How can we teach critical thinking?

[Madam H]

In 1981, there was a report done (National Assessment of Education) which said that 83% of all 13-year-olds could correctly complete a multiple choice check on comprehension but only 15% could write an acceptable sentence summarizing the paragraph read.

I don't know how things are back home in the Philippines today, but from what I know from discussions among internatioanl schools in the region, the last few years, the thrust and the emphasis have been on developing critical thinking skills among students. The reason for this is because schools (and teachers) have focused too much on memorization, drill, homework and the quiet classroom. Inquiry, reflection and the consideration of alternatives have been forgotten.

Great that many schools have now recognized this need and thus, are doing something about it. However, it is common knowledge among Asian schools, that we are still pretty much on rote learning.

As parents then, whose kids are living outside the Philippines, how do we develop critical thinking skills among our children - something they will need badly when they go out into the real world?

[Madam H]

In my "Values" class in the Middle School, one of our topics is on Responsibility. In order to promote critical thinking skills among my students, I first had them discuss in small groups, what they think their responsibilities are to their parents, to their friends, and to society. After their small group discussions, we had a feedback session, where a reporter from each small group discussed what the group has come up with.

But here's the catch. Students thought that was the end of the story. I saw some galssy looks turn into that of more understanding when I told them that for their homework, they are to ask their parents, friends, and a member of society from outside school, what these people think the students' responsibilties are towards them.

I think for many of our kids today, they are so self-absorbed and so pounded by media and the environment about personal rights and freedom, that it is no longer easy for them to see beynd their own little selves. To help them become better at critical thinking, they first need to get out of the Me, I and Myself cocoon, and really feel about other people's rights, feelings and concerns. It seems, looking at the way our kids today think and behave, they need to see more of others, before we could hope for them to be better thinkers, and better decision makers.

[Bi Co La Na]

Critical thinking is not a set of skills that can be deployed at any time, in any context. It is a type of thought that even 3-year-olds can engage in—and even trained scientists can fail in.

Teaching students to think critically probably lies in large part in enabling them to deploy the right type of thinking at the
right time.]

medyo hirap nga,no!

[Madam H]

Thanks for contributing, Bi co la na.

[Franz]

I agree with Ms. Bi Co la na...Critical thinking is not a skill that is developed overnight. It takes experience for people to develop a sound judgment. Someone can be academically equipped but may not have critical thinking skills in some aspects of life. Since this topic is posted on parenting, I guess the only way for the parents to teach critical thinking amongst their children is by empowering them to make decisions...sabi nga treat children like small adults. Give them responsibilities that their young minds can tackle...

[Ms Demi Noor]

You have to have the proper environement to stimulate critical thinking. First is to have a rule that there are no wrong answers. People must be encouraged to speak out. People must feel unconstrained to speak out. They must understand that no matter how ridiculous their answers may be, that they will nt be riduculed.

When students or groups of people understand these basic rules, then people will start speaking.

Avoid arguments. It does not have an end.

Stimulate discussion. You as a teacher must act as a moderator. Inject new ideas every so often to keep the discussions alive.

[LAPU-LAPU]

one way you can teach other people how to think critically is you should for a certain time stop talking and start asking them questions and listening with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your soul.

when you start asking interesting questions you make others very interesting.

they start thinking and they start talking and telling you about a lot of things.

so from time to time you should sort of "stop talking" and start asking very interesting and creative questions and then listen, really listen what others tell you. and you and them will work wonders!


maraming salamat po.

mythoughts.

fish yo!