NAPERVILLE COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT 203




Critical, Creative and Life-Long Thinking

Three main sources we use:

  • Infusion of Thinking by Robert Swartz and Sandra Parks from the National Center for Thinking
  • Dimension of Learning by Robert Marzano from ASCD
  • Understanding by Design by Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins from ASCD

Problem-Solvers demonstrate:

    • The ability to identify problem(s)
    • The ability to create more than one solution
    • The ability to select solution based on established criteria

Critical Thinkers demonstrate:

    • Metacognition
    • Flexibility ion thinking
    • Precision in thinking
    • Can apply past experiences to new situations
    • Can formulate questions
    • Can apply thinking skills learned
    • Can transfer the learning across fundamental learning areas

Life-long learners demonstrate:

    • Risking taking
    • Inquisitiveness
    • Stick-to-it-ness
    • Ability to set goals, check their own progress and change direction when appropriate
    • Ability to transfer what is learned to real-life

Responsible citizens demonstrate:

    • An understanding of the civic virtues as described in the Social Science Curriculum
    • Take responsibly for their own behavior
    • Manage disagreement and conflict (I-Can-Problem Solve)

Strategies taught:

  • Decision Making
  • Problem Solving
  • Comparing and Contrasting
  • Classification
  • Determining Parts-Whole Relationships
  • Sequencing
  • Finding Reasons and Conclusions
  • Uncovering Assumptions
  • Generating Possibilities
  • Creating Metaphors
  • Determining the Reliability of Sources
  • Causal Exploration
  • Prediction
  • Generalization
  • Reasoning by Analogy
  • Conditional Reasoning
  • The Role of Metacognition

 



Naperville Community Unit School District 203
Created: November 2001