Strategies to hone pupils’ critical thinking skills

ISI UT E E I

thinking skills are rom mipmalinpaeog,rianttaganmntdoinnbeeyvotoenrcdyhsodcohissoicnoigl-.

RITICAL

welehcitcihoncsa, tnodmidaaktiensg dtoiffvicoutlet cfaoreeinr ctohotiackees,ipnu,psiylsnntheedsitsoebaenpdreapcatroedn cnoenwstiannfotlrymcahtaionngiinng.a world that is likehailne acrbistitcralctthidnekaintghmatigihs ttsoeuegmh etondgiargeicntlgy winastyrsuctot, thheelrpe satruedmeanntys astcrteivnegtlheaernntihnegs. eAslkoiclalsl thearochuegrh, Sandile abilisa, of Endœingeni starœaatreegnies oignhhSochwootolshoarneedtshoemse skills and said: DzUsed consistently, athnedsehisgthrastecghioeoslctaenachheelprsmgiudiddle sktuildlse.dznts to improve much-needed

are other key components of critical thinking, incavlolylv, ienvgatlhueataebeilvitiideesntcoet,hiidneknltoigfymasesnutms.pStiuodnesn,tasnwdhaonleaalyrnsehaorwgutoueqseuirpepaesdontionmg sakiellsinwfoilrlmbedbdetetceirasinodnso, lfvoermproabnldemdes.fend opinions,

ne way to teach reasoning is to ruesqeupireobstluemde-nstoslvtoinagpapclytitvhiteiiersskthilalst gtoivperascttuicdaelnctosnaterxetsa.l poroebxlaemplteo, isnoglvsek,iallns dtoadsekvtehloepmatsooulusteiorne.aTshoenydcaenfetnhdenthperiersreenatstohneiinrgsotolutthioenclaansds

Y T Cand engage in discussion about whether and how their thinking changed when listening to peersǯ perspectives. oving beyond the repetition requires pstluaidnetnhtesirtobetlaikefespthorsoituigohnsreasnedarecxh-, ce,haenndwexepplaonsaetoiopnesno-ef cnrdeeddiebviilditeyn. questions, we create space for classproeormhadpiscoopuproses ingcl,uidsievaeso-fgdroivuenrsdes, fdoerepritchhinekxicnhgangdeasntahlyasti s.upport

classcbrooeomr.mImf fsurtounmditeybn, etchsoecmyomimnegayfarnohmeacvhtehosecimshaimlmaerdpcoiefmrfesrfpoienrcgttaipvbelress. psAhencadtriivtnhegsosmtehaewymhnointhfatehveeel face of an opposing maŒority. To sduivpeprosertvvoaicreysiningtovitehwepcloaisnstrso, obmrinags mdisucuhsasisnpgocsusribrelen,teesvpeenctisa.llUyswe hperinmary sources: Essays and articles cwurrirtetennt bevyepnetospfilreswthhaonedx, dpoerciuemnceendtharaitersetqhuaitredsivoemdeeneupalyncine,toantdopaincys other resources that provide a varied look at topics.

To make the above strategies panadrtthoifnykoinugrrcoluatsinseros oamco, nsspisrteeandt them out and build upon them ioYnovfueorrmthigaehtictoocnuhrasnleldeoȀnfogtrehesextuascmdheponloteslsywtehiatahrt. etrhexqipnulikcirintelgythisnektmiolllste;oswsuoosnersk,tphthreoeirŒseeccrtsitkaiicnlaldsl self-assessments; or have students practice identifying misinformation or urintiscuapl pthoirntekdinagrigsunmoetnletsa.rned in isnoElantgiolins.hItlannegeudasgteo, bAertesx,pSlocrieadl Studies, Science, Physical Education and athematics. Every discipline lroeoqkuiartesosmtuedtheintgs atondtafkinedathcaerbeefustl solution.

p

(Courtesy pics) While critical thinking might seem like an abstract idea that is tough to directly instruct, there are many engaging ways to help students strengthen these skills through active learning. (INSET) Critical thinking skills are important in every discipline, at and beyond school.