This module is part of BANKSETA’s “Capacity Building for Employees” learning programme that aims to equip you with the critical competencies you need to survive and thrive in work and in life.

Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally about what to do or what to believe. It includes the ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking. Critical thinking is a metacognitive skill. What this means is that it is a higher-level cognitive skill that involves thinking about thinking. We have to be aware of the good principles of reasoning and be reflective about our own reasoning. We often need to make a conscious effort to improve ourselves, avoid biases, and maintain objectivity. This is notoriously hard to do.

The purpose of this module is to help you understand the key concepts and the importance of critical thinking in the workplace and in your daily life. Critical thinking enables you to assess and evaluate information and arguments to come to a decision. Furthermore, it gives you the opportunity to reason through problems and to present arguments in a logical, compelling way.

• Define and contextualise critical thinking;
• Explain the importance of critical thinking in the workplace;
• Explain the benefits of critical thinking to the individual and the organisation;
• Describe the characteristics of critical thinkers;
• Explain the critical thinker’s skills set;
• Explore a range of different thinking styles/preferences;
• Describe how thinking styles influence critical thinking;
• Discuss factors that influence critical thinking;
• Explain bias as a barrier to critical thinking;
• Explain how and why assumptions influence critical thinking; and
• Explain and implement the critical thinking process to improve critical thinking.

Course Content:

Learning Unit 1: Critical Thinking Context

Learning Unit 2: Characteristics & Styles of Critical Thinking

Learning Unit 3: Critical Thinking Process

Who Should Attend:

The programme is intended for junior and mid-level managers within the banking and microfinance sector.

Entry Requirements:

There are no entry requirements for this course.

Course Structure:

This course is available in classroom-learning and online learning format.

• Classroom-Learning: Lectures, Group Discussions, Role-Plays and Simulations
• Distance Learning: The learner works through the learning material via the BSI LMS and completes the Knowledge Test at his/her own time and pace.

Assessments:

The module has a knowledge test at the end of the module.

Accreditation:

This module is not accredited or aligned to any unit standards.

Certification:

A Certificate of Successful Completion will be issued to the learner on successfully completing the knowledge test at the end of the module.

Duration:

Classroom-Based: 1 day (10 notional hours of learning)

Distance/Online Learning: 1 – 2 hours