With the advent of
technology, information have become readily available and humans need not carry
all the information in themselves. It is easy to find and peruse through
information or find a solution to a problem. It is however feared that this
ready availability is eroding human ability to think, concentrate or apply
their minds to finding a solution to a problem. Most people simply wade through
a flood of information and at the end of the day don’t increase their knowledge
or improve their cognitive ability.
With the internet,
every new page introduces a new twist to a story, making it more captivating
and arousing eagerness to see a page with a different twist. This is unlike a
book which may become monotonous. The internet also offers different solutions
to a problem therefore a person is tempted to keep searching for an easier
solution to the problem, than co0ncentrating on a single solution that seems to
have no end. This has affected me in the past, where I found myself perusing
through the internet looking for a simpler definition or explanation to a
statement or word or looking for an easier approach to solving a problem than
what was available in the books or what I already knew.
While the internet
offers the advantage of easy access to large volumes of information, it could
possibly erode a person’s ability to read deeply and think reflectively.
However, this doesn’t have to be always the case since the reader has the
option of focusing on limited resources available online, read and reflect on
them while disregarding all others or consulting them as he deems appropriate.
Most people, including
myself have been reduced to mere information decoders rather than critical
thinkers. The internet offers tons of information and numerous approaches to
handling situations, which we apply without caring about the principles
underlying the solution. We merely transfer information from the internet to
the physical world rather than creating our own ideas from our environment.
As the president of
Tennessee State University I would encourage the students to exploit the
convenience of the internet but ensure enhancements of their mental processes
by applying several measures addressed here. In searching the internet, a
person usually has a specific subject. To prevent time wastage in perusing the
internet, a user ought to limit the number of sources that they need to consult.
The researcher should eliminate some sources based on the focus of the author
of the material. This is because as much as different material address the same
subject, authors use different approaches and focus on different aspects of the
subject. Identifying the aspect of interest would help the reader establish a
narrow pool of information that they can concentrate on, thoroughly study and
understand or draw a solution based on. Sources can be further filtered on the
basis of context, previous experience with other works from the author, length,
date of publication and reviews, if available. This way, a single source can be
picked which addresses the subject matter in an appropriate context, provides
enough information, is easy to follow and helps in problem solving. This has
the advantage that the researcher acquires all the information required from at
least one perspective, succeeds in applying their mind to the subject and
enhance their cognitive as well as other mental processes unlike another who
hops through online material.
Alternatively, the
reader can set specific targets of time or results. This way, the user is able
to focus on material that address the subject matter more directly and stop
hopping as soon as they find appropriate material. The user absorbs information
from selected pages and exits as soon as targets are met. The reader/researcher
thus saves on time and ensures success.
The internet allows use
of filters which can be employed in both approaches above to enhance
effectiveness of their research and ability to apply their mind constructively
to solving problems or acquiring knowledge.
Garry
Kasparov
Garry Kasparov is a
Russian writer and political activist, best known as a Chess Grandmaster and
former World Chess Champion. He became the world’s youngest world champion at
the age of 22 and held this title longer than any other champion. Chess, being
a board game involves applying the mind to observe, and analyze the observation
to guide the next move. Kasparov was able to apply this process to come from
losing 4/4 championship matches against the then champion in 1984 to hold the
defending champion from taking the title. Although the results were disregarded
and a new series of championship matches started, he clinched the title by
beating the defending champion 13-11.
In 1986, Kasparov noted
the authoritarian nature if FIDE, the organization that governed chess
championship games. He also noted that the Chess Grandmasters were key to the
organization but had no say as individuals. This analysis led him to the
conclusion that a collective force would be sufficient to counter the power
FIDE exerted on all stakeholders. He therefore launched the Grand Masters
Association to represent professional chess players in FIDE.
Kasparov retired from
professional chess in 2005 and opted to concentrate on his writing work, only
playing chess on a non-competitive basis. In one of his writing, Kasparov
explores the decision-making process in chess and their links to daily life. He
had earlier worked on employing chess in education and offered scholarships in
an English school.
Although Kasparov terms
his decision to split from FIDE a bad one that hurt chess, he maintained his
chess skill and won many more titles. His skill in identifying problems, their
causes and solving them through analysis bore fruit by making FIDE more
democratic. He also devised new chess defensive and offensive strategies that
are still very popular to date.
Critical
Thinking
Critical thinking is
the process of actively conceptualizing and analyzing information collected
through observation, communication or experience to guide belief or response.
Critical thinking relies on evidence, clarity, accuracy and consistency of
communicated information, precision of measurements and evaluation and the
extent of these attributes to come up with a conclusion. Critical thinking
takes into consideration all implicit and explicit elements of thinking
including the process of thinking itself, the implications, alternative views
and their implications as well as the purpose.
Critical thinking has
different applications. It can be used in problem-solving, influencing
practices and forming a basis for belief. It can however be used selfishly to
influence the response of an individual or a group by collecting and analyzing
information, then manipulating it in such a way as to cause the desired impression
to the audience and thus leading to the desired response, either an action or
belief.
Critical thinking is
not a universal process but varies with personality and experience. Critical
thinkers are observed to lack rationale and to be misinformed in some areas, or
draw wrong conclusions in certain areas but very effective in other areas of
thinking. Critical thinking is progressive as thinkers attempt to acquire more
information, attain insights and skills and overcome challenges to critical
thinking that they face, and that undermines their critical thinking ability in
some areas.
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