Inquiry and Critical Thinking
Inquiry and Critical Thinking is learning how to take in information in a critical manner as to inquire about it. Inquiring about things is the action, in this case, of looking deeper into things and unearthing older information concerning a subject or also just adding revolutionary factors to it that don’t already present themselves. Inquiry also involves self motivation and interest in things, and that also is true for critical thinking in the way that you must do critical research and that turns into thinking. Thinking things through and in 180 degrees, from every angle possible, even that angle that couldn’t possibly be your favorite, the one you despise the most or just don’t agree with.
As it should be I grew tremendously in the area of inquiry and critical thinking. The professor’s way of letting you explore ideas and theories that were not necessarily about a subject, but connected to it, made it possible. His way of teaching is very liberating and very comfortable and because if that you want to learn more and really do your own part in helping yourself succeed and grow as an intellectual being. Basically he treats you like an adult and you act like and adult, not like a student or some unknown person in a class that will soon be over. I fell that that is what allowed my mind to flourish and develop to its extreme in such a short period of time. The style that Phil uses is almost completely free from that of the banking system. And I say almost completely free because there are times when using a certain bit of banking system works. that’s another thing that I learned. Just because you believe in something different to something else does not mean that the opposite subject or scenario is completely wrong, and many times a combination of both is required in order to reach your goals. The style of teaching that Phil uses reminds me of a quote that I heard in the movie Tupac Resurrection. In the movie Tupac was quoted to saying something like this, “I might not change the world, but I promise you that I will spark the mind that will”.
On the part of critical thinking I believe that it goes hand in hand with inquiry and so most of their properties overlap with each other. So in a way critical thinking is a given because in order to inquire about things you must first think critically about them. And so by default I also grew tremendously in that area as well. For my examples of my learning in these two make ups of a goal I will present my journal on Charles Darwin as well as my essay on his book The Origin of Species.
My journal on Darwin is a great example of how I used my inquiry and critical thinking skills to include my ideas on the existence of everything in the world and how I personally believe that evolution is only applicable to animals. The essay shows how I was able to capture some of Darwin’s points and explore them a bit more as to create my own ideas on his work and what he truly means to say.