1. How to Teach Critical Thinking
Lindsey Ehret, M.A.E.

2. A Bit About Me
B.A. History -Truman State University (Kirksville, Missouri)
M.A.E. (Master of Arts in Education - emphasis on Secondary Social Studies Education) - Truman State University
6 years teaching United States and World History at Fort Zumwalt West High School in O’Fallon, Missouri
Currently teaching English Academic Writing and Speaking at Nanjing University
Currently teaching Advanced Placement (AP) United States History at Linkfun International Education
Avid swimmer, runner, and swim coach

3. Pop Quiz!
Which of the following questions requires the least amount of critical thinking to answer?
A. Explain the difference between a rectangle and a pentagon.
B. What is a triangle?
C. Find the area of the triangle.
D. Why is geometry more difficult than algebra?

4. Pop Quiz!
Which of the following questions requires the most amount of critical thinking to answer?
A. Explain the difference between a rectangle and a pentagon.
B. What is a triangle?
C. Find the area of the triangle.
D. Why is geometry more difficult than algebra?

5. What is ‘Critical Thinking’?
Many different definitions with similar meanings
“Critical thinking is the ability to apply reasoning and logic to new or unfamiliar ideas, opinions, and situations.”
"I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think." - Socrates, Greek philosopher

6. Confucius and Critical Thinking?
"Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous"

7. Why is Critical Thinking Important?
American educators at all levels (elementary, secondary, and post- secondary) are encouraged to promote and include critical thinking in their curriculum and instruction
Fosters innovation and problem solving skills
Promotes ‘outside the box’ thinking
Promotes higher rates of knowledge retention

8. Bloom’s Taxonomy
Background - “Benjamin Bloom was an educational psychologist working in the late 1950s that categorized levels of intellectual behavior vital to learning”

9. Bloom’s New Taxonomy
The resulting ‘taxonomy’ or classification system has been modified slightly to meet the newer demands 21st century

10. Remembering Can the student recall or remember the information?
What is the capital of China?
Define the term archaic.
Who was the first president of the United States?
List five facts about the Tang Dynasty.

11. Remembering
This level requires the least amount of critical thinking from a student.
Characteristics of questions or assessments at the REMEMBERING level include asking students to:
define, list, memorize, recall, restate, repeat

12. Understanding Can the student explain ideas or concepts?
Describe the process of photosynthesis.
Summarize the plot of the novel.
Discuss the principles of macroeconomics.

13. Understanding
This level requires slightly more critical thinking from a student.
Characteristics of questions or assessments at the UNDERSTANDING level include asking students to:
classify, describe, discuss, explain, identify, locate, recognize, report, select, translate, paraphrase

14. Applying Can the student use the information in a new way?
Demonstrate how a 21st century version of Romeo and Juliet would be.
Draw the water cycle.
What questions would you ask Martin Luther King, Jr. if you met him?

15. Applying
This level requires substantially more critical thinking from a student.
Characteristics of questions or assessments at the APPLYING level include asking students to:
choose, demonstrate, dramatize, employ, illustrate, interpret, operate, schedule, sketch, solve, use, write

16. Analyzing Can the student distinguish between the different parts?
Contrast Thomas Hobbes’ and John Locke’s views on human nature.
What motivated the British colonists in America to rebel against Great Britain?
To what extent is candidate A similar or different from candidate B.

17. Analyzing
This level requires significantly more critical thinking from a student.
Characteristics of questions or assessments at the ANALYZING level include asking students to:
appraise, compare, contrast, criticize, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, examine, experiment, question, test

18. Evaluating Can the student justify a position or decision?
Is there a better solution to global warming than solar power?
Do you think gun control is a good or bad thing?
Why are baozi superior to jiaozi?

19. Evaluating This level requires much critical thinking from a student.
Characteristics of questions or assessments at the EVALUATING level include asking students to:
appraise, argue, defend, judge, select, support, value, evaluate

20. Creating Can the student create a new product or point of view?
Debate which is better: an iPhone or an Android?
Design a business model for a new company.

21. Creating
This level requires the most critical thinking from a student.
Characteristics of questions or assessments at the CREATING level include asking students to:
assemble, construct, create, design, develop, formulate, write, debate

22. H.O.T.S.
The last three levels of Bloom’s taxonomy (Analyzing, Evaluating, Creating) are where the most critical thinking (or higher order thinking skills H.O.T.S) is required and enhanced
The first three levels are important, but do not require much, if any, critical thinking
Teachers in all disciplines should create learning environments and lesson plans that aim to reach these top levels

23. How to Teach Critical Thinking?
Incorporate Bloom’s taxonomy into your teaching!
Use question stems
Use critical thinking VERBS
Use more of the higher levels of Bloom’s taxonomy in your assessments and lesson objectives

24. Question Stems

25. Critical Thinking Verbs

26. Let’s APPLY your learning...
Using your own discipline/specialty - think of one way to ask a question at each level of Bloom’s taxonomy

27. APPLY your learning...

28. APPLY your learning...

29. APPLY your learning...

30. APPLY your learning...

31. APPLY your learning...

32. APPLY your learning...

33. Sources Used and Useful Resources
_taxonomy.htm
thinking.htm
ceID=001926
ps/Handouts/Blooms_Taxonomy.pdf
content/uploads/2012/04/Working-on-the-Wow- Side-Handout-31.pdf

34. Contact Me
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