Critical Thinkning

Education is not the learning of facts, 

but the training of the mind to think.    

 –Albert Einstein

The students came into class and saw boxes out on the desks and were immediately curious about them and the multiple locks attached to them.  After an introduction to the Menacing Math Mobster game, students jumped in and worked to solve the clues that would allow them to unlock the box and retrieve the loot.    

It was clear that these students were working on thinking critically.

Critical thinking happens when students analyze and evaluate evidence to draw conclusions.  By looking at the evidence in the case file, students were able to solve problems and use evidence to unlock locks and “breakout”.  Of course, they collaborated and communicated with each other as they solved problems… all the time having fun!

Breakout Edu games are a great way to encourage critical thinking.  In what other ways do teachers foster critical thinking skills?

The first is Collaboration.  Student-centered learning environments need to provide varied and flexible in order to provide ongoing opportunities to build a collaborative community.  When students collaborate, they learn how to communicate with others effectively, work as a team, practice self-discipline, and improve social and interpersonal skills. 

A second way to foster critical thinking is through Inquiry.  Use of inquiry can foster deep learning through the focus of an essential question.  As students investigate, they background knowledge, develop questioning skills, improve their ability to search for new information, synthesize information, demonstrate an understanding and share their new learning with others.

Third, Questioning plays a critical role in cultivating critical thinking skills and deep learning. When teachers use open-ended questions they encourage discussion and active learning in the classroom.  Teachers can model questioning and listening skills in the classroom to enhance thinking in the classroom.

Finally Problem Solving allows students to use inquiry, questioning and collaboration skills to develop solutions to the problems they face.  This skill allows students think for themselves and apply the critical thinking strategies.  As students use critical thinking in the classroom, they prepare for future application of these skills.

Critical thinking is a key skill that our students need to have in order to become life-long learners and self-advocates for themselves.  It is a skill that will serve them well in school, the work place and in daily life.