Critical Thinking Educational Materials

I argue that the most important part of education is teaching critical thinking skills.  Below are several links that not only support that opinion but also give practical tools for doing so in the full spectrum of educational environments.

The Most Dangerous Disease On The Planet

Yes, this is satire.  However, all good satire make a good point, and Borowitz never fails.  Just look around you.  Do you see fellow humans rationally analyzing claims to see if they comport with available evidence?  Ya, me neither.

Earth Endangered by New Strain of Fact-Resistant Humans

Intelligence And Education Don't Necessarily Make One Wise

"We should not idolize or glorify stupidity as somehow virtuous when it can be avoided so easily. We have the technical and social means to educate, to develop our capacities for critical reasoning, and to appreciate the wealth of readily available knowledge around us, free to consume in many cases, and open for the curious, regardless of IQ, to explore."

Stupid Is

Are you an intellectual? It doesn't take what you think.

Should You Question Everything?

The answer is not as clear as it may seem.

No, You Shouldn't Question Everything

Why Belief In A God Is So Pervasive

"The researchers found that one region of the brain (the right inferior frontal gyrus) 'was activated more strongly in skeptics than in supernatural believers.' The more active that part of the brain, the less likely participants were to find supernatural meaning in the images. The researchers think this is because the active region of the brain is associated with cognitive inhibition."

Why doesn’t everyone believe in God?: The skeptical brain may hold the answer
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"HOW Do You Know That Is True?"

It's HOW you think, rather than what you think that really matters.   Every claim needs to be supported by evidence, not dogma.  Unless such is the case, a claim should not be accepted. 

A Commencement Address That's A Must-Read

"Despite increasing education levels, the public’s trust in the scientific community has been decreasing. This is particularly true among conservatives, even educated conservatives. In 1974, conservatives with college degrees had the highest level of trust in science and the scientific community. Today, they have the lowest."

The Mistrust of Science
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What Makes A Good Teacher?

You may never be as funny, approachable, or creative as your favorite teacher — the key is to try.

Here is an excellent example of, not only a good teacher, but an excellent teacher in difficult circumstances, Kay McSpadden.  Here is a Google search of her and her accomplishments.  This is some of her advice regarding what one can do to help public schools.  This shows why it is unwise to devert funds for public education into private education.

George Carlin and Muhammad Ali

I loved George Carlin for the same reason I loved Muhammad Ali: They both were brilliant, comical and spoke their minds about important stuff, AND didn't give a s**t about how anyone else took them.

George Carlin

Muhammad Ali

Does Being Kind Mean One Should Not Present The Truth?

I just returned from proctoring End-Of-Year Tests at my granddaughters' elementary school.  Plastered everywhere in the school was this quote:  “When given the choice between being right and being kind, choose kind.” - Dr. Wayne Dyer

A Skeptical Look At Skepticism

I disagree with a good portion of this essay, however, in the spirit of "free speech helps to clarifying one's opinions toward the truth", here goes:

A science journalist takes a skeptical look at capital-S Skepticism

Now, for the counter-point, the counter to the counter-point, another counter-point, another counter-point, another counter-point, and another counter-point, and another counter-point.

Bayes Theorem 101

"Bayesian analysis is an important concept for any scientist and skeptic to understand. It is extremely practical and is already used (whether or not it is explicitly named) in professions that need to deal with probability in a practical way, such as in medicine.

"Bayes Theorem makes explicitly clear several skeptical principles, including the need to consider predictive value, the impact of false positives, the need to consider an alternative hypothesis, and the need to put statistical significance into its proper context.

"In many ways, a Bayesian approach to knowledge is a skeptical approach."

http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/what-is-bayes-theorem/

BTW, it can't be used to support claims of miracles. (link)

Red Flags To Look For On The Internet

http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/fake-photos-in-2015/

The USA's Voters Are Scientific And Skeptical Dumbasses

"Scientific literacy and critical thinking skills impact more than obviously scientific questions. It is important to simply understand that a political question has an empirical aspect to it, and the debate is best served if we have the most objective and accurate data as possible."

http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/we-need-both-science-and-critical-thinking/

Skepticism 102

Skepticism 101

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/11/17/the-power-of-skepticism-why-doubt-is-a-virtue/

The Essence Of Science.

"Scientists ask, “how can I be wrong,” and then design their next experiment. We make progress by trying to prove new ideas wrong. Good scientists are skeptics, and history shows that initial skepticism is not only reasonable, it is necessary."

Too bad most people don't understand this.

http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/history-validates-initial-skepticism/

Skepticism vs. Denialism

A clear presentation of the differences between skepticism and denialism.

http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/denier-vs-skeptic/

A Skeptic Looks At The Subject

http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/rethinking-the-skeptical-movement/

Anti-GMO Is A Symptom Of Something Deeper

"I sometimes think of scientific skepticism as a method of waste reduction and improved efficiency. As an individual, a family, a society, a government, and indeed a civilization, we are best served if our time and energy were spent in an efficient manner pursuing appropriate goals. It pains me, for example, to think of researchers who spend an entire career pursuing a fiction. When you think about how much time and money is wasted because of ideology, stubbornness, or simple ignorance it can be depressing."

http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/missing-the-point-and-wasting-resources/