What is critical thinking, and how can we promote it in the classroom?

Answer 1

allow children to make their own decisions. People tend to try to control children. If they are never allowed to make decisions on their own, how could they possibly be prepared to make the right decisions in the real world? If they are never allowed to have an independent thought, how will they practice?

Answer 2

I think the poster who had a link to wikipedia covered what is critical thinking pretty well. Carl Sagan wrote a book called the Demon-Haunted World which is easy to read and entertaining, and most pertinent, it has a chapter called "The Fine Art of Baloney Detecting" which details ways to make a sound argument, and ways to spot a phony one. Skeptic.com has some other good resources as well.

Answer 3

Critical thinking consists of a mental process of analyzing or evaluating information, particularly statements or propositions that people have offered as true. It forms a process of reflecting upon the meaning of statements, examining the offered evidence and reasoning, and forming judgments about the facts.

Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_thinking for more info.

Answer 4

Play the devil's advocate or a game of scruples. the idea is to ask many open ended questions.Don't take "no" or "yes" for an answer

Answer 5

how do you teach critical thinking? teach children not to take everything at face value, teach them not to be gullible. teach them to ask questions if what they hear, read, see doesn't make sense. teach the kids to look for MOTIVES in the actions of other people. teach them to look for their own answers if the answers they get don't seem right. teach them to use their brains

Answer 6

Socratic method- answer the question with a question. It can be annoying but what the hell.