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Youth Career and Development Site

Critical thinking is the analysis of available facts, evidence, observations, and arguments to form a judgment.

Try the Rebus Puzzles to Hone Your skills

Binary Thinking

It is the examination of scenarios from an either/or perspective.

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Cost–benefit analysis (CBA), sometimes also called benefit–cost analysis, is a systematic approach to estimating the strengths and weaknesses of alternatives. 

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W.I.J.A. believes that a key factor in helping you reach your goals, and your dreams is the improvement of your critical thinking skills.   The A.S.K. process is designed for you to truly use all elements of critical thinking.

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The Eisenhower Model

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You have 10 seconds to find the hidden letter, number or symbol.  Once you move from the first slide a new challenge will come up every 10 seconds

A few Elements of Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking Skills

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Click on the Pic Below to download the workbook and Cheatsheet

W.I.?J.A. Critical Skills Thinking Challenge

The Big 6 is a six-stage model to help anyone solve problems or make decisions by using information. Some call it information literacy, inquiry, research skills, or an information problem-solving process…but we call it the Big6! Click on the pic above for more information

Reasoning - The action of thinking about something in a logical, sensible way

Evaluating -  A systematic determination of a subject's merit, worth and significance, using criteria governed by a set of standards

Problem Solving - The process of finding solutions to difficult or complex issues

Decision Making -  The cognitive process resulting in the selection of a belief or a course of action among several alternative possibilities

Analyzing - It is to examine methodically and in detail the constitution or structure of (something, especially information), typically for purposes of explanation and interpretation

How AI Impacts Critical Thinking

AI’s influence on critical thinking is dual-edged — it can both enhance and undermine reasoning skills, depending on how and when it’s used.

Potential Benefits
AI tools like large language models (LLMs) and chatbots can speed up information retrieval, expose users to diverse perspectives, and support argument construction files.eric.ed.gov. They can free cognitive load for higher-order thinking tasks, such as analysis and synthesis, and help students or professionals explore complex problems more efficiently NSTA. In some cases, using AI later in a process — after initial independent work — has been linked to better critical thinking outcomes, as it allows for deeper engagement before external input Science News.

Risks of Overreliance
However, research shows that excessive or premature use of AI can harm critical thinking. Studies find that students who rely heavily on LLMs for writing and research tasks often show poorer reasoning, narrower focus, and more biased or superficial analyses compared to those using traditional methods ctl.duke.edu. Overreliance can reduce motivation for self-reflection, weaken verification habits, and erode the ability to evaluate information independently files.eric.ed.gov+1. MIT Media Lab research even warns of possible “cognitive atrophy” from treating AI as a crutch rather than a tool news.harvard.edu.

Effort vs Impact Quadrant
Another very useful quadrant type is the Effort vs Impact Quadrant, which helps you prioritize projects and initiatives based on their predicted effort and impact.

Critical Thinking Skills