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Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking allows learners to derive meaning from information. It enables learners to critique the credibility and sources of knowledge, to recognise their own personal assumptions and values, and beyond this, what may have influenced them. It also develops the ability to analyse the thinking process itself, leading to critical reflection and a move beyond the description of an event or process, towards a deeper and more interpretative understanding. This incorporates information, media and data literacy. 

Downloadable resources to help with assignments:

Preparing for Academic Writing

Evaluating Sources (Including CRAAP and RADAR)

Develop@Derby guide to critical reflective practice:

Reflection and Reflective Writing

Dissertation guides from Develop@Derby, including where to start, ethics, primary research, literature review, methodology, results and discussion:

Dissertation Guides

Develop@Derby guides to plagiarism, citations and referencing:

Students often struggle with referencing the resources they find and use in assignments, but if you are organised and use the tools available to help, you will soon get to grips with this necessary skill. These guides will provide advice, tips and links to key resources such as Cite Them Right and Endnote to help you navigate your way through citing and referencing.

Referencing Overview

Referencing and Plagiarism

Information about Cite Them Right

Develop@Derby podcasts relating to assignments:

Preparing for Academic Writing

LinkedIn courses for critical thinking skills:

LinkedIn Learning is an online skills development service which offers our students and staff an extensive library of high-quality video courses in business, creative and technical skills. You can use the platform to enhance your personal development with self-paced learning to complement other resources such as the Develop@Derby Hub, a wide programme of skills workshops and the Digital Capabilities Discovery Tool, to name a few.

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

How to Foster Critical Thinking and Curiosity

How to Ask Productive Questions

Develop a Critical Mindset

Information Literacy

Critical Thinking for Better Judgement and Decision Making

A guide for academics:

This guide has been created for academic staff to serve as an introduction to our teaching offer and the support that is available for you and your students. The Academic Librarian team have an excellent in-curriculum offer, delivering teaching, training and specialist support to students, helping to develop students use of information and resources in their work and in using subject specialist search techniques and resources. 

Information Literacy - A Guide for Academics: Welcome

Embedded Information Literacy Support - A Guide for Academics

Co-curricular Support