By: Megan Prats

11/29/2014

Critical thinking is the gateway to the infinite realm of knowledge. Thus, when critical thinking allows the student to access the infinite realm of knowledge at any point during the problem-solving process, it should become an element of critical thinking as defined by the 2learn® Method. Therefore, the 2learn® Method’s newest element of critical thinking is absorbing new information.

The 2learn® Method defines absorbing new information as the student considering into her analysis information that wasn’t revealed to her prior to embarking on the problem-solving process.

Normally, the greatest deterrent to absorbing new information is Confirmation Bias. When a student is convinced that something is right, information that is contrary to her convictions tends to be ignored.

In short, when the student understands the absorbing new information element of critical thinking, the student’s mind reaches a level in which she realizes that when you think critically, there is always more information to consider, thus, it is important to value new information as it comes. Absorbing new information does not mean that the student must apply the new information to her problem-solving. Instead, as the word “absorb” conveys, she just has to digest the information. The new information could very well be biased, unrelated, harmful, etc. to her problem-solving so the student is better off if she’d not utilize it.

© Megan Prats 2014