I believe that critical thinking, analysis, and the ability to pull ideas together are essential to learning. However it has been my experience that in the current context of content based testing, time for complex analytical discussions, examination of multiple perspectives and allowing time for students to draw their own conclusions has been limited.<\/p>\n
I was wondering if its absence in the classroom had been replaced with time outside the classroom.\u00a0 In my high school and college days debate clubs and teams were very common.\u00a0 In fact debate was also part of my language arts and history classes in high school.\u00a0 I do not know of too many debate clubs or teams in my area so I asked my network if they have debate teams.
\n10 said no, 4 yes and two were not applicable.<\/p>\n
Some had alternatives though I do not know if they truly are equivalent:
\nMock trial, Mock\/Model UN, Robotics, Improve and Eteam (economics @elementary level). One respondent taught at a middle school and thought that might be too young. I do no think that is too young. As a former middle school teacher it was debate and discussion that made my students come alive.\u00a0 Middle school students love to talk.<\/p>\n
How do you incorporate true critical thinking and the analysis of ideas in the classroom?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I believe that critical thinking, analysis, and the ability to pull ideas together are essential to learning. However it has been my experience that in the current context of content based testing, time for complex analytical discussions, examination of multiple perspectives and allowing time for students to draw their own conclusions has been limited. I was wondering if its absence in the classroom had been replaced with time outside the classroom.\u00a0 In my high school and college days debate clubs…<\/p>\n