Critical Thinking

Standard #4

Critical Thinking,
Problem Solving, & Decision Making

Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation
Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project
Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions
Use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions

The world is changing and so are the skills students need to be successful. The future of education is ubiquity; students have constant access to information and need to be guided in how to utilize that information through hands-on learning with a variety skills. Being able to problem solve and think critically is vital to being successful in the 21st century. Education is shifting from the “Learn Now, Use Later” model to the “Learn Now, Use Now” model (Burbules, N). Rapidly increasing technological advancements are not only making this shift possible, but necessary. “With an eye on making education more relevant to the workplace, and with a focus on STEM based skills, building emotional and engaging connections with learning materials is going to be the key part in the next phase of development for teaching and learning and gaming in education is going to be an underlying theme throughout!” (Bush, 2012). Students will need to be able to identify the problems, find solutions and work through those solutions. As learning evolves, so will the role of educators. “Our students will not be expected to pass multiple choice tests to function as knowledge-age/21st century citizens, they will be required to think meta-cognitively and evolve with rapidly changing ways of knowing, being, and communicating” (Valentine, 2014).

Teacher Resources

Classroom Resources

Map Your World Curriculum |
This is a story map project where students investigate the world around them, collect data, and act on that data to create long term positive change in their communities. Map It! Track It! Change It! Share It! There is a 4 class curriculum or a 16 class curriculum to help take you through this project-based learning journey.

Global Nomads Group |
"Fosters Dialogue and Understanding Among the World's Youth" This resource has programs for international youth to connect and collaborate. They also have some excellent classroom resources: Open Educational Resources

Model United Nations |
Students analyze data and recognize multiple perspectives to solve global issues. This simulation can be adapted to various education levels. Check out your local MUN community for additional resources - there is most likely a competition..

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Lesson Plan: The Quandary Game |
This problem-solving lesson plan, adaptable for grades 6-12, centers around an online game called Quandary that engages students in making ethical decisions about a society they are helping to shape."

Create your own Problem Solving Lesson Plan |
This website gives examples and provides a forum that walks teachers step-by-step creating their own problem solving lesson plan.

Critical Thinking Rubric |
This rubric can be used for multiple projects and activities to evaluate critical thinking skills.

Blogs & Information Resources

A Field Guide to Lies: Critical Thinking in the Information Age | by Dr. Daniel J. Levitin

Training Teachers to Teach Critical Thinking | This brief Edutopia article explains the importance of thinking critically and how to teach it.

Teaching Critical Thinking |
This guide gives steps and resources for “critical thinking, as it pertains to teaching and learning.”

Problem Solving |
This Teacher Vision article provides a “five-stage model that most students can easily memorize and put into action and which has direct applications to many areas of the curriculum as well as everyday life."

Teaching Teens How to Make Good Decisions |
This paper analyzes the stages, process and history for teaching teens to make good decisions.

Critical Thinking Foundation |
Critical Thinking Foundation provides definitions, history, and resources for critical thinking.

Standard #4