Critical Thinking and Decision-Making for Teens

Course Description

This course is designed to equip teenagers with essential skills in critical thinking and informed decision-making, enabling them to navigate academic, social, and personal challenges with confidence and clarity. Through interactive discussions, scenario-based activities, and real-life applications, students will learn to evaluate information critically, distinguish facts from opinions, understand consequences, and make thoughtful choices. The course encourages a mindset of curiosity, rational analysis, and ethical responsibility, laying a foundation for lifelong learning and responsible citizenship.

Course Objectives

1. Define critical thinking and recognise its role in academic and personal success.
2. Distinguish between credible and non-credible sources, and detect bias or manipulation in various forms of media.
3. Use structured reasoning to assess situations, identify underlying assumptions, and avoid common logical fallacies.
4. Develop a step-by-step approach to decision-making, weighing risks, consequences, and alternatives in personal and social contexts.
5. Explore how personal values, cultural norms, and ethical considerations influence choices and actions.

Course Outcomes

1. Analyse information critically and construct well-reasoned arguments supported by evidence.
2. Approach real-life scenarios with a clear framework for decision-making, leading to better personal outcomes.
3. Express ideas clearly, engage in respectful debate, and collaborate effectively in group problem-solving tasks.
4. Identify common mental shortcuts and biases, and implement strategies to mitigate their impact on judgement.
5. Exhibit greater independence in thought, while making decisions that reflect a balance of logic, empathy, and integrity.