Critical Understanding

Critical understanding is a term used commonly in education to define a mode of thinking, described as, ‘an essential tool for participating in democratic processes, at whatever level.’Dodds, H. (2009). "Addressing the ‘why’" in ''English Teaching Online'', Summer (1) It is a defensible position reached through the examination of ideas, issues or sources. It is achieved through reflecting upon, analysing and evaluating different ideas and positions, and is demonstrated through an ability to express informed responses and independent thought.BBC Bitesize, http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/art/aos/ao42.shtml ccessed Jun 2012/ref> Critical understanding develops through analytical and independent thought and is considered an increasingly important element of the education process as students progress to higher and further education.Barnett, R. (1997). ''Higher Education: A Critical Business''. Bristol: Open University Press/Taylor & Francis However it is not an easy concept to communicate for it is not a passive thing we do; it is about active engagement.Barton, G. (2009). "A whiff of controversy" in ''English Teaching Online'', Summer (1)

Meaning

Critical understanding is a cerebral mode of comprehension, it is a way of thinking, and thus is not dependent upon external expression. Yet it requires external manifestation in order to be communicated. The expression of critical understanding can take various forms including formal or informal speech, academic writing, creative prose or poetry or visual outcomes. It can take different forms in different cultures and this needs to be taken into consideration when assessing critical results.Charnock, K. (2010) "The right to reticence". ''Teaching in Higher Education'' 15(5). 543–552
The term "critical" in this context is not meant in a negative sense; rather it outlines a process of thinking. Critical understanding is used to define the process of formulating and understanding a complex problem or difficult set of ideas. In a general sense, it is, ‘a consequence of men’s icbeginning to reflect about their own capacity for reflection, about the world, about their position in the world.’Freire, P. (1996). ''Pedagogy of the Oppressed''. Translated by Myra Bergman Ramos. London: Penguin. 75

Context

The notion of critical understanding is closely related to the concept of Critical Thinking, described as, ‘reasonable reflective thinking focused on deciding what to believe or do.’Ennis, R.H, "Critical Thinking Assessment" in Fasko, ''Critical Thinking and Reasoning: Current Research, Theory, and Practice'' (2003). Critical thinking has also been described as, ‘thinking about thinking’,Mathew, A. (2004). ''Smart Thinking: Skills for Critical Understanding and Writing''. 2nd edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 5 specifically in relation to John Dewey’s work on ‘the problem of training thought’.Dewey, J. (1997). ''How We Think''. New York: Dover Publications Critical understanding has its roots in the notion of pluralism, the idea of multiple approaches, methods and interpretations in which dialogue plays an important role.Booth, Wanye, C. (1979). Critical Understanding. Chicago and London: Chicago University Press In a pedagogical sense it is closely linked to the theory of Education for Critical Consciousness, outlined by Paulo Freire, Brazilian educator and critical theorist, who wrote, ‘Only dialogue, which requires critical thinking, is also capable of generating critical thinking. Without dialogue there is no communication, and without communication there can be no true education.’Freire, P. (2007) ''Education for Critical Consciousness''. Translated and edited by Myra Bergman Ramos. London: Continuum. 74

Critical understanding and secondary education (UK)

In secondary education in the UK, critical understanding can be used as an umbrella term to define thinking skills which encourage children to, ‘have enquiring minds and think for themselves to process information, reason, question and evaluate’The Department of Education. ‘The Aims of the National Curriculum’. updated 28 November 2011

Students’ ability to apply critical thought to a given task is important across the curriculum. Although not always explicitly labelled students are encouraged to develop thinking skills that develop from simple identification to successful evaluation.Bloom, B. S., Engelhart, M. D., Furst, E. J., Hill, W. H., & Krathwohl, D. R. (1956). ''Taxonomy of educational objectives: the classification of educational goals''; Handbook I: "Cognitive Domain" New York, Longmans, Green, 1956 This follows Bloom's Taxonomy, outlined in the standard text, Taxonomy of educational objectives: the classification of educational goals. This taxonomy is a classification of learning objectives aimed to motivate educators to develop teaching and learning styles that will develop students’ evaluative skills and critical understanding.

Critical understanding in art and design (UK)

In art and design, the term critical understanding is explicitly outlined. The National Curriculum (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) programme of study for Key Stage 3 Art and Design states:

Critical understanding
* a. Exploring visual, tactile and other sensory qualities of their own and others’ work.
* b. Engaging with ideas, images and artefacts, and identifying how values and meanings are conveyed.
* c. Developing their own views and expressing reasoned judgements.
* d. Analysing and reflecting on work from diverse contexts.The Department of Education. "Art and Design: National Curriculum Program of study for key stage 3 and attainment target". (2007)
The term is also used on assessment grids for GCSE and GCE (General Certificate of Education) on the various exam boards including Edexcel, AQA and OCR.AQA GCSE Art and Design, http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcses/art_dan_dra_mus/new/art_overview.php ccessed June 2012/ref>OCR GCSE Art and Design, http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/type/gcse/amlw/art_design/ ccessed June 2012/ref> The Edexcel GCSE assessment grid asks students to:
'Present a personal, informed and meaningful response demonstrating analytical and critical understanding realising intentions and, where appropriate, making connections between visual, written, oral or other elements.'Edexcel GCSE Art and Design assessment grid from 2009, http://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/GCSE%20New%20GCSE/GCSE2009-AssessmentGrid-456421.pdf ccessed June 2012/ref>
The revision website, BBC Bitesize, aimed to support students through GCSE exams and coursework states:
'Critical understanding is about reflecting on your own work and that of other artists, designers and craftspeople. You need to be able to look closely at how artists and designers communicate their ideas, feelings and beliefs through their work. Your knowledge of the work of others should help you to develop your thinking, and this influence should be apparent in your own work.'BBC Bitesize, http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/art/aos/ao42.shtml ccessed June 2012/ref>

Critical understanding and the Internet

The ability to think critically is an important skill when approaching the question of research and particularly the use of the Internet as a research tool in schools. Learning to use the Internet safely and successfully is considered by some to be a vital element of education in contemporary society.Livingstone, Sonia and Bober, M. (2004) "Taking up opportunities? Children’s uses of the internet for education, communication and participation". ''E-Learning'', 1 (3). 395–419.

While the Internet has great learning possibilities it requires a critical approach. Kony 2012Kony2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZjUSlsc9jQ ccessed June 2012/ref> and the subsequent online response is an example of an Internet phenomenon requiring critical understanding.Cupaiuolo, C. (2012) "To Fully Engage with Kony2012 Students Need to Become Media Producers" in ''Spotlight on Digital Media and Learning''. http://spotlight.macfound.org/blog/entry/to-fully-engage-with-kony-2012-students-need-to-be-media-producers ccessed June 2012/ref> In order to develop an independent and informed response a critical approach is required through which the issues, ideas and opinions presented can be questioned, analysed and reflected upon.

See also

* Pedagogy

References

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Education theory