Abstract:

Constantly expanding information space is a characteristic feature of modern society. Hidden information attacks have a negative impact on the lives of individuals and society in general. Recently, in this regard, the study of critical thinking seems to be particularly important. In our paper we present the project „Need of multi-dimensional critical thinking in the media competence development“, which is dedicated to the scientific, humanistic and practical aspects of multi-dimensional critical thinking and its application in the media competence development. Our project is oriented to university students, professors, assistant professors, lecturers and researchers in different areas of study on one side and artists on the other side. The aim of this project is to provide these persons with basic elements of multi-dimensional critical thinking that could be helpful in progress of their media working abilities. It helps to improve the competence to receive and to interpret media contents and to be active in media communication process. Above mentioned skills and abilities can be used in their applied, professional and research activities. Based upon positive feedback from the e-courses of the subjects Logic I and Logic II, we have decided to add subjects related to critical thinking and argumentation theory to the education process in the humanities-oriented study program Mediamatics and cultural heritage at our University. In this paper we highlight the need for critical thinking and logic as key instruments in the logical abilities and media competencies development of students of humanities-oriented study programs. Experiences from e-learning course for Logic during last four years show that study of logic has a high impact on students' professional studies. It improves their analytical and synthesis abilities and helps them to deal with various forms of opinion manipulation ultimately. Therefore, we decided to create an electronic educational course for subjects The Theory of argumentation and Critical thinking, which are taught in the second year of graduate study in the Department of Mediamatics and cultural heritage of Faculty of humanities of University of Žilina in Žilina as an important part of graduate skills of this study program. The aim of educational part of this project is to build up an educational conception of selected courses by creating educational texts and to build up an e-learning support for specific courses. We are confident, that the ability to analyse information critically should become one of the elementary skills of educated people of the 21st century. In this paper we describe our teaching experience with subjects Theory of argumentation and Critical thinking by using different teaching techniques. We also describe positive possibilities of this e-course for practical use within the study and we present alternatives, innovation and visions for the future of teaching similar subjects. In this paper we also introduce the structure of educational Portal of critical thinking, which would be used as an aid in teaching the theory of argumentation, mainly for students. Later, information presented in this Portal will be also open to the researchers in different areas and artists.

Keywords:

Theory of argumentation, Critical thinking, Logic, e-learning, E-course.