Research on the skills needed for the 21st century workplace shows that students need these diverse thinking skills. We hear it all the time but what exactly is the difference between analytical thinking, critical thinking and creative thinking? This blog post has a nice simple description and here is the quick breakdown:
Analytical thinking is the act of breaking down complex pieces of information into smaller and more understandable component or principles. It involves systematically dismantling data to decipher facts which can be used to build upon information or provide evidence-based conclusion.
Critical thinking means carefully weighing information or views and interpreting them to make sound independent judgments. It is also cyclical, meaning one can go round and round considering facts to form an opinion, cultivate a conviction, or just determine whether something is valid or makes sense.
Creative thinking is the mental process of bringing something new into existence through imagination. It involves the input of facts and sensory stimuli as well as interpolation and critical reflection to imagine something that does not exist.