I have been thinking and worrying about how to teach critical thinking skills/strategies. Then it hit me: teaching student's to be 'critical' - according to whose definition of 'critical'? Teacher? Teacher trainer? Student? Academic?
who is a critical thinker?, the one who questions? not an easy task or role.
Hi Irma - I think critical thinking is introduced by the task the teacher creates. The Bloom's Taxonomy verbs help design the task. Maybe start by thinking about what you want the students to know, understand and do by the end of the course. Try creating essential questions - it is hard to create essential questions, but the questions help design the task and engage the students. For example, if you are teaching a reading unit with the theme of "Heroes" an essential question is "What is a hero?" Tasks might be (1) In groups, write a definition of a hero. (2) Use definition to see if the protagonist of each story is a hero. (3) Revise definition if necessary as you go along.
ResponderEliminarCritical thinking is hard for beginning level EFL students. Maybe you could begin with essential questions about langauge. Maybe something like "How are Spanish and English verbs the same and different?" Then design tasks for them to describe verbs and then determine how they are the same and different. The kids could write the grammar rules.
Karen
I agree with Karen, just to add: Essental questions should provoke or be the springboard to discussion, they should not be yes/no answers; they should make the students think and discuss.
ResponderEliminarOlga
Some other ideas for teaching critical thinking:
ResponderEliminar-helping students identify root causes and long-term solutions for problems
-helping students identify the values and influences behind their opinions as well as the opinions of others (who said what and why!)
I like "reflective" better than critical. I think we have enough criticizing going around, but we need more reflection. Students that learn how to reflect on what they are taught and make judgments on it based on their values and frameworks (and out of them from time to time) seems to be a better way than just developing the ability to be "critical" of everything.
ResponderEliminarWhat does it take to become "reflective"? Good question.
Check this web http://www.slideshare.net/Kiko/desarrollo-de-habilidades-del-pensamiento
ResponderEliminarhttp://148.224.17.115/PDF/2228_300.pdf
Maybe it will give some clue
thanks to all! my spinning wheels are speeding an I am thinking in some of the activities I can include for my CLT principles class.
ResponderEliminarBloom's taxonomy verbs are definitely a great support for us when it comes to teach critical thinking activities.The idea is not just make our students reflect and express ideas but as Sonja mentioned , students should be able to give possible solutions or propose actions either to the short or long term in order to solve real and meaningful problems for the society.
ResponderEliminarthanks to all for your comments. it is amazing how a couple if questions I made myself created all these comments and different ideas. that is why I like blogging.
ResponderEliminarReflective thinkers?, yes, how can we guide them to become so?. it is a nice idea to complement the critical thinking in our students.