1. Developing Higher Order Thinking
Robert Fisher
Robert Fisher

2. Developing thinking and learning
This seminar will focus on:
developing higher order thinking skills
dialogic teaching and learning
the development of qualifications in Scotland to support the Curriculum for Excellence programme.
Robert Fisher

3. What is the purpose of education?
‘has for its purpose not the imparting of particular knowledge but the strengthening of mental faculties’
(Kant)
… to cultivate the mind and develop character
Robert Fisher

4. Why teach for thinking?
‘If thinking is how we make sense of experience then helping our children
to become better thinkers will help them to get more out of learning
and more out of life.’
Fisher, R. (2008) Teaching Thinking Continuum

5. Thinking to Learn (Highland Council)
Robert Fisher

6. What are thinking skills?
We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence is not an act, but a habit’ (Aristotle)
A thinking skill is:
a mental process learnt through practice
how we apply intelligence to a problem
our capacity to make judgements
What is good thinking?

7. Thinking Skills Knowledge Understanding - Information
Application processing
Analysis - Critical thinking
Synthesis - Creative thinking
Evaluation Bloom (1956) Fisher/Logan (Highland LEA)
Remembering
Understanding
Applying
Analysing and evaluating
Creating
(SQA)
Robert Fisher

8. Dimensions of thinking
These dimensions of thinking at literal, strategic, and conceptual levels :
information processing
critical thinking
creative thinking
comparative (evaluative) thinking
through self-reflection, dialogue and writing, characterise research.
Robert Fisher

9. What is higher order thinking?
Intellectually challenging, requires effort
Complex and multi-variable
Open, uncertain, not routine or algorithmic
Seeks meaning, conceptual understanding
Evaluative, involving criteria for judgement
Metacognitive, involves self-regulation
Robert Fisher

10. Activities that promote higher order skills
Collaborative learning
Experiential learning
Problem-based learning
Outcome-focused learning
Interdisciplinary and multi-context learning
Systems thinking
High level discussion
Interactive questioning
Action based research
Peer reflection and challenge
Higher Order Skills Excellence Group (2011)
Robert Fisher

11. Models of dialogue Speaking and listening – engaging in talk
Discussion groups – sharing views, ideas
Community of Enquiry – seeking understanding via questioning, explaining, hypothesising, reasoning, and evaluation of concepts and claims to truth and knowledge
- within a self-regulating democratic setting.
Robert Fisher

12. Teachers and students as researchers
Thinking teachers and students enhance teaching and learning by research through:
questioning, problem posing
studying multiple sources of information
applying higher order thinking
extending thinking through dialogue
reviewing processes and outcomes
How do we build research into the curriculum?
Robert Fisher