Open the debate__for them__between them. It dismays me to see them falter when asked the most basic of questions. And often it's not knowledge that throws them but the ability to reason an answer. We don't have to turn out huge numbers of brain surgeons but we do need generations of people who can reason.
How would I start? With a program that is simple. Simple is best...as often is the simplest solution to a problem...if you can arrive at it. Ask a question. Pose a problem that would typically face a third grader. Find a solution. Let them debate. Don't offer a solution of your own. Let them reason it out. It's a complex world, yes, and becoming more so each day but often times there is a simple solution and children are very adept at seeing through the fog of obfuscation if encouraged to do so.
http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/a-brief-history-of-the-idea-of-critical-thinking/408
You are bang on correct -- and will be happy to know that we are being required to do this increasingly in both science and mathematics instruction. It's been pretty standard for ages... things like putting an answer on the board and asking the students to come up with possible questions. It fits so nicely into inquiry in so many subjects. AND DEBATE IS SO IMPORTANT. It's debate that teaches us how to support an idea without trashing a person. I'd go on but I am brain dead. Long day of being my best.
ReplyDeleteOf all the people I know I thought of you when I wrote this. I had no doubt at all you would agree and I am so pleased to know that at least the Canadian school system is instituting these programs. I sincerely hope they do it down here in the US.
ReplyDeleteNot to be critical, but . . . . Teaching critical thinking seems like a tough nut to crack to me. I think I do it, but I'm not sure where I learned it. Maybe it's as simple as parents not answering Why with 'Because I said so.' Truth be known, I know an awful lot of people closer to retirement than school who I honestly believe have never had an original thought in their life. It seems like they would rather die than express an opinion that they weren't sure everyone would agree with.
ReplyDeleteI agree to a certain extent, Augie, but I also believe they are capable of reaching a reasonable conclusion if need be given a particular circumstance...they just may not want to expound on it because they don't want to appear to go against popular opinion or whatever reason at that time.
ReplyDeleteWhat I'm more talking about is the ability to even come to any viable solution to any situation because they either have never been confronted with it before, never considered it, or can't conceive of any possible way to achieve a way through. This does not bode well for the survival of us as a species.
I'm talking about kids versus adults...we used to get much of this at home. That doesn't seem to be happening anymore. The reasons are many.
ReplyDeleteI think I was focusing on the "critical" part, and you are focusing on the "thinking" part. There are so many that look at a problem, haven't been told the solution, so they say "I can't." instead of moving through the problem.
ReplyDeleteOh...you mean the lazy part.
ReplyDeleteI think the world is really unsafe for some people. They are capable of critical thought, but unable to express it for fear of being harmed. Also, if people started thinking critical about their situation, it might be painful and cause them a disconnect with other people.
ReplyDeleteWhy should that make them disconnect? If they learn to communicate w/o alienating then there shouldn't be that much of a problem...if there is then they either haven't learned the art of discussion or the problem lies elsewhere__like with the other person/people who simply don't want to hear anything other than their own voices. Open and honest debate and searching for solutions is what makes things work. It's what drives societies to progress instead of stagnate.
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