{"id":11923,"date":"2017-05-07T06:22:11","date_gmt":"2017-05-07T06:22:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tayosolagbade.com\/sdnuggets\/?p=11923"},"modified":"2017-05-07T17:23:32","modified_gmt":"2017-05-07T17:23:32","slug":"to-build-a-society-of-discerning-adult-whose-leaders-cannot-fool-we-must-teach-our-kids-critical-thinking-and-logic-a-list-of-websites-that-can-help-willing-parents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tayosolagbade.com\/sdnuggets\/to-build-a-society-of-discerning-adult-whose-leaders-cannot-fool-we-must-teach-our-kids-critical-thinking-and-logic-a-list-of-websites-that-can-help-willing-parents\/","title":{"rendered":"To Build a Society of Discerning Adults, Whose Leaders Cannot Fool. We MUST Teach Our Kids Critical Thinking and Logic [A List of Websites That Can Help Willing Parents]"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nigeria today struggles to get itself out of poor leadership and corruption driven rot, because \u00a0too much poor quality thinking, and reasoning is allowed to prevail in most (NOT ALL) of the decision making levels of her leadership, as well as amongst the larger majority of the followership.<\/p>\n

I've said the foregoing countless times in speaking and in my writing.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ours is a nation that has produced MANY great minds who today have made their marks\u00a0as achievers in their professional fields internationally, but who chose to use their success to play (often informal) leadership roles aimed at moving the nation in the direction of sustainable progress and advancement.<\/p>\n

I know\u00a0most of us can readily recall more than a few, but I have certain role models in mind\u00a0like Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Gani Fawehinmi (and others like them).<\/p>\n

These achievers established themselves as shrewdly analytical thinkers with a knack for refusing to be hoodwinked by anyone - least of all poor thinking political leaders!<\/strong><\/p>\n

The last thing you could dream of catching them doing would be playing the psycophancy, tribalism or nepotism game. You also could certainly not depend on them to adopt illogical reasoning or depend on sentiments in coming up with their views of a way forward on any matter.<\/p>\n

Indeed they were unrepentantly diligent at dishing out unapologetically blunt and truthful opinions on any subject. And this endeared them to the larger majority.<\/p>\n

But most endearing was their willingness to walk their talk!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sadly, today in everyday Nigeria, intelligent people who try to think critically and act based on intelligent logical tend to be an endangered species, and often get attacked or verbally pounded into silence by \"group-thinking\" mobs of often insecure others.<\/em><\/p>\n

This is perhaps why we have much fewer people willing to step out into the limelight to play similar roles to the above mentioned heroes. Most Nigerians who fit that mould - rightly - fear that they stand to lose more than there is to gain, in today's Nigeria, than was the case in Achebe and Soyinka's Nigeria!<\/p>\n

This is a major reason why we have such a paradoxical society, filled with mind boggling contradictions of human behavior.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is is why \"illogic\" seems to sit so well here!<\/p>\n

Those willing to adopt the position of logical thinkers are few. Too few. And many would rather not be known publicly.<\/p>\n

As a result, poor thinkers have taken centre stage in Nigeria - and they use their growing influence to allow ONLY others like themselves to get through.<\/p>\n

They know that is the only way to keep those who can expose their ineptitude OUT.<\/em><\/p>\n

But societies that experience sustained and progressive advancement, NEVER allow people with poor reasoning capacities to LEAD her!<\/strong><\/p>\n

And they certainly do NOT permit the voting population to grow into a mass of illogical thinkers who let bias and sentiments get the better of their judgment.<\/p>\n

If our fortunes as a nation are to change for the better, we will need to start building \"a Society of Discerning Adults, Whose Leaders Cannot Fool. We MUST Teach Our Kids Critical Thinking and Logic\".<\/p>\n

I offer below a list of websites I recently compiled, that offer guidance for parents and other adults willing to do what it needed for their kids - and even themselves as well!<\/p>\n

1.Teaching critical thinking: An evidence-based guide<\/h3>\n

\u00a9 2009-2012 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved<\/p>\n

- See more at: http:\/\/www.parentingscience.com\/teaching-critical-thinking.html#sthash.rkhGbxxl.dpuf<\/a><\/p>\n

Teaching critical thinking? You might wonder if kids will work it out for themselves.<\/p>\n

After all, lots of smart people have managed to think logically without formal instruction in logic. Moreover, studies show that kids become better learners when they are forced to explain how<\/i> they solve problems. <\/a>So maybe kids will discover principles of logic spontaneously, as they discuss their ideas with others.<\/p>\n

But research hints at something else, too.<\/p>\n

- See more at: http:\/\/www.parentingscience.com\/teaching-critical-thinking.html#sthash.rkhGbxxl.dpuf<\/a><\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Critical Thinking: How to Grow Your Child\u2019s Mind<\/a><\/h3>\n

What kind of thinker is your child?\u00a0 Does he believe everything on TV?\u00a0 Does she always figure out how to get what she wants?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Does he ask questions?\u00a0 Does she go along with what her friends suggest?\u00a0 You can help develop your child\u2019s critical thinking skills by learning a few key guidelines!<\/p>\n

Whether your child is just starting summer vacation or in the midst of the school year, parents can help keep minds active in fun ways. Critical thinking skills don\u2019t fully develop until adolescence, but the foundations for good thinking develop in younger children.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.rootsofaction.com\/critical-thinking-ways-to-improve-your-childs-mind-this-summer\/<\/a><\/p>\n

3,\u00a0Teach Your Kids Logic With An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments<\/cite><\/h3>\n
\n

In our homeschooling, I teach Logic as a separate, stand-alone subject, in addition to working it into other topics whenever possible. But even if your kids go to conventional schools, it\u2019s important (and great fun!) to teach Logic at home. Teaching our kids to think critically about what they see, hear, and read is key to guiding them into becoming adults who think for themselves.<\/p>\n

\"Image:<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/geekdad.com\/2013\/09\/teach-kids-logic-illustrated-book-bad-arguments\/<\/a><\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Teaching Logic & Critical Thinking to Your\u00a0Kids<\/h3>\n

Critical thinking skills are skills that children (and adults) need to learn to be able to solve problems. This includes analyzing and evaluating information that is provided, whether that information is through observation, experience or communication. The core of critical thinking is being responsive to information and not just accepting it. Questioning is the most important part of critical thinking. It is a part of scientific, mathematical, historical, economic and philosophical thinking, all of which are necessary for the future development of our society. Here are a few ways to teach critical thinking that can be used whether you are a teacher or a parent.<\/p>\n

\u00a0http:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Teach-Critical-Thinking<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

5. Logic: The Right Use of Reason in the Inquiry After Truth<\/h3>\n
As a child of Puritan parents, it is not surprising that Isaac Watts was greatly concerned about people s ability to think clearly. Whether a man was studying for the ministry or any other of the sciences, the ability to reason rightly was of utmost importance. Watts s work on logic and reason became a standard textbook for nearly 200 years, being used in such schools as Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, and Yale. In Logic, Watts address proper thinking under the four basic functions of the human mind: perception, judgment, reasoning, and disposition. In part one,<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Logic-Right-Reason-Inquiry-After\/dp\/1573580554\/?tag=douggeivettblog-20<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

6. PROBLEM SOLVING ACTIVITIES: HOW TO DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS IN KIDS<\/h3>\n
Learning to think critically may be one of the most important skills that today's children will need for the future. Ellen Galinsky, author of Mind in the Making, includes critical thinking on her list of the seven essential life skills needed by every child<\/a>. In today\u2019s global and rapidly changing world, children need to be able to do much more than repeat a list of facts; they need to be critical thinkers who can make sense of information, analyze, compare, contrast, make inferences, and generate higher order thinking skills.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Exercises to Improve Your Child's Critical Thinking Skills<\/strong><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
https:\/\/www.brighthorizons.com\/family-resources\/e-family-news\/2014-developing-critical-thinking-skills-in-children\/<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

7.\u00a0How to teach all students to think\u00a0critically<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n

All first year students at the University of Technology Sydney could soon be required<\/a> to take a compulsory maths course in an attempt to give them some numerical thinking skills.<\/p>\n

The new course<\/a> would be an elective next year and mandatory in 2016 with the university\u2019s deputy vice-chancellor for education and students Shirley Alexander saying the aim is to give students some maths \u201ccritical thinking\u201d skills.<\/p>\n

This is a worthwhile goal, but what about critical thinking in general?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

http:\/\/theconversation.com\/how-to-teach-all-students-to-think-critically-35331<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

8, Critical Thinking Activities for Kids<\/h3>\n
Kids are open and willing to learn new fundamental skills as long as they are taught in a fun and entertaining manner. JumpStart\u2019s critical thinking activities <\/strong>are therefore a great way to engage students and encourage critical thinking and logical reasoning skills in them!<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
http:\/\/www.jumpstart.com\/parents\/activities\/critical-thinking-activities<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

9. 10 Tips for Teaching Kids to Be Awesome Critical Thinkers<\/h3>\n
This article is adapted from Mentoring Minds\u2019 Critical Thinking Strategies Guide\u2014a flip chart packed with question stems and lesson ideas to help teach kids to become better critical and creative thinkers. This is the first blog in a blog series [\u2026]<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
https:\/\/www.weareteachers.com\/10-tips-for-teaching-kids-to-be-awesome-critical-thinkers\/<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nigeria today struggles to get itself out of poor leadership and corruption driven rot, because \u00a0too much poor quality thinking, and reasoning is allowed to prevail in most (NOT ALL) of the decision making levels of her leadership, as well as amongst the larger majority of the followership. I've said the foregoing countless times in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1375,266,87,1440],"tags":[2902,2900,2901],"class_list":["post-11923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-excel-vb-solutions","category-my-dn-travel-news","category-parenting","category-recommended-websites-articles","tag-a-list-of-websites-that-can-help-willing-parents","tag-to-build-a-society-of-discerning-adult","tag-whose-leaders-cannot-fool-we-must-teach-our-kids-critical-thinking-and-logic"],"aioseo_notices":[],"views":853,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/tayosolagbade.com\/sdnuggets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/tayosolagbade.com\/sdnuggets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/tayosolagbade.com\/sdnuggets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tayosolagbade.com\/sdnuggets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tayosolagbade.com\/sdnuggets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11923"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"http:\/\/tayosolagbade.com\/sdnuggets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11923\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11932,"href":"http:\/\/tayosolagbade.com\/sdnuggets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11923\/revisions\/11932"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/tayosolagbade.com\/sdnuggets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tayosolagbade.com\/sdnuggets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tayosolagbade.com\/sdnuggets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}