Critical thinking means using facts, logic, and reasoning to examine different ideas, ask questions, and come to your own conclusions. It involves looking at evidence from all sides, challenging assumptions, and being open to changing your mind when the facts call for it. 

“Critical consciousness,” on the other hand, isn’t about thinking critically. It’s about raising awareness of oppression and inequality, often with a focus on group identity. Instead of helping students explore different viewpoints, it often reduces the world to victims and oppressors and promotes a fixed political stance on complex issues.