Harold: Thanks for bringing "critical thinking" into all this latest exploration of PLE's. In Dave's diagram, I've got some thoughts on 3 of the boxes:

Draw Inferences: (a.k.a. see the pattern, connect the dots, relate the content to other contexts, etc) Since I began my recent reading in cognitive neuroscience, I've been wondering if inferences are an unconscious process, rather than a consciously logical operation. That would explain descriptions of inferences like "leap of insight", "an aha experience" or "dawning realizations". It also suggests that a way to create inferences is the same as getting creative inspirations: incubation (sleep on it, give it a rest, put it on a back burner) after intense consideration of the problem.

Identify missing information: Sherlock Holmes was a fictitious master of identifying what was missing, like his recognizing "the dog that did not bark in the night". To know what usually occurs or what is supposed to happen seems to be a prerequisite to recognizing what's missing. I've been fascinated by studies of ecosystems and ecological models of family systems that recognize when things are out of balance, going to extremes, or compensating for an excess -- because something is missing. Perhaps growing awareness of value networks, system models and cyclical maps of interactions will help us do a better job of identifying missing information.

Challenge and evaluate assumptions: In trying to teach this to college students, I found that assumptions are usually unknown to the person holding them. We cannot challenge what we take for granted because we take it for granted. Therapists wrestle with this issue since unconscious assumptions usually create most the symptoms getting complained about. Getting assumptions out of hiding can be done by sentence completion exercises (e.g. the best way to get ahead is ___, the most favorable reaction to get is __ ).

I agree that these kinds of skills will help confront the assault from marketers, politicians and "The Corporation" who's self interest is designed to exploit us and our fragile environments. -- Thanks for the links to my blog!