Encouraging Critical Thinking Skills

 

Cooperative Learning Group Activity Worksheet

 

Instructions:

Your cooperative learning group will work together as each group member completes this worksheet.

 

Your group will be in a classroom that has a computer as well as a video projector so you can access the internet as a group and view the information provided on the websites in order to complete this activity.

 

Go to www.lorenzowalkerplcs.pbwiki.com

Log in with password: lorenzo

Under January 2007 Inservice, click on Encouraging Critical Thinking Skills

Page down and have a group member read the course objectives.

 

Now your group will use the links under Outside Resources to complete the six objectives.  Remember to use the back buttonJ  Have fun!!!

 

Objective #1: Define Critical Thinking (Knowledge)

• Go to website #1 and #2 to complete this objective and write your definition below:
• Critical Thinking is:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Objective #2: Explain the relationship between Bloom’s Taxonomy and teaching critical thinking skills. (Comprehension)

• Go to website #3 and then click on Critical Thinking – Bloom’s Taxonomy (attached) Here you learn about the HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills)
• Go to website # 9 as well (attached) 
• Website #3 also has nice section on inquiry skills under Critical Thinking Resources for Teachers as well as a nice section done by a teacher on Integrating Critical Thinking Skills Into the Classroom.  You can explore this later J

 

Now that you have explored these websites, discuss within your group the relationship between Bloom’s Taxonomy and teaching critical thinking skills.

Objective #3:  Write an instructional objective relevant to their curriculum using Bloom’s Taxonomy that incorporates higher order critical thinking skills. (Application)

• Using the attachments from websites #3 and #9, work together as a group as each member writes a higher order instructional objective that is relevant to their curriculum. 
• Use the space provided below to write your objective:

 

At the completion of this lesson, the student will:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Objective #4:  Compare and contrast lower order questioning techniques with higher order questioning techniques. (Analysis)

• Go to website #4 (attached), #5 (attached) and #6 to access information on questioning techniques.
• Answer the following questions as your group explores these websites:

 

1. Which type of questions do you think are easier to write?

 

2. Why do you think they are easier to write?

 

3. Which type of questions do you think are easier to answer?

 

4. Why do you think they are easier to answer?

 

5. Which type of questions do you think are more challenging to write?

 

6. Why do you think they are more challenging to write?

 

7. Which type of questions do you think are more challenging to answer?

 

8. Why do you think they are  more challenging to answer?

 

9. Which type of questions do you think requires critical thinking?

 

10. Which type of questions do you think relates more to key concepts?

 

 

 

Objective #5: Formulate critical thinking questions relevant to key concepts in their curriculum that reflect Bloom’s Analysis, Synthesis and Evaluation levels. (Synthesis)

• Using the attachments from websites #4 and #5, work together as a group as each member writes critical thinking question relevant to key concepts in their curriculum that reflect Bloom’s Analysis, Synthesis and Evaluation levels. 
• Use the Spaces below to write your questions

 

Analysis:

 

 

 

 

Synthesis:

 

 

 

 

Evaluation:

 

 

 

 

 

Objective #6: Consider the impact that incorporating critical thinking teaching strategies into their current curriculum will have on student learning. (Evaluation)

• Go to websites #7, #8 and #10.
• Answer the following questions as your group explores these websites:

 

1.      Describe teaching strategies that help promote critical thinking skills?

Be sure to include the following:

 

·        Classroom Assessment Techniques

·        Cooperative/Small Group Learning

·        Case Study/Discussion Method

·        Using Questioning

·        Conference Learning

·        Writing Assignments

·        Dialogues

·        Role Play

 

 

 

 

2.      Do you currently use any of these strategies with your students? If yes, discuss with your group how you use these strategies.

 

 

 

3.      How would you redesign your current lesson in a subject area to include these critical thinking strategies?

 

 

 

4.      Do you believe that these strategies would improve student learning?

 

 

 

5.      You are currently involved with a cooperative learning experience.  What is your opinion of the process?