We have always dreamt of a world where progress, development, and prosperity are within everyone’s reach. Our Blue-Green planet is now dotted with environmental decay, social fragmentation, and economic instability, and these problems seem to be growing enormously.
These issues anticipate a response from all of us to avert the consequences for future generations. The least we can do is prepare our younger generation with the required skills and competencies to solve these problems and reclaim the planet. But how do we begin?
Through teachers; Teachers are the key architects in shaping the minds that will help the future generation, armed with innovation, to find the solutions for these challenges.
Thinking Pattern
Typically, our thoughts revolve around various aspects of our lives and shape. Much of our daily thoughts and priorities, starting with personal matters and professional responsibilities encompass career aspirations, contributions to our field, nurturing relationships and fulfilling responsibilities towards our loved ones.
A teacher's personal experiences have a direct link to their thought processes, and it plays a foundational role in shaping their academic thinking.
Through Examples
Teacher 1 saw parents praise her sibling’s artistic talents while recognizing her academic achievements as well. This positive experience shaped Teacher 1’s perspective, making her celebrate each student’s individual talents and diverse abilities for a supportive and inclusive environment.
Teacher 2 believed that her parents favoured her brother, giving him more educational support and recognition, while she had to manage on her own. Rather than considering that her parents might have seen her as more independent, she concluded that life has inherently unfair opportunities. Her thinking is skewed by a sense of injustice. This perception clouds her judgment, potentially impacting her interactions and decisions in the classroom leading to a biased approach in teaching.
Such experiences ingrain a "concretized" thinking, by reinforced beliefs and attitudes, making it a natural part of how they interpret situations or concepts. Over time, this mindset becomes a stable foundation for their actions and judgments, guiding their approach consistently and forming what is called THINKING PATTERN.
Levels of Thinking
Thinking happens at different levels - basic, logical, analytical, critical and creative.
Basic Thinking
Involves understanding simple facts, ideas, or concepts without deep analysis. It is foundational and enables us to recognize information and understand basic instructions.
Logical Thinking
Involves structured, step-by-step reasoning to solve problems or make decisions. Logical thinking follows clear, sequential steps to arrive at conclusions that are consistent and rational.
Analytical Thinking
Focuses on breaking down complex information into parts, examining relationships, and identifying patterns. Analytical thinking enables us to dissect problems to understand the underlying components and how they interact.
Critical Thinking
Involves evaluating information, ideas, or arguments by questioning assumptions, assessing evidence, and considering different perspectives. Critical thinking helps us form judgments that are thoughtful and unbiased.
Creative Thinking
Engages the mind in generating novel ideas, envisioning possibilities, and looking beyond standard solutions. Creative thinking encourages innovation, imagination, and the ability to see situations from fresh perspectives.
Thinking to Thinking Pattern
One’s thinking becomes a thinking pattern through repeated experiences, reflective practices, and consistent application of beliefs and habits in professional and personal contexts.
When a teacher is balanced and open-minded, it leads to logical thinking, often referred to as a scientific approach. This mindset enables them to analyze situations objectively, question assumptions, and consider various perspectives, fostering problem-solving skills, evidence-based decision-making, and a capacity to adapt thoughtfully to new challenges.
The patterns of thinking we adopt are influenced by a variety of psychological factors, including cognitive processes, emotional states, attitudes, and external circumstances. These thinking patterns guide our daily decision-making and play a critical role in influencing others.
Types of Thinking Pattern
1. Cognitive-Based Thinking Patterns
Cognitive thinking patterns are the mental processes that govern how we understand and interpret the world. They form the foundation of problem-solving and decision-making, and they determine how we process and respond to information.
It includes analytical thinking which involves breaking down complex issues into smaller, manageable parts for better understanding, critical thinking which evaluates arguments and evidence, questioning assumptions and considering alternative viewpoints with intellectual rigor. Also, abstract thinking which focuses on broad concepts and ideas, essential for planning and creativity, in contrast to concrete thinking, which emphasizes tangible facts and realistic, practical decision-making. Similarly, creative thinking enables the generation of new and innovative ideas by thinking outside conventional boundaries. Finally, divergent thinking which explores multiple possibilities and solutions, often used in brainstorming, and convergent thinking that narrows down options to find the best and most effective solution.
2. Emotional-Based Thinking Patterns
Emotional thinking patterns are driven more by feelings than by logic or evidence.
Emotional thinking can lead to decisions driven by one's current emotional state rather than rational analysis, often resulting in impulsive choices or misjudgments, especially when emotions run high. Optimistic thinking focuses on positive possibilities, fostering motivation and resilience, while pessimistic thinking anticipates failure, creating a sense of helplessness and inaction. Catastrophic thinking involves expecting the worst outcomes, often due to anxiety, leading to unnecessary stress and impaired decision-making. Mood-congruent thinking influences how information is recalled or interpreted, aligning with the individual's emotional state, which can either amplify or dampen their feelings.
3. Attitude-Based Thinking Patterns
Our attitudes significantly influence how we interpret the world and interact with others. These thinking patterns dictate how flexible or rigid our thoughts are in different situations.
A fixed mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence are unchangeable, leading individuals to avoid or give up easily when faced with challenges. In contrast, a growth mindset views abilities as developable through effort, learning, and persistence, fostering resilience and a willingness to embrace challenges. Defensive thinking involves protecting oneself from criticism or failure by rationalizing or denying uncomfortable truths. Closed-minded thinking rejects new ideas in favor of preconceived notions, hindering growth and learning, while open-minded thinking encourages the acceptance of new perspectives, promoting personal growth and collaboration. Judgmental thinking involves forming quick opinions without understanding the facts, whereas non-judgmental thinking focuses on understanding and accepting situations or individuals without rushing to conclusions.
4. Social and Relational Thinking Patterns
Social and relational thinking patterns are shaped by individual interactions with others, influencing communication, empathy, and decision-making. Empathetic thinking involves understanding and sharing the feelings of others, fostering deeper connections and appropriate responses to their needs. Egocentric thinking focuses on one’s own perspective, often ignoring others’ needs or viewpoints. Altruistic thinking prioritizes others' well-being, sometimes at the expense of one's own interests. Social-cognitive thinking involves understanding social dynamics, interpreting non-verbal cues, and anticipating others’ actions and reactions.
Influence on Student’s Learning
Cognitive Thinking
Cognitive thinking governs problem-solving and conceptual understanding influencing students to learn various subjects in the following manner.
In mathematics, analytical thinking helps students break down multi-step problems, such as solving a system of linear equations, while abstract thinking allows them to understand overarching concepts like functions and limits. In science, creative thinking inspires innovative solutions to present concepts, while critical thinking ensures accurate data analysis and hypothesis testing. In literature, divergent thinking enables students to brainstorm multiple interpretations of a poem, while convergent thinking helps them construct a focused thesis for an essay. In arts and design, creative thinking drives originality, like designing a sculpture using unconventional materials, while critical thinking refines the final presentation by evaluating its aesthetic and functional aspects.
Emotional Thinking
In mathematics, a student experiencing "math anxiety" may struggle to solve simple equations due to fear of failure, whereas an optimistic student will approach challenging problems with persistence. In science, a student frustrated by failed experiments might abandon the task, but managing emotions might troubleshoot problems. In creative writing, mood-congruent thinking allows students to channel personal feelings into a poem or story, vivid and relatable. For instance, a student inspired by happiness might write uplifting poetry, while sadness might inspire poignant stories. Conversely, unchecked negative emotions can cause disengagement or stifled creativity.
Attitude-Based Thinking
A student’s attitude shapes their engagement and success across subjects. In mathematics, a student with a fixed mindset might believe they’re inherently "bad at math," leading them to avoid trying to solve algebraic equations. In contrast, a student with a growth mindset will view mistakes as learning opportunities and will understand complicated concepts through persistence. In history, open-minded thinking allows students to consider alternative interpretations of historical events, while a judgmental attitude might prevent them from appreciating diverse perspectives. Similarly, in performing arts, a student who embraces feedback with an open attitude can improve their acting skills, whereas a closed-minded performer might resist new techniques, stifling their growth.
A teacher who integrates a balance of analytical, emotional, mindset-driven, and social-relational thinking patterns can create a dynamic and supportive learning environment that fosters both cognitive and emotional growth in students. This comprehensive approach helps students not only grasp academic concepts but also develop the critical life skills they need to succeed in the world beyond the classroom.
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