A Level Critical Thinking

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A Level Critical Thinking
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• Introduction to OCR
• Introduction to Critical Thinking
• Why change to our specification?
• Support and training
• Next steps

A Level Critical Thinking
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About OCR

• Part of Europes largest assessment agency,
  Cambridge Assessment
• UKs leading awarding body
• Over 13,000 centres choose our qualifications
• Qualifications are developed in consultation with
  teachers

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Our Mission
Our commitment is to provide qualifications which
engagelearners of all ages whether at school,
college, in work and part time training
programmes so they achieve their full
potential make a difference Practical Accessibl
e Innovative and exciting
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Our Credentials

• Leading the way with new ideas
• Dedicated to offering respected qualifications
• Engaging and relevant qualifications
• Comprehensive support framework

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Critical Thinking Credentials

• Leading the way with new ideas
• Dedicated to offering respected qualifications
• Engaging and relevant qualifications
• Comprehensive support framework

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Key points of the specification

• Develops skills such as analysis, evaluation,
  forming coherent arguments and debating
• Beneficial effect on other subjects studied
• Develops thinking skills that encourage
  participation in society
• Engaging and relevant contexts
• Combination of multiple choice, short answer and
  extended writing questions

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Critical Thinking AS Structure
Teaching units and Assessment method and
weighting
F501 Introduction to Critical Thinking This unit
provides an introduction to the important skills
in Critical Thinking. It also covers the area of
credibility and recognises that the plausibility
of an argument is influenced by its origin, be
that a person or an organisation.
F502 Assessing and Developing Argument This unit
covers a wide range of argument components
building on the skills developed in Unit 1.
Analysing and evaluating arguments including
assessing strengths and weaknesses, and writing
your own original arguments in response to
stimulus material.
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Critical Thinking A2 Structure
Teaching units and Assessment method and
weighting
F503 Ethical Reasoning and Decision Making In
this unit the skills developed at AS Level are
applied in the context of ethical reasoning and
decision making. Learners advance their skills
in the analysis and evaluation of conflicting
ideas and arguments.
F504 Critical Reasoning This unit includes
similar concepts and ideas to previous units but
presents a different challenge. In addition, it
includes analysis and evaluation of material
based on typical arguments found in newspapers,
journals, books and magazines.
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Stretch and Challenge

• Stretch and Challenge is a new QCA initiative for
  A Levels
• Included in A2 assessment
• Reflected in the style of question asked which
  invite a greater variety of thinking
• Questions are structured to show more connections
  between different sections of the specification
• Extended writing is encouraged in all subjects
  (except Maths0
• A wider range of question types like case
  studies and open ended questions
• More synoptic assessments exploring connections
  between different areas and levels of a subject

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Whats in it for you?

• Rewarding to deliver
• Flexibility in teaching as subject matter can be
  selected from learners interests and current
  events
• Designed by teachers for teachers

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Whats in it for your learners?

• Enjoyable and motivational
• Improves performance in other subjects through
  development of analysis skills
• Stretch and challenge opportunities
• New A grade
• Clear, explicit and accessible question papers
• Prepares learners for study at degree level and
  for employer tests

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Whats in it for your school?

• We have eight years of experience of offering AS
  Critical Thinking and has delivered a four-unit A
  Level since 2005
• Flexibility in curriculum planning and delivery
• Can be delivered by teachers of any background
• Good progression routes into HE/FE

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Support

• Overarching scheme of work and sample lesson
  plans
• E-community
• Exemplar candidate work
• Coursework guidance documents
• Past papers on line for you to download
• Exam quest
• INSET

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Support

• We are working with publisher partner Heinemann
  to provide further resources to support these
  specifications. The student books and teacher
  resources are specifically tailored to the new
  specification.

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Next Steps

• Book training/events - www.ocr.org.uk/training
• Bookmark website for further information/future
  updates www.ocr.org.uk

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• Other qualifications
• A Level Psychology
• A Level History
• A Level Philosophy
• A Level Religious Studies
• A Level Sociology