Challenging the importance of context

The critical thinking skill requires developing grasp of relationships – the relationship between an object and its surroundings or connecting objects or ideas or claims etc. Possible practice:

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  In the process of implementing different activities ask pupils to discuss how they might apply phrase, objects, concept, ideas, judgments to different contexts, noticing variations.
  

The ability to imagine alternatives is often associated with creative thinking. Pupils need understand that there are not the only possible ways of thinking or doing something. Possible practice:

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  One of the possible ways of exploring alternatives is changing “point of view”. Pupils can be asked to write a dialog between two different character (for example: first they write dialog from the women’s point of view, second they write the same dialog from the man’s point of view.
  

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  Another example of exploring alternatives can be seen in the Math or science lesson where pupils are asked to find different ways of solving the same problem.
  

Pupils need to form their own opinions and ideas with the aim of learning to arrive at the process in the light of evidence and for good reasons. Possible practice:

There is a need for teacher in the process of discussions to encourage pupils to:

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  offer reasons and evidence for their own claims
  
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  counter these claims from others which they consider week
  
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  question undersupported assumptions
  
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  be open minded in considering a range of opinions and perspectives
  

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  ask for clarification if they don’t understand
  

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  respect the right of others to hold their own point of view, even if they disagree with that point of view