"What exactly is critical thinking? You hear about it all the time as a valuable 21st Century skillthat everyone should have, and one that a good education will help you develop. If it is so important, why aren’t there specific courses, seminars, self-help videos, or even whole schools focused on helping students develop it?"
This is the first of two posts that explore critical thinking. Although geared to higher education many points are applicable to primary and secondary education as we begin the process of teaching our students critical thinking skills.
The post provides an overview on "what is critical thinking" noting that it was not "formally defined until the late 20th century." A summary of the definition is provided as well as the fact that critical thinking involves two components:
* Gathering information
* Making sense of the information
The post then goes on to provide "tips for conducting critical research" (quoted below):
* Cast a wide net/conduct primary research
* Refine your questions
* Track back other sources
For more information on the tips above and on critical thinking click through to the post.