Future of Critical Thinking and Creativity in Social Work Education

Abstract

Critical thinking and creativity are two higher order thinking. In old literature critical thinking and creativity were considered two independent types of thinking. But latest research and literature emphasise on the complementary nature of critical thinking and creativity. Creativity and Critical thinking have got recognition as life skills and skills of the 21stcentury. Critical thinking is considered as one among the core competency of the social work profession.Nature of the world is very dynamic and Social Work professionals critical thinking and creativity will help them to contribute to the development of society. The core idea in this paper is the necessity of critical thinking by a social worker to make creative solutions. Because an innovative idea, by a social worker is useful when that idea is suitable to the environment of the problem and such innovations need critical thinking. A social worker encounters unique problems of individual, group and community. Problems encountered by the social worker may seem similar, but all problems are unique. Unique problems require unique solutions. To make unique solutions, critical thinking of the problem is the foremost step. Critical thinking and creativity depends on the environment of persons also. Social work education has a great role to play to make social work professionals think critically and creatively to make them capable of the demands of changing the world.