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How to Effectively Use the Paul-Elder Framework for Critical Thinking throughout Military Intelligence and Education

For many years, the military arena has embraced the work of The Foundation for Critical Thinking. Because of the robust and integrated nature of our work , our framework remains  the only explicit approach to critical thinking instruction detailed for use in an Army Techniques Publication  (ATP 2-33.4  - Intelligence Analysis  ). The Paul-Elder Framework for Critical Thinking  ™  is used throughout military programs in all branches and within the intelligence community at many levels. Our approach has been implemented at the U.S. Naval War College, at Georgia Military College, at Fort Leavenworth’s U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and at many other government and military institutions.   Th e  Foundation for Critical Thinking continues to play a vital role in developing informed, efficient military leaders and personnel who communicate effectively and want to advance substantive critical thinking through their work in the U.S. Military  . 


The purpose of this seminar and course is to cultivate higher understandings of critical thinking concepts and principles within your departments, institutions, branches, and throughout all education programs in the military and the intelligence community. Through this seminar and course, you will learn to better employ critical thinking in reasoning through issues and problems every day. You will learn processes for better promoting substantive critical thinking, and for improving decision-making abilities within your education and training courses.  


Through this seminar, you will be better able to help students:  



  • better use critical thinking as a set of tools for effectively thinking through the questions, issues, and challenges they face in all parts of their work;  

  • learn the art of intelligent, strategic decision-making through use of critical thinking concepts; 
    comprehend the long-term implications and benefits of building a critical thinking culture;  

  • internalize the skills, abilities, and traits of reasonable, logical persons who think critically through all manners of questions and problems; and  

  • understand and more effectively deal with the barriers to cultivating critical thinking within military and intelligence programs. 

$249.00






Please do not pass this message by.

CRITICAL THINKING IS AT RISK.

Here are some of the big reasons why:

  1. Many people believe that critical thinking should be free and that scholars qualified to teach critical thinking should do so for free. Accordingly, they do not think they should have to pay for critical thinking textbooks, courses, or other resources when there is "so much free material online" - despite how erroneous that material may be.
  2. There are many misguided academicians, and some outright charlatans, pushing forth and capitalizing on a pseudo-, partial, or otherwise impoverished concept of critical thinking.
  3. Little to no funding is designated for critical thinking professional development in schools, colleges, or universities, despite the lip service widely given to critical thinking (as is frequently found in mission statements).
  4. Most people, including faculty, think they already know what critical thinking is, despite how few have studied it to any significant degree, and despite how few can articulate a coherent, accurate, and sufficiently deep explanation of it.
  5. People rarely exhibit the necessary level of discipline to study and use critical thinking for reaching higher levels of self-actualization. In part, this is due to wasting intellectual and emotional energy on fruitless electronic entertainment designed to be addictive and profitable rather than educational and uplifting.
  6. On the whole, fairminded critical thinking is neither understood, fostered, nor valued in educational institutions or societies.
  7. People are increasingly able to cluster themselves with others of like mind through alluring internet platforms that enable them to validate one another's thinking - even when their reasoning is nonsensical, lopsided, prejudiced, or even dangerous.
  8. Critical thinking does not yet hold an independent place in academia. Instead, "critical thinking" is continually being "defined" and redefined according to any academic area or instructor that, claiming (frequently unsupported) expertise, steps forward to teach it.

As you see, increasingly powerful trends against the teaching, learning, and practice of critical thinking entail extraordinary challenges to our mission. To continue our work, we must now rely upon your financial support. If critical thinking matters to you, please click here to contribute what you can today.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO CONTINUE OUR WORK.

Thank you for your support of ethical critical thinking.