Critical thinking
Critical thinkers:
- Are open-minded when considering new ideas;
- do not argue about something when knowing little or nothing about it
- know when more information about a topic is needed;
- learn to be conscious of their own thinking and avoid problems in their own reasoning;
- question things which make no sense;
- are able to separate emotional thinking from logical thinking.
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Planning
Organising to achieve an outcome or solution.
Sample activity: Plan a birthday party for Goldilocks. -
Forecasting
The prediction of future events which can be developed using hypothetical situations. Students then consider all the causes or effects (or both).
Sample activity: Suppose machines could do all your schoolwork. What would happen? -
Communication
The development of communication skills in gifted students is essential. It is especially important that they be able to classify, categorise, discuss feelings, moods and emotions, make comparisons and use non-verbal communication effectively.
Sample activity: A child in the class is always alone and isolated by other students. What could be done to help? -
Decision-making
Develop abilities in students enabling them to make thoughtful decisions. They need to take a risk in making decisions.
Sample activity: Which would be the best place for a holiday - the beach, the river or the hills? Develop some criteria to help make the decision. For example:- In which season is the holiday to be taken?
- What is the distance to each venue?
- What accommodation is available?
- What entertainment will there be?
Evaluation
Evaluation in critical thinking is the ability to judge ideas logically after considering all aspects of a situation.
Sample activity: In a discussion, justify the importance of fiction books.
Reference:
J Dalton, Adventures in Thinking: Creative Thinking and Cooperative Talk in Small Groups. Nelson, 1985 Melbourne: Nelson.
Lists techniques to be used in developing Critical Thinking Skills. These include: Brainstorming, Attribute Listing, Checkerboard Technique, Synectics, Forced Relationships and Hatching Ideas.
Ideas in this section can be modified or adjusted to suit the age level, learning area, group or class and the learning needs of the students.
The Macquarie Bank Future Problem Solving Program focuses on the development of critical and creative thinking skills for P-12 students. In particular, it centres on the skills of problem identification and positive solutions to those problems.
Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why It Counts 
(PDF) by Peter Facione. This link provides an overview of the nature of critical thinking. "The goal here is to sharpen your critical thinking skills and cultivate your critical thinking spirit."
Tim Van Gelder's Critical Thinking on the Web
A comprehensive site providing links to critical thinking resources ranging from Great Critical Thinkers, Critical Reading and Writing, Teaching to Theory and Research. The site is biased towards university or college-level critical thinking, and informal reasoning, however there are resources and links relevant to K-12 education
Foundation for Critical Thinking
This site provides resource links on critical thinking for primary and secondary teachers.
Critical Thinking across the Curriculum
This website provides excellent links to archived critical thinking teaching ideas, definitions, news, resources and encourages a free exchange of good ideas to promote "thoughtful teaching for thoughtful learning."
Blooms Taxonomy and Critical Thinking
Provides an overview of the key words used and types of questions asked to encourage higher order critical thinking.