THE ROLE OF CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING SKILLS IN THE LEARNING PROCESS

Thinking is a unique human quality that begins with the arrival of the individual and can develop directly or indirectly in the subsequent period. Due to this privilege of thinking, people, unlike other living beings, were able to understand the meaning and reason of their existence by starting to think about themselves, and the knowledge gained in this way gave them the right and opportunity to determine their future. Productive, purposeful, and conscious thinking is at the heart of efficient learning. By applying the sequence of thinking skills, learners gradually gain a deeper understanding of the processes that they can utilize when faced with problems, new information, and ideas. In addition, the progressive development of thinking knowledge and the practice of using thinking strategies can increase students’ self-learning and self-management motivation. As a result, students become more confident and independent in solving problems and navigating challenging situations. Considering the rapidly changing world and processes in the 21st century, we can say that one of the skills particularly required from students in this era is the development of their creative and critical thinking skills. Students who can approach the event from a creative perspective, analyze it correctly, and draw conclusions will successfully leverage these skills in their future lives and grow up as talented personalities. In the article, critical and creative thinking skills are examined separately and their roles in the learning process are emphasized.