1. 21st Century Education
Critical Thinking

2. Critical thinking can be defined as the ability to draw a logical conclusion
from what is known, and the ability to make use of information to solve
problems, and to seek relevant sources of information to inform oneself.

3. The importance of critical thinking in education goes beyond
teaching memorization but gives students the tools to
understand and apply the knowledge they have learned
through classroom instruction. It teaches students to analyze
problems in order discover an underlying issue or alternative
solution.
“Critical thinking isn't just an academic skill, it's a skill used by highly
successful business leaders every day to solve problems, ask questions,
and make decisions. The research behind critical thinking is rock solid.”

4. How do we apply critical thinking to
21st century education?
In today’s world a sound and effective education is only achieved
through teaching our students how to be critical thinkers. For us to
effectively teach these skills we must first understand them ourselves
….. after all, we can’t teach what we don’t know. There are six critical
thinking skills that are imperative;
Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, and
Evaluation.
The table illustrates how you can apply these skills by questioning
and organizing information.

6. In high school my science teacher assigned the class
a bridge building project. The only materials we
were allowed to use to construct the bridge were
paper, glue, and drinking straws. We received a
letter grade for the project but there was an extra
credit bonus for the team whose bridge withstood
the most weight. Of course the majority of the class
simply wrapped the paper around the straws and
drenched them in Elmer’s glue, some tried to build
truss bridges and some simply didn’t do the project.
One by one our bridges were put to the test and
miserably failed. One group however came in with
what looked like a wooden board as their bridge. It
turns out they build a mold out of tin foil and used
a blender to emulsify the glue and paper. Once the
consistency was what they wanted they poured the
mixture into the mold and placed the straws inside
like rebar. They baked their creation and once it was
complete it was hard as a rock. When it was their
turn to be put to the test their bridge was
undisputed winner holding more than 60 lbs.

7. Connecting Technology and Critical Thinking
Harnessing a students natural inquisitiveness through the use of
technology fosters critical thinking. Allowing students to use
computers to research questions promotes “higher order intellectual
abilities,” as well as “gives the brain a good diet of visual learning
and thought provoking.”
“One big key may be very simple: We must pose questions
that intrigue and fascinate, fundamental questions, "big"
questions, questions that lie at the heart of our disciplines.”

8. Works Cited:
http://www.thinkwatson.com/resources/critical-thinking-studies
http://www.criticalthinking.org/
http://philosophy.hku.hk/think/critical/ct.php
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/07/a-quick-guide-to-21st-century-
critical.html
http://www.nj.gov/education/archive/techno/starw/
http://www.bestteachersinstitute.org/id98.html