TEDx Releases Editor’s Pick Talk “Critical Thinking: It’s Not What You Think”

TEDx today unveiled its much-awaited Editor’s Pick talk, “Critical Thinking: It’s Not What You Think,” featuring Dr. Steve Pearlman’s ground-breaking methodology that helps everyone, even kids, hone previously unattainable critical thinking skills for problem-solving, decision-making, academic achievement, career success, and life management. Dr. Pearlman’s talk dives into how our brains are naturally wired to think (or not)—and how it is finally possible to seize control over those processes for more insightful thinking and decisive action.

Praise is pouring in for Dr. Pearlman’s innovative approach, with Michael Toebe, Editor-in-Chief of Communication Intelligence, hailing his message’s global impact:

“The potential of who we can become from learning and applying critical thinking is exciting. Our brains are not being primed to be optimized. This talk needs to be widely circulated and discussed.”

Pioneering the Critical Thinking Movement:

Dr. Pearlman, who first founded the country’s first academic office focused exclusively on the teaching of critical thinking, saw an urgent need for making his breakthroughs in critical thinking education available to everyone in the world. So, he founded The Critical Thinking Institute. At the heart of the Institute’s training is its NeuralCode approach that emerged from a decade of research into neuroscience, psychology, and pedagogy. Designed to strengthen metacognition– the process of becoming aware of your own thinking process–the program teaches people how to escape instinctive, simplistic System 1 thinking, which most people use roughly 98 percent of the time, and enter System 2 thinking, which is deliberate, analytic, and complex. Because this method exercises the brain’s fundamental operating system for thinking, it transforms thinking in every aspect of life: daily decisions, academics, careers, etc.

Dr. Steve Pearlman states:

“Critical thinking is more than just a skill. It’s the skill. Given the challenges we face individually, as well as those facing our country, we can no longer afford for critical thinking to be discussed but never taught. With a 2023 ETS study finding that just 3 percent of U.S. college students ‘qualified as proficient’ critical thinkers, it’s time for critical thinking to come to the forefront, and recent breakthroughs in neuroscience have finally made it possible for everyone to easily learn advanced critical thinking skills..”

Led by Dr. Steve Pearlman, the Critical Thinking Institute offers groundbreaking courses and programs that reshape how people of all ages understand and practice effective thinking skills. By applying cutting-edge cognitive research and user-friendly strategies, the Institute helps schools, universities, businesses, and everyday individuals equip themselves with the tools to think clearly, make confident decisions, and excel in professional and personal endeavours.