Thanks for posting this, TheB.

I worry about the schools that do not emphasize these skills. I can already see the results of it in college with students struggling, and out in the work force in some fields I have worked in with heavy reliance on computers. Don't get me wrong they are invaluable. However, as now with the medical field I am going into, though computers will run tests for me and a huge time saver, human intervention has to evaluate whether the results in combination are indicative of something else not just each test as an anomaly out of range. Were it not for having these critical thinking and executive functioning skills early on, I would be in trouble and know it is trouble for the field when these skills are lacking, relying solely on the computers and test equipment to provide data.

For many fields, our information is only as good as the computer programming itself, is subject to error AND cannot account for all variability and anomalies. Our brains cannot be replaced in this case with the development of executive functioning and critical thinking skills being so applicable to so many industries and positions, lower and higher levels. It scares me to think these skills are neglected. It is a challenge to develop them and to continue practicing, but worthwhile.