Week 3- Critical Thinking

Critical thinking and problem-solving can be defined in many ways, but P21 defines critical thinking as follows:

Reason Effectively
- Use various types of reasoning (inductive, deductive, etc.) as appropriate to the situation
Use Systems Thinking
- Analyze how parts of a whole interact with each other to produce overall outcomes in complex systems
Make Judgments and Decisions
- Effectively analyze and evaluate evidence, arguments, claims, and beliefs
- Analyze and evaluate major alternative points of view
- Synthesize and make connections between information and arguments
- Interpret information and draw conclusions based on the best analysis
- Reflect critically on learning experiences and processes
Solve Problems
- Solve different kinds of unfamiliar problems in both conventional and innovative ways
- Identify and ask significant questions that clarify various points of view and lead to better solutions

NWEA's Preparing 21st Century Students for a Global Society: An Educator’s Guide to the “Four Cs”

Resources

What is it: A free computer literacy course designed to prepare learners for a growing number of jobs that require basic digital skills that works is cross curricular!
Example: Research and develop a topic
How: Go to the Applied Digital Skills Curriculum website and follow their easy to use interface to see what they have right now (more to come!)
Why: Critical thinking can be done in anything with any tool it is just all about how you use it. This curriculum is project based learning which is critical thinking at it's core!
Bonus: Jealous there is a curriculum for students? They've got teachers covered too! Click here to learn more

What is it: BreakoutEDU takes the concept of breakout rooms and brings into into the classroom through pre-created games where students have to undo several locks to solve the puzzle
Example: My favorite Breakout game is Dr Johnson's Lab (Note: you'll need to sign in with Google before you can see the game)
How: Click here for directions
Why: Click here for 10 reasons on why to play a BreakoutEDU with your students
Bonus: There are also digital breakouts! Click here for information

What is it: A collection of projects that are created by Google for Education Certified Innovators (highest level an educator can earn!)
Example: Check the Blog On project looking at how to blog at
How: Go to the website and check out all the different projects or ideas then implement or ask Kaitlyn for help!
Why: All of these projects involve AT LEAST critical thinking if not all the other 4 C's in education
Bonus: Make sure to sign in and you can bookmark the ideas you like to remember later!

What is it: A Google A Day is a game to teach how to better search the internet by utilizing search terms and phrases.
Example: You're going to need to click it...
How: Simply click on the link and see who can earn the most points! Great warm-up or exit ticket
Why: This hits on all the big areas of critical thinking- problem solving, reasoning, systems thinking, and making judgments.
Bonus: Click here for a poster with Google Search tips

Use Desmos or GeoGebra to help understand or discover a theorem
Have students complete lessons from Google's Applied Digital Skills curriculum
Use Pear Deck to have students think through a question or topic before providing the information
Have students write a self reflection on how they did on their last assessment and discuss where they were strong or need improvement then have them submit through Google Classroom
Have the class participate in a BreakoutEDU to put their critical thinking and collaboration to the test
Have students analyze data through creating different charts and graphs in Sheets or a diagram in Google Slides