George Lucas Educational Foundation
Edutopia

Critical Thinking

Whether via classroom discussions, analysis of written text, higher-order questioning, or other strategies, learn and share ways to help students go deeper with their thinking.

  • Building Perspective Through Meaningful Discussion

    When they don’t shy away from talking about tough topics, students and teachers gain a deeper understanding of important issues—and each other.

  • Connecting Public Speaking to Critical Thinking

    In a forum where students present their learning so that an audience of their peers can question and build on it, everyone learns.

  • Computational Thinking is Critical Thinking—and Belongs in Every Subject

    Identifying patterns and groupings is a useful way of thinking not just for computer scientists but for students in all fields.
    Laura Lee

  • Scaffolding Discussion Skills With a Socratic Circle

    Students deepen their understanding and build a sense of community by engaging with their peers’ reasoned arguments.

  • Creating a Student-Run Museum in Your Classroom

    Letting students establish a museum exhibit with everyday items offers an opportunity to sharpen their storytelling skills.
    Laura Lee

  • 60-Second Strategy: TAG Feedback

    This quick exercise scaffolds peer critique for elementary students.

  • Teaching Students How to Use Wikipedia Wisely

    Understanding how the online encyclopedia functions helps students learn how to conduct research and distinguish fact from fiction.
    Benjamin Barbour

  • Using Rubik’s Cubes to Teach Math

    A high school math teacher designed hands-on learning experiences and fostered deep engagement with Rubik’s Cubes.
    Dan Van der Vieren

  • Questioning That Deepens Comprehension

    Scaffold students’ thinking about complex texts by asking what the text says, how it works, what it means, and what it inspires them to do.
    Douglas Fisher

  • Talking Politics: Valuing Different Perspectives

    Students learn how to share and listen to opposing beliefs with empathy.

  • Birmingham Covington: Building a Student-Centered School

    Educators take on the role of guides and motivate students to direct their own learning.
    Holly Korbey

  • Generating Effective Questions

    Four ways to come up with questions that guide students to engage deeply with class content. Plus: a pop quiz for you.
    Todd Finley

  • Establishing a Culture of Questioning

    When students consistently ask meaningful questions, they get comfortable taking the risks that lead to learning.
    Kasey Short

  • Extending the Silence

    Giving students several seconds to think after asking a question—and up to two minutes for some questions—improves their learning.
    John McCarthy

  • Metacognition: Nurturing Self-Awareness in the Classroom

    When students practice metacognition, the act of thinking about their thinking helps them make greater sense of their life experiences and start achieving at higher levels.
    Marilyn Price-Mitchell PhD