Emphasis on critical thinking and essential learning- over textbooks
“Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider.”
Francis Bacon, English essayist
In India, parents are more concerned about their child's performance in the board exam. But it is more important to educate students with critical thinking and essential learning. Adopt these below-mentioned details and you will see critical thinking and essential learning increase in your classrooms.
In the modern world, there is a paramount need for critical thinking. But, one can question the effectiveness of the education system to provide this. Students are not taught to think critically but are asked to regurgitate information from a textbook. Here, let us throw some light on these factors.
Importance of critical thinking and essential learning
- Most of the thinking that goes on in a student's head is about how to complete a task and not how to approach a problem. This does not help a student become a well-rounded individual. Critical thinking is the ability to analyze situations and form opinions about them.
- It is not just to think but to think 'critically', which means analyzing the situation at hand and drawing logical conclusions. Critical thinking is the art of thinking beyond boundaries.
- Students are being taught to remember things instead of understanding them. Education is supposed to be about developing the student’s ability to think critically and analyze things logically.
- Critical thinking is a skill that is developed through practice and is the cornerstone of an education that is actually worth having. Critical thinking is a skill that is developed through practice and is the cornerstone of an education that is actually worth having. Critical thinking is the ability to examine issues and decide based on logic and facts rather than feelings and personal opinions.
Has the concept of critical thinking evolved over the years?
- There was a time when students were content with the ‘textbook’ education. The reason was that they were happy with the information given to them. They didn’t want to think about it because it was easier to just accept what was given to them, for it would get them good grades. Not only did they not want to think about it; they were not taught to think about it.
- The education system was structured in such a manner that information was given to the students and the students were supposed to learn and regurgitate it. The focus was more on learning and less on thinking and thinking. The focus was more on the content and less on the process.
- The focus was more on the output and less on the quality of the output. The focus was more on the results and less on the process. And the students were not taught to think for themselves. As a result, students cannot think for themselves. They cannot differentiate between theory and practice, between knowledge and wisdom, between information and intelligence, between data and knowledge. They cannot think of new ideas or generate new options. They cannot think for themselves. They cannot think beyond their comfort zone.
Ways to promote essential learning and critical thinking
It is an undeniable truth that a person who gains a solid education is likely to have a successful career. The problem is that the way by which this education is gained is not necessarily the best.
In recent times, thanks to advances in technology, students have been able to learn at a much faster pace. The idea of a classroom has been replaced by online education. This has been a major boon to students in countries where going to a school is a big problem, such as distance and money.
Online education has also been a blessing for students in countries where going to a school in a faraway town is a problem. However, having a classroom in a school is a much better option in a lot of ways.
Four ways to promote critical thinking and essential learning
- Use questioning and open-ended writing techniques
- Help students to respect and understand each other
- Encourage inquiry and invention;
- Alter your classroom-Remodel