Thinking

VIII Critical thinking Analyzing and evaluating issues and ideas

How can students think critically?

Practice observing carefully in order to recognize problems
Gather and organize relevant information to formulate an argument
Recognize unstated assumptions and bias
Interpret data
Evaluate evidence and arguments
Recognize and evaluate propositions
Draw reasonable conclusions and generalizations
Test generalizations and conclusions
Revise understanding based on new information and evidence
Evaluate and manage risk
Formulate factual, topical, conceptual and debatable questions
Consider ideas from multiple perspectives
Develop contrary or opposing arguments
Analyze complex concepts and projects into their constituent parts and synthesize them to create new understanding
Propose and evaluate a variety of solutions
Identify obstacles and challenges
Use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues
Identify trends and forecast possibilities
Troubleshoot systems and applications

IX Creativity and innovation - The skills of invention – developing things and ideas that never existed before

How can students be creative?

Use brainstorming and mind mapping to generate new ideas and inquiries
Consider multiple alternatives, including those that might be unlikely or impossible
Create novel solutions to complex problems
Use lateral thinking to make unexpected connections
Design improvements to existing machines, media and technologies
Design new machines, media and technologies
Make guesses and generate testable hypotheses
Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products or processes
Create original works and ideas
Practice flexible thinking – arguing both sides of an argument
Use visible thinking strategies and techniques
Propose metaphors and analogies

X Transfer- Utilizing skills and knowledge in multiple contexts

How can students transfer skills and knowledge among disciplines and subject groups?