I agree with you that it should be taught early and often. I feel like much of the time parents are more interested in teaching their kids what to think, and not so much HOW to think.
What you do in problem solving mechanical problems is indeed critical thinking. But I bet you had to be taught that and then develop it on your own. Critical thinking classes teach the same process, but they show people how to do that with everything, not just a particular problem or area of problems. It's a neglected but critical skill.
bolded....probably one of the smartest things i've ever read on these boards.
on my being taught "how" to think? i never took any extra classes in shcool, and never went to college. my grandparents(they raised myself, and my brother, while mom had two fulltime jobs to support us) tended to make us figure things out for ourselves, which in hindsight, i think may be what you're talking about. it also may be a large part of the reason i can't learn "by being told" as well as i can learn "by doing", and i need "to know why" certain things have to be done certain ways.
for my thinking processes on my diagnosis's......i never attended any form of schools for mechanics, or diagnostics. my best friend(i've known the guy for 30 years now) got me my first job in the field.
i went through the normal progression of the "noob" at the repair shop. was given all the clean up duties, then moved on to oil changes, and tires, then to brakes......always in steps.
my very first diagnostic job, i still remember very well(amazingly, being how long it's been). i came in expecting to do the same old crap.....some oil changes, brakes, etc.
dickie throws me the keys to a ford tempo. it was a "no-start". he told me to push it in, and figure it out. i told him i didn't know how yet. he said he didn't care, now was the time.
i spent a day and a half on that car, and to this day, it is the only car that ever beat me.
