CRITICAL THINKING - SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING, MODULE 1
MODULE OBJECTIVES – WHAT CAN YOU LEARN FROM THIS MODULE?
You will be able:
- To question your assumptions
- To make better decisions through critical thinking
- To select the best decisions given one specific situation
The module will focus on:
- What is Critical Thinking? – the competence
- What is Critical Thinking? – the practice
- Why is critical thinking important for a social entrepreneur?
LEARNING STEPS:
1. Watch the following video presentation on Critical Thinking.
2. Read the introduction text on Critical Thinking: Critical Thinking – Introduction.
Task 1:
Watch the following video and write down a critical reflection on what you have seen (200 words).
Task 2:
Choose one of the following questions, think and write down your answer to the chosen question:
- What is a social entrepreneur?
- Is it possible to make profit from a social entrepreneurship? How?
Task 3:
Talk with one of your friends on the following topics, and write down your conclusions:
- What do you think, which assumptions do people have concerning social business?
- Which assumptions do you have concerning social business?
Task 4:
Write a short article of 200-300 words about social problems you consider that could be solved in a different way than they are solved now.
OTHER RESOURCES:
- Li-Fang, Zhang, Contributions of thinking styles to critical thinking dispositions, 2003
- Oermann, Marilyn H., Critical thinking, critical practice, 1999
- Daryl V. Watkins, Matthew P. Earnhardt, Developing critical thinking within a master of science in leadership program, 2015
- Sampson, Della C; Moore, Rita; Jackson, Mary Jo., Critical thinking: do they really have ‚it‘ if they don’t know what ‚it‘ is?, 2007
- Marilyn Young and D. Lee Warren, Encouraging the Development of Critical Thinking Skills in the Introductory Accounting Courses Using the Challenge Problem Approach, 2011
- CASE, Developing the Field of Social Entrepreneurship, 2008
- Forth Sector Development, A business planning guide to developing a social enterprise, 2005
- Peter Elbow, The Believing Game-Methodological Believing, 2008
- Valenzuela, Jorge; Nieto, Ana M.; Saiz, Carlos, Critical Thinking Motivational Scale: A Contribution to the Study of Relationship between Critical Thinking and Motivation, 2011
Task 5:
After reading the following news, choose one, think and write down your opinion about the chosen news:
Using a foreign language changes moral decisions
Fatigue and hunger sway judges‘ decisions
Final task:
Test what you have learned by answering to the following questions:
- What is critical thinking?
- Give an example of how critical thinking could be used in the workplace – or how you have used it in your life so far.
- Why do you think critical thinking is important for social entrepreneurs?
- Create a list of useful skills for entrepreneurs, including critical thinking. Rank the skills from most to least important. (Think to 10 skills at least)
Download and play the module 1 of the Business Simulation Game – Critical Thinking here.
Access the summary of the module in:
*** The Social Entrepreneurship Training was developed by Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, for the I SEE YOU project, and it can be used for free by individual learners. If you plan to use the training materials in classes, workshops, training, etc., please contact us prior to the activity. Thank you!