In my political science course, we are discussing real world problems. As well as the media and how it affects our society and the way we live today. Which is how this course relates to the core handbook, as the core handbook states that UNE will prepare us to be informed and engaged citizens. Through this course, I will have an understanding of what is going on around me and how I can take action in the world by seeing the problems that are arising today and try and help to bring a solution to them. This course not only provides me with an understanding of the community that I will be living in but also requires that I use critical thinking and critical inquiry. Ungar states that critical inquiry is a set navigational skills. I take his definition as a way of questioning to be able to get where you want to go. Which is exactly what political science asks of me. I am tasked to question the media and everyday life to be able to find things out about my community and the way I should be living my life. The political science course relates extremely well to the core handbook as well as Ungars ideas of critical inquiry.
In my psychology course, we learn about the different ways people will act around you in certain situations and how they react to them as well. This class in my opinion relates well to both the core handbook and using critical thinking. When it comes to the handbook and about being an engaged citizen, this class allows me to recognize that everyone in their own way is unique. Everyone has their own way of thinking, learning, and going about their everyday lives. The course allows me to explore those ways in order to get an understanding of how to be open to those different ideas. I will be able to get fit in well with my community by having an idea of how everyone lives their life. When involving critical thinking into psychology, it is not hard because of all the information that comes from this course. My definition of critical thinking is when you are open to new ideas and topics and are ready for the challenge. Which is why this course fits my definition perfectly, this course challenges people to view these new ideas and the many topics it provides. My intro to psychology course allows me to be an engaged citizen while also using critical thinking to go about my future life.
Both the ideas of critical thinking from Scheuer and the Core, share the same thought of using critical thinking out in the field. When I say field, I mean in a public setting and or out amongst others. The Core states that critical thinking is about “[developing] the knowledge and skills students have mastered” and he goes on to say it is also about engaging problems in the professional field. This can be related by Sheuers definition of critical thinking, which is “It’s what makes thinking in public truly public and shareable”. Critical thinking in my opinion is about being open to new ideas and being ready for a challenge, I even relate to how the Core and Sheuer view critical thinking, by needing to make it public rather than just keeping ideas to oneself.
