LibGuides: CAJCS APPROACHES TO LEARNING GUIDE: THINKING SKILLS

HOW CAN STUDENTS THINK CRITICALLY & CREATIVELY

Gather and organize relevant information to formulate an argument
The student clearly outlines how specific information (quoted/detailed) led them to make specific decisions that altered their thinking or goal
Interpret data
Evaluate evidence and arguments
Draw reasonable conclusions and generalizations
Revise understanding based on new information and evidence
Formulate factual, topical, conceptual and debatable questions
Propose and evaluate a variety of solutions
Identify obstacles and challenges

Use brainstorming and visual diagrams to generate new ideas and inquiries
Consider multiple alternatives, including those that might be unlikely or impossible
(Design improvements to existing machines, media and technologies)
(Create original works and ideas; use existing works and ideas in new ways)

Use effective learning strategies in subject groups and disciplines
Apply skills and knowledge in unfamiliar situations
Inquire in different contexts to gain a different perspective
Compare conceptual understanding across multiple subject groups and disciplines
Make connections between subject groups and disciplines
Combine knowledge, understanding and skills to create products or solutions
Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies
Change the context of an inquiry to gain different perspectives

VIDEO RESOURCES

5 tips to improve your critical thinking
Every day, a sea of decisions stretches before us, and it’s impossible to make a perfect choice every time. But there are many ways to improve our chances — and one particularly effective technique is critical thinking. Samantha Agoos describes a 5-step process that may help you with any number of problems.
Working backward to solve problems
Imagine where you want to be someday. Now, how did you get there? Retrograde analysis is a style of problem solving where you work backwards from the endgame you want. It can help you win at chess -- or solve a problem in real life. At TEDYouth 2012, chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley delves into his favorite strategy
Design thinking for every endeavour
Robyn treats teaching like a musical gig. Teaching Design Thinking in her own way through rediscovering lost mediums with her students, she encourages people to re-frame what they think they know.

GRAPHIC ORGANISERS

Graphic Organisers to Enhance Thinking Skills in the Learning of Economics
A 107 page PFD that runs through a wealth of graphic organisers to encourage logical thinking. It ranges from simple to very complex. Although used for Economics, most organsers could easily be applied to other fields.
Graphic Organisers
A list of over 30 downloadable templates of graphic organisers that can be adapted to various subjects.

Visible Thinking Tools - Harvard Project Zero

These are a set of downloadable PDF booklets produced by the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Independent Schools Victoria. They provide a range of classroom activities to support four areas of visible thinking.