Thinking Critically: A Short Reflection of my Learning Journey

The reflection below represents my journey through this Critical Thinking Module.

I came with an open mind to gain more in-depth critical thinking knowledge. At first, I thought critical thinking was mainly about judging arguments logically, but I’ve come to understand it’s much deeper. It’s about asking yourself the right questions, challenging assumptions, exploring different perspectives, and making sure any claims I make are backed up with solid evidence. Learning about the PEEL method and Dewey’s model really helped me make sense of how to organize my thoughts and write more convincingly.

One of the biggest areas I improved in was learning how to find and use trustworthy information. I’ve gotten better at searching for academic sources and using APA citation style, which made my work feel more professional and credible. I also learned that it’s important not to jump to conclusions. I now take time to gather the right evidence before forming an opinion, which has made me more thoughtful and objective when approaching problems.

My communication skills have also improved. I’ve become more confident in sharing my thoughts and listening to others during discussions. Group work showed me how essential it is to have mutual respect and give helpful feedback. That said, I know I still need to work on being more concise, especially when explaining something complex. I plan to keep practicing by writing more and asking for feedback to improve.

One part of the module that really stood out for me was working on our technical report, especially when we had to present our proposal. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, but in a good way. I realized I get nervous when speaking in front of others, but I learned how to manage that better through good posture, proper eye contact, and designing clean, effective slides. I also found out how important it is to keep slides simple and not overload them with text and this will definitely keep people engaged.

Teamwork was another big learning point. The project required us to collaborate closely, and it taught me a lot about how to communicate clearly, share responsibility, and adapt when things don’t go as planned. Even when we didn’t all agree, learning to compromise and really listen helped us create a better final product.

One of the challenges I faced during the project was trying to come up with a proposed solution that would actually improve on what already exists. It was tough to think creatively while also staying realistic and practical, but it pushed me to dig deeper into research, consider different viewpoints, and refine our ideas to make them stronger.

This experience changed how I see learning. Learning this module made me realize the importance of analyzing tasks carefully before jumping into completing them. It also helped me improve my language skills alongside critical thinking. I now see learning as a reflective process that involves questioning, evaluating, and being open to new ideas. Gaining all these knowledge will definitely help me for my IWSP, Capstone and in my future career.

I would like to personally thank Professor Bradstone for helping and guiding me through this module and making it engaging to learn through his methods.