Critical Thinking Toolkit

Knowledge: To know something means to have a fact or bit of information at your disposal For example we know the theory of relativity is E=MC2 without having any idea of how to use this equation.

Comprehension: To comprehend a fact of piece of information is to understand what it means. For example we might understand that E=MC2 is a formula that…

Application: To apply information means to find some practical use for it. How can we put Einstein’s theory of relativity to use?

Analysis: To analyze means to break down information into the sum of its parts and to see how those parts work together. For example we need to understand that Energy, and Mass, and Speed of Light and how they all work together before we can understand precisely how and if the theory works.

Synthesis: To synthesize means to take knowledge you have and connect it with other knowledge. For example how we can understand the theory of relativity in relationship to other theories?

Evaluation: To evaluate means to be able to judge. Is this information useful or not? We might ask these questions of the theory of relativity, its applications and so on.

All of this is important to the use of information on the web site. Bloom states that students must master one level before they can go on to the next level. The web site is designed taking Bloom’s theory into account.

Research that employ critical thinking pedagogy takes Blooms theory into account giving users the ability to master lower critical thinking skills before moving on to the tasks of the higher thinking process. The design of the web site is to provide the tools needed to take action.

Elements of Critical Thinking

Observations: From a series of observations, we can come to establish:

Facts: From a series of facts, or from an absence of fact, we make:

Inferences: Testing the validity of our inferences, we can make:

Assumptions: From our assumptions, we form our:

Opinions: Taking our opinions, we use the principles of logic to develop:

Arguments: And when we want to challenge the arguments of others, we employ:

Critical Analysis: Through which we challenge the observations, facts, and inferences, in the arguments that we are analyzing.

The relevance to the Web site is that it is important to engage students and teachers in the developed world concerning the lack of education for the girl child and its impact on economic development opportunities. As we consider this more closely it then becomes important to understand that observation is not fact, and that inference differs from opinion.

The end goal is to get involvement of students and teachers on this issue to engage civil society. This is essential to have rational well thought out arguments in the United States, in order to build the case for the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, by Congress. This will directly impact by increasing the influence to understand the need to educate the girl child.

Ten Steps to Action Toolkit

Ten Steps to Action

Define the problem & identify the information needed.
Information Seeking Strategies find the most appropriate source(s).
Locate and access information.
Extract the relevant information.
Synthesis of all information.
Evaluate the results of research.
Communicate the information.
Take appropriate action.
Find collaborative partners.
Assessment of action taken.

ToolKit is based on the work of Michael Eisenberg & Bob Berkowitz 1987

Tools to help guide students and teachers in the problem solving process	Compare/Contrast graph lets you look for ways that things are similar and different
Idea Web promotes creativity and useful to brainstorm ideas	Venn Diagram lets you see the items that two things do or do not have in common
Problem/Solution Graph lets you analyze problems and the effects of solutions	Bar/Line graph helps you to put numerical information into a visual form so you can make comparisons
Gathering Matrix helps you make subtle distinctions between similar ideas	Prediction Tree to organize information that predicts future events or results
KWL Graph to help organize current knowledge to guide future questioning	Ranking Ladder to sort a list and then rank items by placing them in a particular order
5 W’s chart is an introductory experience to help you gather information and summarize	Question Matrix to compare and contrast attributes, qualities or characteristics. Make clear distinctions between items
Time Line helps you to understand the historical flow of events and actions	Balance Scale lets you compare two items and weigh their strengths against each other
T-Graph is useful during brainstorming. You see issues and concerns related to both sides of a topic	Organizational Chart lets you arrange information into a hierarchy
Pro-Con Graph lets you evaluate and extend understanding about facts, concepts, thinking processes and cooperative interactions.	Story Frame lets you list events so you can see the order of events and identify cause and effect relations
Fishbone Diagram helps you to think about causes and effects, with the details underlying each cause	Rising Action Flowchart lets you list events so you can see the order of events leading up to the climax of an article

Source: BigSix ToolKit