Critical Thinking

Learning Intentions

• To define critical thinking• Link critical thinking skills to 21st Century

Learning• To develop an understanding of key

research, strategies, tools and available resources using GRreader

• To understand where critical thinking sits

within the Tfel

Success Criteria

We will:• Define critical thinking• Use critical thinking skills to complete a

group activity• Use technology to access relevant

resources

Tfel

3.1 Teach students how to learn

The teacher develops student understanding of learning and expands their strategies for thinking, learning and working collaboratively

3.3 Explore the construction of knowledge

The teacher shows that knowledge is open to question, serves particular purposes and is shaped by culture and experience

Group Activity:

Read the quotes about 21st Century Learning and critical thinking

Discuss and report:a) What does the quote mean to you?

b) What implications does it have for learning at RHS?

“Liberal education is about learning to learn, which means learning to think for yourself on your own and in

collaboration.”

“ The key in getting through to today’s students focus on being facilitators of knowledge rather than fountain.”

“A teenager today with access to the internet has more information

at their fingertips than entire countries did just fifty years ago.”

“ In general, students who develop critical thinking skills are more able to:

• achieve better marks• become less dependent on teachers and

textbooks• create knowledge• evaluate, challenge and change the

structures in society ”

“To hold information-age jobs, though, students also need to think deeply about issues, solve problems creatively, work in teams, communicate clearly in many media, learn ever-changing technologies,

and deal with a flood of information. The rapid changes in our world require students to be flexible, to take the initiative and lead when necessary, and to produce something new and useful.”

“Employers want workers who can think critically, solve

problems creatively, innovate, collaborate, and communicate.”

“Critical thinking is essential in the workplace, particularly for employees in management roles. Their decisions can affect an individual employee, a department or the entire workforce. Therefore, critical thinking skills are sought-after professional characteristics for employees with high-level responsibilities and authority.”

Definition of Critical Thinking in the context of The Australian National

Curriculum

“Critical thinking is at the core of most intellectual activity that involves students in learning to recognise or develop an argument, use evidence in support of that argument, draw reasoned conclusions, and use information to solve problems.”

What are the attributes of a critical thinker?

“I prefer jobs where the supervisor saysexactly what to do and exactly how to do it.“

“No matter how complex the problem, youcan bet there will be a simple solution.”

"I don't waste time looking things up.“

“I hate when teachers discuss problemsinstead of just giving the answers.”

“If my belief is truly sincere, evidence to thecontrary is irrelevant.“

“Selling an idea is like selling cars, you saywhatever works."

What are the core critical thinking skills?