C RITICAL T HINKING Alison Wurtz, Kathleen Womelsdorf, Kimberlee

W HAT IS C RITICAL THINKING ? Critical thinking can be traced back to Socrates, who developed the “Socratic Method” – a question and answer teaching technique. Today, the basic questions used by Socrates can be applied much more specifically in the classroom. We can question…

W HAT IS CRITICAL THINKING ? sources of information and facts the quality of information collected the concepts that make reasoning possible the assumptions that underlie concepts in use today the implications that follow from the use of these concepts

W HAT IS CRITICAL THINKING ? Questioning that focuses on these fundamentals of thought and reasoning are now the baseline for critical thinking. We go beyond the basic question and answer method of Socrates, into the “how and why” of our standard concepts, ideas, and assumptions.

W HAT DOES THE RESEARCH STATE ? Recent research states that all students must pass through specific stages of critical thinking, as we are not born accomplished critical thinkers. The stages are as follows…

W HAT DOES THE RESEARCH STATE ? The Unreflective Thinker The Challenged Thinker The Beginning Thinker The Practicing Thinker The Advanced Thinker The Accomplished Thinker

W HAT DOES THE RESEARCH STATE ? P ROS : Students learn to… gather and organize data demonstrate that they understand an idea or concept state their answers clearly examine things from more than one point of view test and check for accuracy deal with complexities in problems consider implications and consequences understand content at a deeper and more permanent level apply what they learn in one classroom to another follow directions better connect what they learn to everyday life write better become more motivated

W HAT DOES THE RESEARCH STATE ? C ONS : Most teachers are not aware that students must go through levels of development or stages in regards to critical thinking; it is not a method that can be taught and mastered in the course of a year.

H OW CAN CRITICAL THINKING BE USED IN THE CLASSROOM ? Twenty-first century educators need to be current and creative when it comes to teaching Critical Thinking skills. Educators can help students build categories, find problems, enhance the classroom atmosphere by incorporating some of the following strategies using Critical Thinking skills. Although these skills are taught in the classroom, they go beyond and are life-long.

H OW CAN CRITICAL THINKING BE USED IN THE CLASSROOM ? At any level and in every subject area, educators can assist students: make relationships about the content and across all content areas practice creating and solving problems evaluate solutions and use alternative methods to find them

H OW CAN CRITICAL THINKING BE USED IN THE CLASSROOM ? Educators can use some of the following techniques to enhance Critical Thinking: ask open-ended questions in order to generate more discussion and creativity Example: instead of asking to describe the event, ask why do they think it happened? allow students to work in groups so they can listen and interpret each others’ ideas in order to come to an agreement allow sufficient time for students to explore their options so they do not feel rushed use puzzles, visuals, graphic organizers (research supports that using these strategies encourage participation and increase self- confidence)