Online Class: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Techniques

Dive deeply into the art of critical thinking beyond surface-level understanding, where this course enables you to dissect biases and construct unassailable arguments. Develop the skills necessary to trust and evaluate information, use innovative solutions, and anticipate human behavior with empathy, ensuring you become a transformative force in your personal and professional life.

$95.00
no certificate
- OR -
$120.00
with CEU Certificate*
Start Right Now!
$120.00 (with CEU Certificate)
Taking multiple courses? Save with our platinum program.
 
  • 15
    Lessons
  • 15
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 4
    Hours
    average time
  • 0.4
    CEUs
 
 
 

Course Description

Envision yourself not merely navigating through information but commanding it, not just participating in discussions but leading them with clarity and precision. Welcome to our transformative journey--Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Techniques: Beyond Bias. Here, we unlock the art of thinking critically in a world cluttered with noise, empowering you to sift through it all with razor-sharp focus and unparalleled confidence.

From the very first module, we take you beyond the typical veneer of critical thinking, diving deep into the nuances that distinguish exceptional from the ordinary. You will calibrate your mind to identify, dissect, and overcome the biases that obfuscate clear judgment. Imagine possessing the ability to decode complex problems with ease, sculpt solutions that are as innovative as they are effective, and communicate with a finesse that gains trust and respect. This course, designed meticulously to be immersive and engaging, guides you through an intellectual metamorphosis.

Consider the thrill of untangling the intricate web of logical fallacies, giving you the power not only to argue compellingly but to construct arguments that stand unchallenged. You'll explore the psychology of decision-making, gaining insights into human behavior that will allow you to anticipate and navigate the beliefs and decisions of others with empathy and precision. Our unique approach doesn't just teach the prerequisite theories but integrates them with real-world applicability. It's not about what you learn; it's about how you transform and apply it in both your personal and professional life.

What if we told you that this course does more than illuminate your path to stellar thinking and decision-making? It crafts an experience where you become the trailblazer, influencing others through your enlightening discoveries. With each lesson, you will foster a mindset that is innovative yet grounded, critical yet imaginative.

In a landscape teeming with information, the source's reliability becomes a beacon of truth. We equip you with the tools to evaluate and trust what you read and hear, distinguishing between noise and knowledge. This course provides you with a comprehensive toolkit, ensuring that whether you're assessing data for a business decision or communicating ideas within a team, your approach is efficient, ethical, and effective.

Imagine standing before your peers, your superiors, or even larger audiences, transformed with an unshakeable confidence in your ideas--clearly articulated, logically structured, and backed by solid reasoning. As you progress, collaborative problem-solving becomes second nature, mastering the dynamics of teamwork and harnessing collective intelligence to navigate complex challenges.

Above all, this course teaches you to see beyond the surface, encouraging creative thinking and imaginative idea generation. It's about discovering a new perspective where solutions expand beyond boundaries, guided by ethical considerations that secure trust and integrity.

Join us in this unparalleled journey where every step you take enhances not only your cognitive capabilities but also reshapes how you interact and influence the world. By the end of this course, you won't just have learned critical thinking; you'll embody it--a skill so essential and impactful that it echoes through every professional conquest and personal interaction.

You owe it to yourself to ascend beyond bias, to unlock the power of critical analysis that awaits. Don't just navigate the world of information; master it with us. Enrollment is not just a step in your education; it is a leap into a world where your thoughts become your greatest asset.

  • Completely Online
  • Self-Paced
  • 6 Months to Complete
  • 24/7 Availability
  • Start Anytime
  • PC & Mac Compatible
  • Android & iOS Friendly
  • Accredited CEUs
Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider
 
 

Course Lessons

Lesson 1. Beyond Bias: The Practical Skills of Critical Analysis

In a world saturated with information, critical thinking is essential for assessing facts, forming reasoned conclusions, and driving personal and professional innovation. This skill nurtures empathetic communication, sharpens decision-making, and fosters environments where creativity and strategic growth flourish. 17 Total Points
  • Lesson discussions: Reasons for Taking this Course
  • Complete Assignment: Why this Course?
  • Assessment: Lesson 1 Review Exam

Lesson 2. Mindful Decisions: Overcoming Cognitive Biases

Mindfulness and emotional intelligence, integral in managing biases, promote balanced decision-making by empathizing with others and managing emotional responses. Leveraging technology as a bias-checking tool, alongside fostering creativity and critical dialogue within teams, cultivates an environment for rational and forward-thinking strategies. 14 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 2 Review Exam

Lesson 3. Logical Fallacies: A Journey to Better Understanding

Incorporating fallacy recognition into daily life enhances critical thinking, fostering evidence-based decisions rather than those swayed by societal or authoritative pressures. 10 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 3 Review Exam

Lesson 4. Mastering Root Cause Analysis for Lasting Solutions

The success of Root Cause Analysis lies in its ability to encourage a culture where curiosity and critical thinking thrive, helping companies like Amazon and Google to innovate faster. By integrating human insights, RCA values diverse perspectives and ensures inclusive environments where every team member's voice is heard. 20 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 4 Review Exam

Lesson 5. Mastering the Craft of Hypothesis Formulation

In the realm of critical thinking, crafting testable hypotheses is essential for structured investigation and informed decision-making, applicable across diverse fields from science to business. By formulating precise hypotheses, individuals can transform vague observations into actionable insights, paving the way for effective solutions to complex problems. 20 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 5 Review Exam

Lesson 6. Think Creatively: Harnessing Creativity for Solutions

Creativity is a dynamic skill inherent in everyone, enabling us to engage in critical thinking and problem-solving effectively. By understanding and embracing the creative journey of preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification, we unlock innovative solutions to complex challenges. 16 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 6 Review Exam

Lesson 7. Bias: A Double-Edged Sword in Cognitive Processing

Psychological biases, such as status quo bias and the Dunning-Kruger effect, illustrate our minds' quirks in understanding competence and change. Challenging these biases can open pathways to innovation and growth by encouraging self-reflection and learning from diverse perspectives. 20 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 7 Review Exam

Lesson 8. Mastering the Art of Strategic Innovation

Mastering skills like data analysis, communication, and adaptability is crucial for strategic problem-solving, turning challenges into opportunities. Whether analyzing sales data or pivoting event strategies during a pandemic, these skills help individuals and organizations thrive in changing environments. 20 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 8 Review Exam

Lesson 9. Empowering Critical Thinking with Informed Research

Recognizing and evaluating the spectrum of sources—primary, secondary, and tertiary—empowers us to sift through the information deluge critically. This skill allows us to question assumptions, appreciate diverse perspectives, and make well-informed personal and professional decisions. 0 Total Points

Lesson 10. Navigating the Labyrinth of Argumentation: Mastering Premises and Conclusions

Differentiating between inductive and deductive reasoning sharpens our critical evaluation of arguments, distinguishing probabilistic hypotheses from logically certain conclusions. This understanding equips individuals to navigate complex information landscapes with strategic problem-solving skills. 20 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 10 Review Exam

Lesson 11. Digital Dialogue: Enhancing Communication with Technology

Empathy and cultural intelligence are key in navigating today's interconnected world, enabling effective cross-cultural dialogue. This approach builds trust and facilitates mutual respect, leading to more productive collaborations and enduring partnerships. 19 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 11 Review Exam

Lesson 12. Innovative Problem-Solving Through Diverse Team Collaboration

In today's dynamic world, collaboration among diverse team members is integral for innovation and problem-solving, as it merges various perspectives to create groundbreaking solutions. Emphasizing open communication and psychological safety fosters an environment where ideas can be freely shared and critically evaluated. 10 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 12 Review Exam

Lesson 13. Mixed Methods: The Key to Effective Analysis

The transformative capacity of combining qualitative and quantitative analyses unveils holistic insights into complex issues from climate science to public health. This blend enables a richer comprehension of data by integrating human stories with metrics, influencing policy decisions with profound socio-environmental implications. 20 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 13 Review Exam

Lesson 14. Mental Shortcuts Unmasked: Exploring Cognitive Biases

The 'availability heuristic' and 'confirmation bias' illustrate how our thoughts are shaped by readily recalled events and pre-existing beliefs, respectively. Recognizing these biases helps us seek diverse perspectives to break the echo chambers of social media. 10 Total Points
  • Assessment: Lesson 14 Review Exam

Lesson 15. Ethical Frameworks: Guiding Modern Choices

Consequentialism evaluates actions based on outcomes, like utilitarianism, which seeks the greatest happiness for the majority. In contrast, deontological ethics focuses on adherence to moral duties, while virtue ethics emphasizes character traits such as courage and empathy in decision-making. 17 Total Points
  • Lesson discussions: End of Course Poll; Course Comments
  • Assessment: Lesson 15 Review Exam
233
Total Course Points
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Define critical thinking by identifying its key components such as logic, reasoning, and skepticism.
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze arguments by evaluating evidence and identifying biases.
  • Define cognitive biases and demonstrate their impact on decision-making by assessing examples such as confirmation bias and anchoring effect in various scenarios.
  • Implement strategies to mitigate cognitive biases by engaging in practices like self-reflection, iterative dialogue, and environmental design to enhance decision-making accuracy.
  • Evaluate arguments in professional and personal contexts to distinguish between sound reasoning and logical fallacies, fostering informed and effective decision-making.
  • Identify and explain common logical fallacies such as Ad Hominem, Straw Man, and False Dichotomy, demonstrating their impact on decision-making.
  • Apply data-driven insights to problem-solving scenarios by analyzing given datasets, showcasing ability to transform surface symptoms into sustainable strategic solutions.
  • Identify the core issues behind a problem using Root Cause Analysis (RCA) by applying at least one analytical technique, demonstrating understanding of RCA's purpose.
  • Analyze and critique the effectiveness of a hypothesis by measuring its specificity, relevance, and testability against empirical data.
  • Analyze and refine hypotheses based on empirical test results to enhance problem-solving strategies and drive effective decision-making.
  • Define and formulate a clear, testable hypothesis using the SMART criteria for a given complex problem scenario.
  • Define the stages of the creative process and demonstrate their application by developing an innovative solution to a given problem.
  • Identify at least two strategies to overcome creative blocks and apply them to enhance problem-solving skills in a real-world scenario.
  • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
 

Additional Course Information

Online CEU Certificate
  • Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
  • Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
  • Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
  • View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
  • Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media
Document Your CEUs on Your Resume
 
Course Title: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Techniques
Course Number: 57700225
Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries
Availability: This course is offered online and is accessible in every state across the U.S., including California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, and Georgia. Learners in English-speaking countries like Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa can also enroll.
Last Updated: January 2025
CEU Value: 0.4 IACET CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
CE Accreditation: Universal Class, Inc. has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
Grading Policy: Earn a final grade of 70% or higher to receive an online/downloadable CEU Certification documenting CEUs earned.
Course Type: Curriculum-Based, Online Class
Instructional Method: Self-Paced, Asynchronous
Assessment Method: End of lesson review exams and course final exam
Course Fee: $120.00 U.S. dollars

Choose Your Subscription Plan

Course Only
One Course
No Certificate / No CEUs
$95
for 6 months
 
Billed once
This course only
Includes certificate X
Includes CEUs X
Self-paced Yes
Instructor support Yes
Time to complete 6 months
No. of courses 1 course
Certificate Course
One Course
Certificate & CEUs
$120
for 6 months
 
Billed once
This course only
Includes certificate Yes
Includes CEUs Yes
Self-paced Yes
Instructor support Yes
Time to complete 6 months
No. of courses 1 course
Platinum Yearly
ALL COURSES
Certificates & CEUs
$189
per year
 
Billed once
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate Yes
Includes CEUs Yes
Self-paced Yes
Instructor support Yes
Time to complete 12 Months
No. of courses 600+
Platinum 2 Years
ALL COURSES
Certificates & CEUs
$299
for 2 years
You save $79.00!
Billed once
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate Yes
Includes CEUs Yes
Self-paced Yes
Instructor support Yes
Time to complete 24 Months
No. of courses 600+