A Response to Critical Thinking and Critical Perspectives

As educators, we know the importance and benefits of critical thinking. The ability to assess new material and make decisions based on that information requires us to use critical thinking. However, we are not taught how to teach this skill to our students. “Without acting on our new knowledge, all we have is a collection of thoughts.” (Merriam & Bierema, 2014)  We don’t want our students to blindly assimilate our beliefs as their own. As educators, we strive for our students to become well-informed, open minded, critical thinkers, who are able to judge for themselves  the integrity of what they are learning.



https://youtu.be/6OLPL5p0fMg


I found this article online: Preparing Creative and Critical Thinkers. This article is a good resource for how to teach creative and critical thinkers. The table below is from the article. When you check out the article, they also go into more detail about the activities below and how you can incorporate them into your classroom. I think you will find many ideas that you can use in your classroom.

 1. The Creative Problem Solver's Basic Toolbox

Tools for Generating Possibilities (Creative Thinking)	Tools for Focusing Possibilities (Critical Thinking)
Brainstorming.Generating many, varied, or unusual options for an open-ended task or question.	Hits and Hot Spots. Selecting promising or intriguing possibilities (identifying hits) and clustering, categorizing, organizing, or compressing them in meaningful ways (finding hot spots).
Force-Fitting. Using two objects or words that seem unrelated to the task or problem, or to each other, to create new possibilities or connections.	ALoU: Refining and Developing. Using a deliberate, constructive approach to strengthening or improving options, by considering advantages,limitations (and ways to overcome them), and unique features.
Attribute Listing. Using the core elements or attributes of a task or challenge as a springboard for generating novel directions or improvements.	PCA: Paired Comparison Analysis. Setting priorities or ranking options through a systematic analysis of all possible combinations.
SCAMPER. Applying a checklist of action words or phrases (idea-spurring questions) to evoke or trigger new or varied possibilities.	Sequencing: SML. Organizing and focusing options by considering short, medium, or long-term actions.
Morphological Matrix. Identifying the key parameters of a task, generating possibilities for each parameter, and investigating possible combinations (mixing and matching).	Evaluation Matrix. Using specific criteria to systematically evaluate each of several options or possibilities to guide judgment and selection of options.

Source: Copyright 2008 by the Center for Creative Learning. Used with permission.

References

Merriam, S.B. & Bierema, L.L. (2014). Adult learning:  Linking theory and practice.  San Francisco, CA:  Jossey-Bass.

Treffinger, D. J. (2008). Membership. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/summer08/vol65/num09/Preparing-Creative-and-Critical-Thinkers.aspx

Q. (2009, December 24). Critical Thinking. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OLPL5p0fMg