Introduction
In this series, we have discussed the importance of "agency" in university education from various perspectives. We've explored "dialogue-based feedback" to encourage students' active learning, the psychological safety of a space where "it's okay to fail," and the power of "team-based learning" to understand oneself through interaction with others. Furthermore, we've examined how to cultivate the "ability to ask questions," which is the starting point of learning, and the background of why society as a whole now demands "agency."
Through these discussions, it has become clear that agency is not merely a matter of motivation or attitude. It is supported by concrete actions and thought processes. However, truly independent learning is not complete with just "thinking for oneself" and "dialogue with peers." Two crucial skills are required.
One is "critical thinking," for seeing through to the essence of things and deepening one's thoughts. The other is "logical writing," for accurately conveying those thoughts to others and constructively guiding dialogue.
These are none other than the "two wheels" that powerfully drive the vehicle of agency. In this article, I want to unravel why these two skills are indispensable for independent learning and how they connect to our previous discussions.
1. Polishing the OS of Thought ── Why is Critical Thinking Necessary?
When you hear "critical thinking," you might have negative images of "criticizing" or "finding fault." However, its essence is an "attitude of thought that seeks to reach a more essential understanding or a better conclusion by questioning assumptions and considering things from multiple angles, rather than taking information at face value." This can be called the operating system (OS) of thought in modern university education.
The Value of "Thinking" in the AI Era
Now that AI can instantly generate "what looks like an answer," what is required of us is the ability to scrutinize its validity and background, not to swallow it whole. As discussed in the fifth essay, society is no longer seeking "people who memorize correct answers" but "people who can tackle problems without a single right answer." Critical thinking is the very foundation for meeting this demand. The ability to ask "Is that true?", "Are there other perspectives?", and "What is the evidence?" in response to an AI's output is the source of agency that allows us to master AI and create new value.
High-Quality "Questions" Are Born from This
In the fourth essay, we discussed the importance of fostering "students who ask questions." Critical thinking dramatically improves the quality of those questions. Questioning the basis of lecture content by asking "Why can we say that?", considering its application by asking "What if the conditions were different?", and doubting its premises by asking "What are the limits of this theory?"—such introspective questioning leads to a deeper learning that transcends superficial understanding.
The Analytical Power to Turn "Failure" into "Learning"
And this power truly shines in the "space where it's okay to fail," which we emphasized in the second essay. To turn failure into a stepping stone for growth, rather than just an "error," the process of calmly analyzing "Why didn't it work?" and hypothesizing "How can I improve next time?" is indispensable. This entire cycle of reflection is the practice of critical thinking itself.
2. Forging Thought and Connecting with Others ── Why is Logical Writing Indispensable?
No matter how deep one's thoughts are, if they remain only in one's head, they cannot be conveyed to others or create social value. This is where the other wheel, logical writing, comes in. This is not just "writing technique," but a "skill that enables intellectual collaboration with others by structuring one's thoughts and logically conveying them with evidence."
To Write is to Think
The first benefit of logical writing is that it serves as a tool for forging one's own thoughts. When you try to put "what you're vaguely thinking" into writing, you notice logical leaps, contradictions, and weak evidence yourself. The process of writing with an awareness of structure—claim, reason, example—is an excellent opportunity to view your ambiguous thoughts objectively and promote self-critical thinking.
Building the Foundation for Dialogue and Collaboration
Whether the team-based learning discussed in the third essay and the dialogue-based feedback from the first essay are fruitful depends on logical communication. A constructive discussion begins only when you can logically explain your opinion, such as "I think this way because..." It becomes clear to others where to focus their feedback, and the quality of the dialogue improves dramatically. The experience of "being understood" gives students the confidence that "my opinion influences the group," which in turn draws out further agency.
3. Educational Practices for Turning "Both Wheels"
So, how should we cultivate these "two wheels" in university education? It can be integrated into the various educational practices we have touched on in previous essays.
Let me introduce my own efforts briefly. At the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Setsunan University, where I belong, we have a required course for first-year students called "Basic Pharmaceutical Seminar" as part of their introductory education. At the core of this class is training in critical thinking and logical writing. Over more than 10 class periods, students learn the basic concepts and repeatedly engage in practical exercises such as writing short texts, discussing in groups, and reviewing each other's writing. I am convinced that acquiring this OS of "thinking deeply and conveying accurately" at an early stage, before diving into specialized knowledge, builds the foundation for learning specialized education independently and deeply.
In addition to such direct training, the following approaches are also very effective in university education for forging these "two wheels":
- PBL (Project-Based Learning) and Report Writing: By tackling complex real-world problems, students are required to critically collect and analyze information and summarize their solutions in logical texts (reports or proposals). This entire process becomes a training ground for forging both wheels simultaneously.
- Discussion and Peer Review: In-class discussions are a training ground for critically listening to others' opinions and logically stating one's own. Furthermore, by introducing "peer review," where students read each other's reports and give feedback on logical structure and evidence, the ability to view one's own thoughts and writing objectively from another's perspective is cultivated.
- Feedback from Instructors: It is important for instructors to provide feedback on students' submissions that focuses not just on the correctness of the "conclusion," but on the "thought process" and "logical structure." Questions like "The evidence here is a bit weak" or "Can you explain the connection between this claim and that claim in more detail?" stimulate students' critical and logical thinking.
Conclusion
"Agency" is a powerful endeavor of asking one's own questions (the power of inquiry), challenging oneself without fear of failure (psychological safety), and deepening one's learning while collaborating with others (team-based learning). And supporting this entire endeavor are the "two wheels" of critical thinking, the OS of thought, and logical writing, the technology of conveying thought.
The ability to think deeply and the ability to share it with others and engage with society. Isn't mastering how to balance and turn these two wheels the greatest gift we can give students to live their own lives powerfully in an unpredictable future?
A university should be the best training ground for learning how to turn these "two wheels." I feel strongly once again that we, as educators, want to create the environment for that and be the partners who run alongside our students.
Published: July 29, 2024
Author: Masato Otsuka