Critical mind. Critical thinking is a widely accepted educational goal. Its definition is contested, but competing definitions can be understood as different conceptions of the same basic concept: goal-directed careful thinking. Conceptions differ as to the scope of such reflection, the type of objective, the criteria and the standards. Here are tips for strengthening your self-awareness and learning to improve your critical thinking: 1. Be careful. There's nothing wrong with a little skepticism. One of the fundamental principles of critical thinking is asking questions and analyzing available information.1. Thinking skills are essential skills if students are to succeed in college, as well as in their professional careers and social lives. Lizarraga et al. 2010 Marin and Halpern 2011 also called for the teaching of critical thinking to be a central part of general education in all secondary schools. Critical thinking is one of the most frequently discussed higher order skills, considered to play a central role in logical thinking. decision making and problem solving Butler, 2012 Halpern, 2003. It is also a very controversial skill as researchers debate its definition, its ability to assess its degree of generality or specificity,