Critical thinking is the first pillar of 21st century education and focuses on exploring problems from different perspectives rather than just finding answers. It is important because it encourages thinking outside the box and combining knowledge to solve problems in new ways. Technology can expand critical thinking by providing information and challenging students to think more independently by accessing knowledge from anywhere. Some examples of how to apply critical thinking in education include mystery skype games between classrooms that require students to investigate clues and find solutions without direct instructions.

1. 21st Century Education
Critical Thinking
Group 1: Matthew Jones, Mykel Rhett Dingess,
Kayla Farmer, Kristen Ferrell

2. Critical Thinking Definition
Critical Thinking is the first pillar of 21st Century Education. Critical
thinking redefines what we learn and focuses on:
• the question rather than the answer,
• different points of view,
• life experience (or what everyone brings to the table),
• exploration of the problem,
• the six degrees of separation (how everything is somehow related),
• and interdisciplinary instruction (the instruction from multiple
disciplines as opposed to one school of thought).

3. Critical Thinking Importance
Critical Thinking is one of the most important aspects to 21st Century Education. Critical Thinking is
so important because it encourages:
• thinking outside the box,
• combining knowledge to best solve a problem,
• and critical thinking promotes working together to solve a problem.
With critical thinking, students are able to solve issues like never before. As a country, we need to
move past memorizing facts for a test. Critical Thinking allows us to do this and promotes thinking
on a lot deeper level.

4. How does it apply 21st century education?
• 21st Century helps us discipline our thinking, provide a clearer expression of ideas, and work to think
“on our own” rather than relying on the “accepted method.”
• We can use 21st century in education by creating different lessons that require the students to use
more than one thing.
• An example would be picking a real world topic for your students to learn about and having them
not only use their textbook but technology as well.
• Example: Mystery Skype- The game is played by two classrooms on Skype and they ask each other
questions until they guess location of the other classroom. This could be an interactive way of
teaching how to find a location without using GPS. Students could investigate clues, interview
others, use existing knowledge, etc. This would be cool as the students wouldn’t be told the location
ahead of time and will be able to find it different ways.

5. An Example of It’s Application
The ozone layer is depleting by carbon admissions and is
resulting in drastic climate changes, as reported by leading
environmental administrations. However, some conservative
groups are trying to debunk deeply rooted concepts in our
thinking about ozone depletion.
• Should we rely upon reason whether than emotion?
• Where does the evidence lead us?

6. Role of Technology in Critical Thinking
The role of technology is to expand a individuals thinking by providing information, challenging them
to expand their life, and all while being at a touch of a finger.
Technology have connected us as a world, and is a ever expanding bank of knowledge for anyone
to access.
- Voki can be used to use different “avatars” to teach different disciplines
- Facebook to ask for thoughts and opinions
- Twitter can be used for independent research on gaining the whole picture “both sides of
an argument”
- With Facebook and Twitter, the world is always connected which helps with
figuring out the question, “What helps?”
- Digital Imaging can be used to showcase one’s thinking in picture form
- Arts and Bots can be used to present an idea in working form and is also open
platform which allows for countless ways to get to the overall product
- Technology can be anything (electronic or not) that gives students the power to
overcome an issue without resorting to using the “right” method

7. Works Cited
Nelson Critical Thinking Test. Paper Masters. Web. 3 Dec. 2014. <https://www.papermasters.com/nelson-critical-
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Hoole, Elijah. "The Importance of Critical Thinking." Stories of the Wind. Elijah Wind. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
<http://storiesofthewind.tumblr.com/post/45422532521/the-importance-of-critical-thinking>.
"Teknoloji Heryerde…." Disuzmaniniz. Web. 3 Dec. 2014. <http://www.disuzmaniniz.com/teknoloji-heryerde/>.
Pratana, Joseph. "The Spatial Thinking." Pratana Cofee Talk. Joseph Pratana. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
<http://www.pratanacoffeetalk.com/2013/10/the-spatial-thinking.html>.
Harden, Lisa. "Lisa Harden - Wilson ED 518." Wilson ED 518. Blogspot. Web. 3 Dec. 2014. <http://harden-wilsoned518.
blogspot.com/2013/02/what-is-critical-thinking-definition.html>.
"Local Content and Service Report to the Community." KQED.org. KQED. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
<http://www.kqed.org/assets/pdf/about/kqed-cpblocalcontentservicereport021412.pdf>.