TEACHING TIPS: FOSTERING CRITICAL THINKING THE WORLD TODAY NEEDS PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS Richmond

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPETENCES WE CAN HELP OUR LEARNERS DEVELOP THEREFORE IS CRITICAL THINKING. IT CAN BE INTEGRATED EASILY INTO ANY STAGE OF CLASS WORK TOO. CRITICAL THINKERS ENGAGE THEMSELVES IN FINDING BETTER WAYS TO OVERCOME DISADVANTAGEOUS SITUATIONS; THEY WIDEN THEIR VISION, MAKE SKILLFUL JUDGMENTS, AND COMMUNICATE THEIR IDEAS EFFECTIVELY. TEACHERS SHOULD USE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE THEIR STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN CRITICAL THINKING, AS WELL AS SELF- IMPROVEMENT.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS THAT YOU CAN USE IN YOUR LESSONS TO FOSTER CRITICAL THINKING: Set problem solving activities in your lessons, such as: deciding on a place to go for holidays, reaching a consensus on a particular issue, debating a controversial topic, and any other challenging exercise in which learners have to analyze, propose or evaluate an entire scenario.

Set up writing tasks in which they have to reduce their text to a minimum but, crucially, still convey the same idea. Use historic characters to set role play activities in which students express opinions from different points of view.

Have your students reflect on the last three decisions they have made in the past. Afterwards, make small student groups and ask them to discuss the reasons behind their decisions. You could further enhance this activity by asking your students to think of alternative decisions and their possible consequences.

Engage your students in more ambitious projects such as community programs, charity fund raising or school campaigns.