias. Torcen encourages adolescents to engage in strategic listening, express criticism respectfully, offer alternatives, and value kindness, emphasizing that real persuasion takes time. The host also discusses the role of authenticity and morality in critical thinking, and how skepticism, questioning authority, and thinking well are ethical responsibilities. Suggestions are given for parents and teachers to cultivate critical thinking skills in teens, and to help them navigate social media as a primary source of news and information.
Starting a Debate Team
The podcast episode mentioned various organizations that can help individuals start a debate team if it is not readily available at their school. The National Speech and Debate Association, National Debate Coaches Association, and Urban Debate League offer resources, mentorship programs, and support for establishing debate programs. Administrators should be presented with evidence of the academic benefits and personal growth that come with participation in debate, including improved reading skills, research abilities, college admissions, and overall critical thinking development. The intangible benefits of debate, such as empowering students with the habit of being rigorous and critical thinkers, should also be highlighted. By starting debate teams, individuals can provide students with valuable tools for personal and academic success, while fostering their ability to engage in thoughtful and meaningful discourse.
Navigating Social Media as a Source of Information
The podcast addresses the challenge of making sense of social media as the primary source of news and information for many teenagers. Parents and mentors are advised to approach the discussion with authenticity and genuine concern for the well-being and critical thinking skills of adolescents. It is essential to convey the negative effects of social media, both in terms of emotional well-being and the distortion of information. By highlighting how social media companies prioritize profit over user happiness and knowledge, teenagers can be encouraged to stand up against these manipulative platforms. The importance of recognizing the impact of social media on emotions, critical thinking, and the ability to come to informed conclusions is stressed. It is suggested that students resist the immediate gratification and dopamine-driven experience of social media in favor of more thoughtful and authentic engagement with the world.
Teaching Critical Thinking and Thoughtful Disagreement
During the podcast episode, strategies for teaching critical thinking and fostering thoughtful disagreement are discussed. Strategic listening is emphasized, allowing individuals to empathetically engage and question others' opinions before expressing disagreement. The importance of expressing shared values and acknowledging uncertainty when disagreeing with someone is highlighted to promote open conversation. Encouraging students to propose alternative viewpoints when offering criticism is recommended, as it promotes constructive dialogue. Additionally, the role of kindness and long-term persuasion is explored, suggesting that an immediate victory in a disagreement may not always be the most important goal. Changing minds and evolving opinions over time is deemed more effective and respectful. The significance of developing a culture of dispute and disagreement, balanced with kindness and empathy, is discussed to help students navigate disagreement both within and outside of the debate community.
Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.
