FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

Which approach emphasizes the creation of new solutions by combining existing information?

1. Evaluative thinking

2. Synthesis thinking

3. Analytical thinking

4. Descriptive thinking

The correct answer is: Synthesis thinking

The correct choice emphasizes the process of synthesis thinking, which involves integrating various pieces of existing information to develop innovative solutions. This approach encourages individuals to draw connections between different concepts, ideas, or data to formulate new perspectives or answers. Synthesis thinking goes beyond simply analyzing or evaluating information; it actively seeks to combine different elements in novel ways. For example, in a classroom setting, a teacher might encourage students to use synthesis thinking by asking them to merge concepts from multiple subjects to devise a solution for a real-world problem. This creative consolidation often leads to deeper understanding and more complex solutions than simply relying on isolated facts or traditional methods. The other approaches, while useful in their own right, do not focus primarily on the combination of existing information to create new solutions. Evaluative thinking pertains to assessing the quality or value of information, analytical thinking involves breaking down information into smaller parts for individual analysis, and descriptive thinking is centered around detailing or describing information rather than integrating it for new insights.