The Essence of Critical Thinking As It Applies To My PhD Journey

After reading definitions of critical thinking, I understand it “as the ability and willingness to assess claims critically and to make judgments on the bias of objective and supported reasons”. (1) With a new perspective, I now personally define critical thinking as a consciousness that allows for an open process of thought and verbal or non-verbal communications. There are many components to critical thinking but the short of it is about the ability and willingness to learn and apply the elements of critical thinking to your consciousness. With this in mind, I recognize that critical thinking has been incubating in my subconscious for a long time. I have used critical thinking unknowingly. This has created inconsistencies in my thought process that has yielded some ineffectiveness as I experience media. As I continue on my scholarly path there is a responsibility to embrace, practice, and share critical thinking and all that it encompasses, not only in my present personal and professional endeavors but also in my journey as a media psychologist.

When I played football, I thought I was fast until the track coach put an understanding of technique and focus in my consciousness that could help me run faster. When I thought about running, those techniques would resonate in my thought patterns and I would run faster and more confidently on the football field. The social climate of today requires media psychologist to apply critical thinking consciously in every aspect of research and development in order to be effective. “Critical thinking varies according to the motivation underlying it. When grounded in selfish motives, it is often manifested in the skillful manipulation of ideas in service of ones own, or one’s groups, vested interest.” (2) This is an example of why critical thinking needs to encompass focus and fairness. Critical thinkers have a moral and ethical responsibility to apply critical thinking with integrity. Embracing all of the nuances of critical thinking is a factor in the its positive application. Embracing is the concept of locking critical thinking in my consciousness and maintaining awareness of biases.

Critical thinking has helped me to create a level of confidence, professionally and personally. I knew it existed but until now, I had no understanding of how to validate my critical thinking skills. Communication is important in my life as a filmmaker and as a teacher. The messages that I send and receive through media must be clear. Critical thinking helps to dissipate the clutter that film, television, Internet, websites and other forms of media can create. Bias is all around us and to be a scholar, authenticity and accuracy are part of the foundation. Media is broad and takes broad thought to analyze, create and affect its growth and preservation. Media used properly can promote new opportunities and create awareness to sell products to consumers and to educate, promote advocacy and social studies. I have a great respect for all media as I focus on critical thinking verses reacting emotionally to media and its given biases. Media is a great research tool but bias exist in all media and navigating through the bias is most productive when practicing and applying critical thinking.

It is more then a notion to produce a motion picture of any budget size. Getting it right involves effective communication and that comes from an application of critical thinking. A quest for higher consciousness and awareness is contagious especially when applied to a collaborative process like making films. I now can see how critical thinking encourages and inspires the search for perfection, high levels of creativity and relevance. “Critical thinking is too important, the reforms it makes possible too essential, to leave the concept to helter-skelter intuitive use”. (3) A media psychologist will need to be cautious of intuitive temptations, which can create roadblocks in the pursuit of validating cognitive research. It is important to fortify the application of critical thinking and collaboration as key elements in research and development as a media psychologist. The collaborative aspects of critical thinking will enhance the research experience by creating a myriad of intellectual corridors. These corridors will feed methodology-surrounding research specifically as it applies to media psychology. This shared process will be the basis of my approach to research. Critical thinking empowers the research and the researcher.

I understand critical thinking to dwell in my consciousness and with scholarly application, critical thinking can fertilize new creativity and ideas that will inspire all that I do personally and professionally. Critical thinking is the source in which I will embrace with fortitude, practice with consistency and share through scholarly endeavors and creating and dissecting literary and cinematic narrative. I expect to be more effective adapting critical thinking as the basis of my studies and professional growth.

References:

1) The Dictionary of Psychology, RaymondJ. Corsini, p.237, brunner/Mazel, 1999

2) Paul, Richard.1970-1997: The Critical Thinking Movement, The Critical Thinking Community.org

3) Elder, Linda.2007. Defining Critical Thinking. The Critical Thinking Community.org

Don’t Earn It, Be It

Santa Barbara was a fitting backdrop for the Fielding University New Student Orientation week. The beautiful view of the ocean and the freshness and crispness of the air signified the beginning of something great. Students milled about excited and nervous about the hugeness of the decision to become a scholar. The brainpower was overflowing at the opening dinner. After listening to the President speak one thing resonated with me, don’t just earn your PhD be a PhD. That was powerful for me. I could see from that moment forward that I would be on a journey that I would never forget.

It was great to finally put names to faces. The application process was pretty scary. Not actually having any physical contact when anyone brought out unnecessary insecurities. I quickly got over that once I met Kim Miller, who was so helpful to me, and other staff that reminded me that I was important and had all of their support. That’s important when we are learning in a non-traditional format.

When I researched Fielding I read the bios of the faculty and was impressed. Meeting them in person and spending time with them was priceless and set the tone for the intensity of this program. They confirmed my decision to become a PhD. Dr. Isbouts and Dr. Ohler were very impressive. I feel like a top athlete with the best coaches in the league. I can’t lose. I hope to do well and apply all that Fielding’s faculty has to offer.

The expectations to do well at Fielding are high and research is the foundation of those expectations. I learned that research is key to being a scholar second only to critical thinking. Critical thinking, research and scholarly writing are core elements to the development of a PhD. The things that I am learning are opening up windows in my brain allowing me to see and breath new thoughts from new points of view. My passion has been ignited by the infusion of new ways to think and learn.

When you have great coaches you have to have great players. My fellow students are my team mates and together we can help each other reach the goal of becoming PhD's with a purpose and passion to teach, create and make change in the social development of all people around the globe. This is fertile ground in developing new ideas, theories, and entrepreneurial opportunities. I look forward to working with all of the students in my class because they all have something special to offer that can help me be the best Media Psychologist I can be. The honeymoon is over and now it’s time for us to get to work at being a PhD.

Social Media and Media Bias

I was introduced to the Internet like I was introduced to the swimming pool, thrown in. I had to learn on my own using the fear of drowning as my only motivation to swim. The last few weeks have been an incredible gathering and absorption of knowledge associated with the Internet and social media overall. My thoughts and understanding of how the Web works and the various tools that I can use to carve out my own working process has been enhanced exponentially. Media bias is a fact of the Internet and social media. It garners a level of respect and attention through applying critical thinking when analyzing social media and media bias.

There is great value in having a car and driving it around to get to all the wonderful places you want to go. But, if we had some basic knowledge of how the engine works, the value of the car could be greater. That basic knowledge of the engine promotes a desire to understand how to maintain the vehicle and how to get the best performance from that vehicle. I have come to the conclusion that this approach can be applied to the Web and social media. Michael Shermer says, that people are pretty credulous. We believe what people tell us especially authority figures, adults, books, television, you tube, and the Internet. He continues to suggest that it is because our brains are wired to find meaningful patterns. (1) This is a breakthrough for me because I now understand the force behind why we believe what we hear with no regard for authenticity and encourages me to share the importance of applying critical thinking to the web and social media. The more we know about what’s under the hood of the internet we become more confident in how we use it and understand the media that it projects. Fear is not the motivation anymore; a desire for authenticity is. The power of social media is great and without authenticity that power can lead us astray. The goal is to use multiple points of view and asking the right questions when researching and validating information so that the focus is on authenticity.

As a filmmaker promoting and marketing my film using the Internet, I find it interesting that I had no clue of the tools that could help grow my bottom line. Blogs were something that I completely brushed off as just an opportunity for people to gossip and conspire but I have learned Blogs are more then that. Many people use Blogs as way to market products, share news and create scholarly and intellectual discussions about an array of topics. I now realize that I should have been Blogging about my film as a way to validate the purpose of making the film as well as reaching an audience that might not otherwise feel a need to experience the film. Other tools like web 2.0 introduced me to many applications that I can apply not only to my filmmaking toolbox but also my teaching platform. But I do think that the application market is flooded and too many choices can lead to more skeptics and media bias.

There are many tools to use when exploring web materials. The most important tool I have found that will help me focus my research as a scholar are the steps laid out in the Shermer’s Baloney Detection kit which ask questions like how reliable is the source of the claim or does this fit with the way the world works and has anyone tried to disprove the claim? (2) These sound like common sense questions but with all that an individual has to browse through on the Web applying critical thinking like Shermer’s suggest can be daunting. The detection kit can promote a more confident and more focused research experience and can create a more informed and empowered social media community. I now feel more confident that I can navigate my way through the cornucopia as a scholar. Respect and understanding of social media and the bias that exist within it is a big part of media psychology that I will handle with care.

References:

1) Alan Shermer's Baloney Detection kit video

2) Alan Shermer's Baloney Detection kit

Social Media- A Cautionary Tale

As I watch my 4 year old hold a Skype video conversation with his grandmother, I come to understand that social media has become apart of our daily human development. The Internet has given us many was to express our thoughts, feelings, dreams and fantasies and for some, an opportunity to never be alone. As I move through my personal and professional life I can’t help but think about the affects social media has on how society deals with appearance verses reality.

Before there was the Internet, radio and television were the media of choice that moved societies all around the globe, influencing how they lived every aspect of their lives. The underling connection between all media is its’ direct psychological affect on society and how we view ourselves as individuals and how we see other groups that we come into contact with that make a society.

Reality TV is a source of social discussion because it seems to consume a large social audience in the same way the Internet has. Shows like the Bachelor, Flavor of Love, Jersey Shore and the Kardashians demonstrate how what is presented as real may not be after all. These shows affect their audience in the way that social media on the Internet does with more then its entertainment value. There is value in researching and discussing the layers of psychology that affect people via the long term use of social media and its manipulative and influential ways.

In an article called, If Hitler asked you to Electrocute a Stranger Would You, by Philip Meyer, I read about an experiment that demonstrated the concept that humans have a condition of obedience. Stanley Milgram set off to prove the thesis by William Shirer that Germans were more obedient then Americans. (1) The experiment of taking one person and putting him in a rehearsed play without him knowing that he was in a play is a metaphor for the connection that individuals have with social media including reality shows. Social media may work because of the obedience factor discussed in the article. Social media manipulates and influences individuals’ perception of what is real verses what is manipulated entertainment because of the obedience factor.

So the next time I get annoyed because someone watches a particular reality show or spend more then enough time using social media on the internet, I can think about the obedience concept and keep an open mind to the idea of individuals finding a level of redemption or value even when what is being presented is not their reality.


1) Philip Meyer, If Hitler asked you to Electrocute a Stranger Would You, Esquire Magazine, February 1970

What Is Critical Thinking Tyrone?

I define critical thinking as a consciousness that allows for an open process of thought and verbal or non-verbal communication. As I read the critical thinking material assigned, I kept consciously reviewing my personality and my goals that are associated with it. It is a reminder that I have used critical thinking most of my adult life making efforts to find clarity in all information that I have shared or received. Today I realize that I am more consciously aware of my thought patterns and processes. This will broaden my intellectual and scholarly growth.

Edward Glaser suggests that critical thinking is an attitude of being disposed or having a state of mind regarding something (1). I consider that to be a direct connection to an individual’s consciousness. Our first thought is to be aware consciously. When we drive down the road with other drivers of vehicles we demonstrate the type of awareness that lives in our consciousness. Safety is the driving force for that awareness. As an educator I feel it is important to exercise conscious thought to develop confidence and faith, which we experience driving with others on the road.

I understand that critical thinking is a combination of mental skills that include logic, credibility, clarity, accuracy, precision, relevancy, debt, breadth, significance and fairness (2). These skills can be concluded as apart of our daily consciousness or our mental core. The core is the center reactor that jump-starts all of the skills necessary to accomplish critical thinking. As an artist it is a great benefit to fertilize the mental core with research and mental readiness. The discovery of creative ways to expand my voice as a filmmaker and educator is a continuous journey with the goal of higher consciousness and self-awareness.

References:

1) ^ See NCES 95-001, op cit. page 14-15

2) ^ Edward M. Glaser, An Experiment in the Development of Critical Thinking, Teacher’s College, Columbia Univrsity, 1941.

Critical Thinking - Thoughts

The information that Wikipedia provides on critical thinking is amazing I now believe critical thinking has been a divide in relationships that I have had with creative types and artist. I believe that I have always been a critical thinker and have had a thirst for those who share the same process. In the world of filmmaking critical thinking is a must in deciding why to make a film, how to make that film and how to market that film. But, many artists flow emotionally and can make the critical thinking process a real challenge. With a better understanding of the components of critical thinking, I might be able to create better communication with artist in the future.

Based on my experiences I can understand the value of applying critical thinking to a particular subject and hope to be able to share the importance of application with others as they build on critical thinking methods. Before you can began to apply critical thinking or teach the values of critical thinking you really have to understand all the elements that define critical thinking and its many uses and points of view. The higher education institutions value critical thinkers because students can use their approaches to education and apply it to their own lives. This can make the difference in how our society performs as a whole.

The exploration of critical thinking is the heart or the root to effective learning and teaching. As a film professor I will be sharing this exploration with my students with an objective of helping them reach a level of understanding and respect for critical thinking as a life management skill or tool.

Happy to be at Fielding

Wow. I am so happy to be apart of Fielding and continuing on my academic journey. I have had many experiences in life that I feel are now coming together in a way that I can manage life as an artist, servant and teacher. I am looking to stay on my God given purpose in life and I know that I made the right choice with Fielding. I have already learned a great deal just reading about the awesome students and faculty.

Lets get it on!