Critical thinking is something taken very seriously in my department. Granted am a a Paid on Call with a fire-based EMS service. The paramedics in my service are very willing to teach as well as demanding of the EMT-B's to learn new things. One of the most important things they try and teach us is critical thinking. After every call we run w/ one of the paramedics we are required to do an after action review with the paramedic we went on the call with as well as the Squad Officer. One major key point they hit on is the thinking. During the call if it is a BLS level the paramedic will go from primary to partner(supervisor, and advisor) allowing the basic to gain experience. During the call the paramedics take notes on the basics actions from evaluation to patient care to patient interaction. During the AAR the paramedics enlighten the basics as to any mistakes made as well as questioning the basics on what they could have done differently. The scenario then is re-enacted with station personnel so as to allow the basic to "run" the call as if they were the primary, with no ALS available so as to make the basics think on how to run the call. The basic who was actually on the call is NOT allowed to make comment during the as well as they are not allowed to participate as the BLS provider on the call. To me this is one of the best ways possible to build critical thinking skills.