Activities will be demonstrated for use in social studies, mathematics, science, geography, literature and language arts classes. Critical thinking requires thought to be analyzed and assessed for its clarity, accuracy, relevance, depth, breadth, and logicalness. Since reasoning occurs within points of view and frames of reference, students need to be aware of an author's approach to a particular problem, as well as their own. An understanding of critical thought enables students to take basic tools of critical thinking they learn in one subject and extend them, with proper adjustments, to other subjects which they study. Students should continually be asked to analyze their ideas, claims, experiences, interpretations, judgments, and theories and those they hear and read.
Human thought is relational and selective.
It is impossible to understand any person, event, or phenomenon from every vantage point simultaneously. Critical thinking requires that this fact be taken into account when analyzing and assessing thinking. Teaching for critical thinking enables students to explicate, understand, and critique their own deepest prejudices, biases, and misconceptions. Unfortunately, most assessments are based on lower-order learning and thinking. Higher-order thinking, critical thinking abilities, is increasingly crucial to success in every domain of personal and professional life.