Courses

Most people think they’re fairly skilled at making big life decisions. But in his groundbreaking book, Farsighted: How We Make the Decisions That Matter the Most, science historian Steven Johnson argues that we’re not as good as we think.

Drawing insights from behavioral psychology, neuroscience, military strategy, and management theory, Johnson builds a compelling case for why typical decision-making processes are too narrow—and the benefits of a more full-spectrum approach. 

In this course, you’ll learn to tackle complex, long-term decisions with conclusions from Johnson’s book—including how to map your options, predict outcomes, and consider your values before making final choices.

This online course equips you with the essential skills to navigate the information age critically. You'll learn to identify reliable sources, analyze information effectively, and form well-reasoned arguments.

Course Objectives:

Develop critical thinking skills to evaluate information objectively.

Master information literacy techniques to find and assess credible sources.

Identify bias, misinformation, and propaganda in various media forms.

Construct strong arguments using sound evidence and reasoning.

Enhance communication skills through clear and concise writing and presentation.

The course discusses the characteristics of critical thinkers and how to apply them in a business or organizational setting. The four characteristics of critical thinking are active listening, curiosity, self-discipline, and humility. Active listening involves listening to understand, taking nonverbal cues, and withholding judgment. Curiosity is about asking the right questions and being open to new ideas. Self-discipline requires taking the time to acquire necessary information and reflecting on it. Humility involves being receptive to new ideas and admitting mistakes. Critical thinkers are adaptable and ready for change. The article provides application questions for each characteristic to help readers improve their critical thinking skills.