Critical thinking - course 7250 rub. from Sciencely. Smart Moscow, training 4 lessons, Date: November 29, 2023.

9-10 years (1 lesson - 75 minutes)

LESSON 1. WE ARE GOING TO DOUBT

Let's discuss why we need critical thinking and how it manifests itself. Let's get acquainted with Descartes and his method of radical doubt. Let's practice attentiveness and observation and try to catch the moment when a thought is formed in our head.

LESSON 2. LET'S GET INTRODUCED TO THINKING

Let's find out what kind of systems in our brain help us make decisions and see that making mistakes is normal. Let's get acquainted with argumentative tricks so as not to fall for them, and also learn how to increase the chances of winning a discussion in an honest way.

LESSON 3. LEARNING TO ASK QUESTIONS

Let's try to look at things from different points of view. Let's practice asking questions to illuminate dark places, and put this skill into practice by solving riddles that seem impossible to solve at first glance.

LESSON 4. CHECKING INFORMATION

We will learn safety precautions when working with information (we will do without rubber gloves). Let's check other people's statements for verifiability and falsifiability (and at the same time find out what they are), and study the techniques with which TV and the Internet sometimes deceive us. At the end of the lesson, we’ll watch a sensational video and analyze what’s wrong with it.

11-16 years old (1 lesson - 90 minutes)

LESSON 1. OUR THINKING

Let's learn what thinking is and why thinking critically does not mean criticizing everything. Let's talk about anatomy, physiology and even culture: how and why all this affects our thinking. We’ll also make sure in practice that you shouldn’t just trust anyone (even if it’s an intensive teacher!).

LESSON 2. LOGIC AND ARGUMENTATION

Let's dive into formal and informal logic. Let's get acquainted with the laws of logic, try to understand whether the reasoning before us is correct, and during the discussion we will master argumentative techniques and tricks. We’ll also talk about deduction and induction, defeat sophisms and try not to break our heads over paradoxes.

LESSON 3. COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS

It is believed that dark (in the sense of incomprehensible) things are going on in the head - let’s figure out why this is not entirely true and how much modern science knows about thinking. Let's talk about the laws and principles of thinking, as well as how our own brain sometimes lets us down. Let's discuss cognitive distortions, why they occur and how to counter them.

LESSON 4. FACT CHECK

We will learn safety precautions when working with information (we will do without rubber gloves). Let's learn to distinguish opinion from fact, check other people's statements for verifiability and falsifiability, and also find out what techniques TV and the Internet use to deceive us. And at the end of the lesson, we will read a sensational article and analyze what is wrong with it.