Critical Thinking and the Development of Innovative Problem Solvers

摘要

The current methods of developing officers to be innovative problem solvers are inadequate. This problem is exacerbated by the complexity of the current operating environment and the requirement for joint operations. The operational level staffs require officers that are capable of developing innovative solutions to new and radically more complex problems. This problem solving capability can not be trained by the use of rote memorization of planning processes and doctrine. This capability can be trained by making Critical Thinking the focus of officer education. Critical Thinking is the general cognitive skill of developing the best solution when there is not a single correct answer. It consists of two key elements, the development of a solution and then a meta-cognitive process of examining the reasoning behind the solution. This meta-cognitive process when evaluated and corrected helps the students develop better solutions by being better thinkers. Integrating the evaluation of the reasoning is the critical piece that must be used in officer development. Integrating critical thinking into officer development requires the shifting of knowledge focused classes to self-study, teaching and using argument/concept mapping to reveal student's reasoning, and using the Universal Intellectual Standards as the basis of feedback on their reasoning.