Part 2 of 3 PowerPoint Lecture Notes on Critical Thinking (Dr. Matthew Stafford) for the NMP at Air University, Air Command and Staff College

1. Critical Thinking
… something to think about …
SECTION II
Dr Matthew Stafford
Chief Academic Officer
We Produce the Future Squadron Officer College

2. Section II
We Produce the Future

3. Thinking About Thinking
Develop America's Airmen Today ... for Tomorrow
• Cognition:
‒The mental process regarding how humans
come to understand things
‒How humans select, process and retain
information and knowledge
• Meta-cognition
‒Thinking about the cognitive process
‒Self-regulation to match personal
perceptions against others’
The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the Air Force
Fly – Fight – Win in Air, Space, and Cyberspace 3

4. Cognitive Levels
Develop America's Airmen Today ... for Tomorrow
Level Definition
Recall previously learned material (facts, theories, etc.) in essentially
Knowledge the same form as taught.
See relationships, concepts, and abstractions beyond the simple
Comprehension remembering of material. Typically involves translating, interpreting,
and estimating future trends.
Use learned intellectual material in new and realistic situations,
Application including the application of rules, methods, concepts, principles, laws,
and theories.
Break down material into its component parts so that the organizational
structure may be understood, including the identification of the parts,
Analysis analysis of the relationships between parts, and recognition of the
organizational principles involved.
Put parts together to form new patterns or structures, such as a unique
communication (a theme or speech), a plan of operations (a research
Synthesis proposal), or a set of abstract relations (schemes for classifying
information).
Judge the value of material for a given purpose. Learning in this area is
the highest in the cognitive hierarchy because it involves elements of
Evaluation all the other categories, plus conscious value judgments based on
clearly defined criteria.
The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the Air Force
Fly – Fight – Win in Air, Space, and Cyberspace 4

5. Cognitive Levels
Develop America's Airmen Today ... for Tomorrow
Level Definition
Recall previously learned material (facts, theories, etc.) in essentially
Knowledge Seeking to retain information
the same form as taught.
See relationships, concepts, and abstractions beyond the simple
Comprehension remembering of material. Typically involves translating, interpreting,
and estimating future trends.
Use learned intellectual material in new and realistic situations,
Application including the application of rules, methods, concepts, principles, laws,
and theories.
Break down material into its component parts so that the organizational
structure may be understood, including the identification of the parts,
Analysis analysis of the relationships between parts, and recognition of the
organizational principles involved.
Put parts together to form new patterns or structures, such as a unique
communication (a theme or speech), a plan of operations (a research
Synthesis proposal), or a set of abstract relations (schemes for classifying
information).
Judge the value of material for a given purpose. Learning in this area is
the highest in the cognitive hierarchy because it involves elements of
Evaluation all the other categories, plus conscious value judgments based on
clearly defined criteria.
The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the Air Force
Fly – Fight – Win in Air, Space, and Cyberspace 5

6. Cognitive Levels
Develop America's Airmen Today ... for Tomorrow
Level Definition
Recall previously learned material (facts, theories, etc.) in essentially
Knowledge Seeking to retain information
the same form as taught.
See relationships, concepts, and abstractions beyond the simple
Comprehension Reconstructing information in individual terms
remembering of material. Typically involves translating, interpreting,
and estimating future trends.
Use learned intellectual material in new and realistic situations,
Application including the application of rules, methods, concepts, principles, laws,
and theories.
Break down material into its component parts so that the organizational
structure may be understood, including the identification of the parts,
Analysis analysis of the relationships between parts, and recognition of the
organizational principles involved.
Put parts together to form new patterns or structures, such as a unique
communication (a theme or speech), a plan of operations (a research
Synthesis proposal), or a set of abstract relations (schemes for classifying
information).
Judge the value of material for a given purpose. Learning in this area is
the highest in the cognitive hierarchy because it involves elements of
Evaluation all the other categories, plus conscious value judgments based on
clearly defined criteria.
The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the Air Force
Fly – Fight – Win in Air, Space, and Cyberspace 6

7. Cognitive Levels
Develop America's Airmen Today ... for Tomorrow
Level Definition
Recall previously learned material (facts, theories, etc.) in essentially
Knowledge Seeking to retain information
the same form as taught.
See relationships, concepts, and abstractions beyond the simple
Comprehension Reconstructing information in individual terms
remembering of material. Typically involves translating, interpreting,
and estimating future trends.
Use learned intellectual material in new and realistic situations,
Application including the application of rules, methods, concepts, principles, laws,ways
Transferring information and using it in new
and theories.
Break down material into its component parts so that the organizational
structure may be understood, including the identification of the parts,
Analysis analysis of the relationships between parts, and recognition of the
organizational principles involved.
Put parts together to form new patterns or structures, such as a unique
communication (a theme or speech), a plan of operations (a research
Synthesis proposal), or a set of abstract relations (schemes for classifying
information).
Judge the value of material for a given purpose. Learning in this area is
the highest in the cognitive hierarchy because it involves elements of
Evaluation all the other categories, plus conscious value judgments based on
clearly defined criteria.
The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the Air Force
Fly – Fight – Win in Air, Space, and Cyberspace 7

8. Cognitive Levels
Develop America's Airmen Today ... for Tomorrow
Level Definition
Recall previously learned material (facts, theories, etc.) in essentially
Knowledge Seeking to retain information
the same form as taught.
See relationships, concepts, and abstractions beyond the simple
Comprehension Reconstructing information in individual terms
remembering of material. Typically involves translating, interpreting,
and estimating future trends.
Use learned intellectual material in new and realistic situations,
Application including the application of rules, methods, concepts, principles, laws,ways
Transferring information and using it in new
and theories.
Break down material into its component parts so that the organizational
structure may be understood, including the identification of the parts,
analysis of the relationships between parts, and into subcomponents
Breaking complex information recognition of the
Analysis
organizational principles involved.
Put parts together to form new patterns or structures, such as a unique
communication (a theme or speech), a plan of operations (a research
Synthesis proposal), or a set of abstract relations (schemes for classifying
information).
Judge the value of material for a given purpose. Learning in this area is
the highest in the cognitive hierarchy because it involves elements of
Evaluation all the other categories, plus conscious value judgments based on
clearly defined criteria.
The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the Air Force
Fly – Fight – Win in Air, Space, and Cyberspace 8

9. Cognitive Levels
Develop America's Airmen Today ... for Tomorrow
Level Definition
Recall previously learned material (facts, theories, etc.) in essentially
Knowledge Seeking to retain information
the same form as taught.
See relationships, concepts, and abstractions beyond the simple
Comprehension Reconstructing information in individual terms
remembering of material. Typically involves translating, interpreting,
and estimating future trends.
Use learned intellectual material in new and realistic situations,
Application including the application of rules, methods, concepts, principles, laws,ways
Transferring information and using it in new
and theories.
Break down material into its component parts so that the organizational
structure may be understood, including the identification of the parts,
analysis of the relationships between parts, and into subcomponents
Breaking complex information recognition of the
Analysis
organizational principles involved.
Put parts together to form new patterns or structures, such as a unique
communication (a theme or speech), a knowledge and producing
Taking discrete pieces of plan of operations (a research a
Synthesis proposal), or a set of abstract relations (schemes for classifying
information).
new whole
Judge the value of material for a given purpose. Learning in this area is
the highest in the cognitive hierarchy because it involves elements of
Evaluation all the other categories, plus conscious value judgments based on
clearly defined criteria.
The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the Air Force
Fly – Fight – Win in Air, Space, and Cyberspace 9

10. Cognitive Levels
Develop America's Airmen Today ... for Tomorrow
Level Definition
Recall previously learned material (facts, theories, etc.) in essentially
Knowledge Seeking to retain information
the same form as taught.
See relationships, concepts, and abstractions beyond the simple
Comprehension Reconstructing information in individual terms
remembering of material. Typically involves translating, interpreting,
and estimating future trends.
Use learned intellectual material in new and realistic situations,
Application including the application of rules, methods, concepts, principles, laws,ways
Transferring information and using it in new
and theories.
Break down material into its component parts so that the organizational
structure may be understood, including the identification of the parts,
analysis of the relationships between parts, and into subcomponents
Breaking complex information recognition of the
Analysis
organizational principles involved.
Put parts together to form new patterns or structures, such as a unique
communication (a theme or speech), a knowledge and producing
Taking discrete pieces of plan of operations (a research a
Synthesis proposal), or a set of abstract relations (schemes for classifying
information).
new whole
Judge the value of material for a given purpose. Learning in this area is
Evaluation
Thinking of different ways to synthesize information
the highest in the cognitive hierarchy because it involves elements of
all the other categories, plus conscious value judgments based on
and making a judgment about which method is better
clearly defined criteria.
The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the Air Force
Fly – Fight – Win in Air, Space, and Cyberspace 10

11. Why “Think about Thinking?”
Develop America's Airmen Today ... for Tomorrow
• Improve thinking efficiency
• Improve thinking effectiveness
• Dedicate more effort to practice
Many different approaches!
The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the Air Force
Fly – Fight – Win in Air, Space, and Cyberspace 11

12. AFSO-21 8-Step Model
Develop America's Airmen Today ... for Tomorrow
1. Clarify problem
2. Break problem into component parts; identify gaps
3. Set target(s)
4. Analyze/determine root cause(s)
5. Develop countermeasures
6. See countermeasures through
7. Evaluate/confirm results and process
8. Standardize successful processes
The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the Air Force
Fly – Fight – Win in Air, Space, and Cyberspace 12

13. 6-Step Problem-Solving Model
Develop America's Airmen Today ... for Tomorrow
1. Define the problem
2. Gather information
3. List possible solutions
4. Test solutions
5. Select best course of action
6. Implement solution
The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the Air Force
Fly – Fight – Win in Air, Space, and Cyberspace 13

14. John Boyd’s OODA Loop
Develop America's Airmen Today ... for Tomorrow
Observe
Act Orient
Decide
The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the Air Force
Fly – Fight – Win in Air, Space, and Cyberspace 14

15. Comparing…
Develop America's Airmen Today ... for Tomorrow
CCA OODA 6-Step 8-Step
Define problem Clarify problem
Discover and interpret Break problem into
Observe
facts Gather information component parts;
identify gaps
List possible solutions Set target(s)
Trace effects back to
Orient Analyze/determine root
causes Test solutions
cause(s)
Investigate and
evaluate – consider Select best course of Develop
Decide
alternatives. Look for action countermeasures
better courses of action.
See countermeasures
through
Evaluate/confirm results
Act Implement solution
and process
Standardize successful
processes
The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the Air Force
Fly – Fight – Win in Air, Space, and Cyberspace 15

16. PLEASE VIEW
Section III
NEXT
We Produce the Future

17. The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the Air Force
Develop America's Airmen Today ... for Tomorrow
We Produce the Future…
One Student at a Time
One Faculty Member at a Time
One Idea at a Time
The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the Air Force
Fly – Fight – Win in Air, Space, and Cyberspace 17
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