Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Thinking critically and well is crucial for personal and organizational success. In fact, critical thinking is at the root of all good decisions we make. Unfortunately, however, thinking effectively is hard work and rarely developed as a habit. The mind, left on its own, tends to ignore logic, refuses to look at the facts, generates ludicrous ideas, and becomes overwhelmed with emotion just when critical thinking is most needed. It is often easier to simply revert to passive problem solving, applying methods that have worked in the past without analyzing a situation. In order to cultivate critical thinking skills in participants, this course utilizes: discussion using the Socratic method, demonstrations, role-play scenarios, self-evaluation, learning instruments, videos, short reading and writing assignments, as well as individual, team, and class activities. Participants learn to ask the right questions, discover and mitigate personal bias, challenge assumptions and see others’ viewpoints with clarity, as well as identify and eliminate psychological and personal barriers that negatively affect thinking potential.

Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify problems and opportunities
• Formulate problems and objectives clearly and precisely
• Draw upon a full repertoire of thinking skills, tools, and techniques for doing the right thinking at the right time
• Identify the skills necessary for critical thinking and provide a critical perspective to their thought process
• Develop an awareness of their own thinking processes and the impact of those processes on their behavior and on others
• Explain the difference between convergent and divergent thinking and the growing need for more effective divergent thinking
• Skillfully use questioning techniques for gathering and assessing relevant information
• Challenge assumptions: recognize and assess the existence of assumptions and point of view in themselves and others
• Generate and evaluate alternatives
• Evaluate conclusions and solutions against meaningful criteria, requirements, and constraints
• Assess and mitigate the risks of planned actions
• Work effectively with others for figuring out solutions to complex problem

Register 21 days before class start date and save 10%! Enter discount code EARLY10 during registration.

Register 21 days before class start date and save $250! Enter discount code EARLY250 during registration.

Is there a discount available for current students?

UMBC students and alumni, as well as students who have previously taken a public training course with UMBC Training Centers are eligible for a 10% discount, capped at $250. Please provide a copy of your UMBC student ID or an unofficial transcript or the name of the UMBC Training Centers course you have completed. Asynchronous courses are excluded from this offer.

What is the cancellation and refund policy?

Student will receive a refund of paid registration fees only if UMBC Training Centers receives a notice of cancellation at least 10 business days prior to the class start date for classes or the exam date for exams.