Developing critical thinking

Critical thinking skills enable student teacher to take a step back from any immediate situation and ‘read’ it from an objective position, whether this is in relation to teaching, learning or the introduction of, for example, and a new curriculum specification document. D. Halpern suggests that in order for critical thinking to be able to be engaged in successfully, certain skills need to be developed in young people. Halpern argues that the teaching of thinking skills involves teacher in supporting their pupils in finding out for themselves how to approach complex problems, and having opportunities to reflect with others upon the success or otherwise of the approach. Teachers create the conditions within which learning opportunities occur. In addition to the concrete structures of classroom organisation considered above, teachers also construct opportunities for pupils to interact with each other and with texts, with the teacher herself or other adults.