What is critical thinking?

The activity itself will help learners explore the consequences of beliefs and learn through the competition.

After completing this activity, learners will:

•  be able to investigate and understand the consequences and impact of their beliefs. This can relate to how people's beliefs influence their behavior, choices, and relationships with others. By achieving this result, learners will be able to critically evaluate and analyze their beliefs;
• develop skills (analytical, empathy, adaptability) and understanding by participating in competitions or competitive situations. Competitions can promote learning as they require excellent performance, improve skills, and stimulate efforts for improvement to achieve success. By attaining this result, learners will gain a better understanding of how to compete and grow in their respective field, using competition as a learning opportunity.

Overall, these achievable results indicate that learners will develop skills and understanding related to beliefs and learning through competition.

90 min.

Maximum 4 people per group.

Beginner (no prior knowledge required)

The trainer begins by presenting the theoretical background and then write the topic names: preconceptions; evaluation biases; biased arguments; avoidance of inconsistencies on the whiteboard or flipchart. Then participants work in groups preparing questions on the all of topics. Afterward, the questions and answers to these questions are given to the trainer, and using the table game "Circus" or similar, groups play out as many questions as they can, and finally, everyone reflects on their insights.


Circus Board Game - Basic Instructions

Objective: The goal of the game is to be the first team to get on the pitch with the number 120 on which the winner's Cup is drawn.

Components:

• Circus game board
• Game pieces (different colors for each team)
• Dice

Setup:

• Lay out the game board in the center of the table.
• Each team selects a game piece and places it on the 'Start' space.
• Decide the order of play (you can roll a die or use any method you prefer).

Gameplay:

• On your turn, throw a dice and pick one of the opposing teams questions, if answered, then pass forward as many fields as depicted on the dice. If not answered then the move goes to the next team.
• The game continues in turn as players move, following the steps on the pitch.

Winning the Game:
The first team to successfully get on the pitch with or closest to the number 120 is the winner.

1. The trainer presents the theoretical background and game instruction 
5 min.


2. Each group is tasked with preparing questions on the all of following topics:

• preconceptions;
• evaluation biases;
• biased arguments;
• avoidance of inconsistencies

30 min

 
3. The questions and answers to these questions are given to the trainer, and using the table game "Circus" or similar, groups play out as many questions as they can (in the game they can move forward/backward/up/down only after correctly answering a question) 
35 min.

Each learner is requested to share what valuable insights they take for themselves - for example: 

• What they found interesting during the activity? 
• Will this experience change attitudes in the future?

The activity works best in a classroom and not in an online environment.

No further resources needed.

"Critical Thinking: A Concise Guide" by Tracy Bowell and Gary Kemp;
https://www.skeptic.com/
https://philpapers.org/