Critical and Creative Thinking in Professional Development

The purpose of this paper will be to analyze the effect of critical and creative thinking on professional development. A description how each, of the three, team members utilizes critical and creative thinking to enhance their professional development in their current careers will be provided. Then an analysis of the critical and creative thinking strategies used by the team members will be conducted followed by a review of the strategy found to be the most effective. Description of Critical Thinking

First one has to understand the steps of critical thinking as well as the meaning of critical thinking. The definition is that “Critical thinking is that mode of thinking – about any subject, content, or problem – in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully taking charge of the structures inherent in thinking and imposing intellectual standards upon them” (Richard Paul and Linda Elder, 2008). Meaning, that there is a process to critical thinking and everyone has to follow this process to have a positive outcome. This process includes nine steps in the following three areas, which are “framing the problem, making the decision, and evaluating the decision” (Decision Making Steps). The first area is framing the problem, which includes to “identify the problem, define criteria, goals, objectives, and to evaluate the effect of the problem” (Decision Making Steps).

During this area the individual is looking at facts and available information concerning the problem as well as he or she is trying to find a suitable solution. The individual is also taking the effects of the problem for the company or the client under consideration, ensuring that nobody is experiencing a loss or is harmed. The second area is making the decision, which includes “identifying the cause of the problem, to frame alternatives, to evaluate impacts of alternatives, and to make the decision” (Decision Making Steps). In this step the individual is looking at the situation from every possible angle and is developing a solution for the problem. The professional is also looking and taking the various outcomes into consideration from the solutions he or she came up with including how the client or the employer is impacted by this solution. The last area is evaluating the decision, which includes “to implement the decision as well as to measure the impacts” (Decision Making Steps). In this third area the professional is reassessing the solution after the implementation, which is an essential step for the professional to ensure a successful outcome. Analysis of Critical and Creative Thinking Strategies

One of the team members needed to use improvisation and organization to do the best possible job for her patients. She needed to prioritize the work and work with the items that were available unto her in to the possible job she could. Another team member has to be knowledgeable about his about the services and information systems, within his department, to deliver his clients the service. It is important that he knows not only his job, but the jobs of the support system of other co-workers around him to make a cohesive work environment. The last team member needs to be innovative and artistic. She is a nurse that specializes in Alzheimer’s patients. Her job in tells that she is artistic enough to use words, communication skills, and crafts to help her patients cope with memory loss. Sometimes it takes innovative methods to help her recall memory such as trips, poster boards, signs, and picture power point presentations. Of all the critical and creative thinking strategies used above, the team feels that knowledgeable is found to be the most effective. It is relevant in all of our present professions. It helps use in our educational endeavors, as well. It helps us to be able to service the populations we serve on our jobs and in school Conclusion

The purpose of this paper has been to analyze the effect of critical and creative thinking on professional development. A description how each, of the three, team members utilized critical and creative thinking to enhance their professional development in their current careers has been provided. An analysis of the critical and creative thinking strategies used by the team members has been conducted followed by a review of the strategy found to be the most effective.

Some peoples strategies are very effective for them, while others are less so, and this paper has reviewed three of such strategies. Improvisation and organization, overall knowledge, and innovation and art are the three strategies that this paper has reviewed. Out of those three strategies the team felt that overall knowledge was the most effective because of its relevance to all fields.

References
Decision Making Steps. (n.d.). Retrieved 2013, from University of Phoenix. Richard Paul and Linda Elder. (2008). Defining Critical Thinking. Retrieved 2013, from The Critical Thinking Community: http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defining-critical-thinking/766