This document provides strategies for teachers to develop critical thinking skills in students. It recommends that teachers pose different types of questions, including recall, comprehension, and higher-level questions. It also suggests incorporating technology research, pre-planning discussion questions, and modeling critical thinking processes. The document advocates using group problem-solving and developing student creativity through modeling, discussion questions, and creating a safe learning environment.

1. DEVELOPING CRITICAL THINKING

2. POSING QUESTIONS
Recall questions to check vertical knowledge
Wait before accepting answers
Comprehension questions to check for student
understanding of concepts or ideas
Wait after answers for additional student input
Higher level questions to develop higher level
thinking
Develop student skills for reflective skepticism

3. INCORPORATE TECHNOLOGY
Research by student to support position
Develop higher thinking presentations by students
Web research of other cultures for study
Study foreign student(s) culture for research
Collaboration with other schools online
Develop rules for Web searching

4. PREPLANNED QUESTIONS
Focus discussion boundaries
Introduction of new concepts – check for
understanding
Differentiate questions to aid students in using
different types of thinking
Devise questions to help students form, and then
question opinions

5. GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING
Learning to work in groups – high level answers to
posed problems
No way – Best way; support your group’s solution
Intra-group cooperation – group dynamic skills
Inter-group competition – teamwork and pressure
Higher order thinking problems to stimulate group
Learn to combine differing talents to succeed

6. MODELING CRITICAL THINKING
Have groups develop a sample problem
Brainstorm with groups to develop questions to guide
problem solution
discuss importance of activating previous knowledge
Show process of analyzing information to reach solution
Model research techniques with technology
Discuss potential obstacles and ways to cross them
Present solution for higher order discussion by groups

7. DEVELOPING CREATIVITY

8. MODELING
Show students how to be Creative
Build student confidence
Be creative yourself
Make it FUN
Mistakes are OKAY
Try different materials
Allow students to discover

9. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Integrate subjects to stimulate creativity
Allow time after questions for higher thinking
Allow time after answer for others to engage
Help students discover vertical knowledge
Develop questions to help students self-assess
Student devised questions for discussion
Build to higher level questions for higher thinking

10. SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Reward creativity
Applaud risk takers
No wrong answer, just different views
Try different technologies to stimulate creativity
Help students build on their creativity
Find out what excites them
Show that frustration is part of learning
Help students to imagine and explore alternatives

11. REAL LIFE ISSUES
Discover your students experiences, tell them yours
Honest, truthful, and sincere and expect it returned
Ask students to look at issues from alternate
viewpoints
Self-image exploration by students
Peer evaluations and cross assessment of projects
Time management skills for life
Help students recognize the importance of content

12. GROUP/PARTNER WORK
Collaboration increases creativity
Let groups design their own project
Allow options to demonstrate learning
Define obstacles as learning opportunities
Discuss anxiety and self-control for success
Discuss learning obstacles you have encountered
Design questions to help groups handle obstacles
Show how to Identify and challenge assumptions