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A Nation At Risk?
Do we know how to train critical thinking?
Are our schools getting it done?
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Thinking About Thinking
Critical Thinking
Goal-Directed Planful Strategic Conscious
Evaluation
DaydreamingRote LearningFamiliar Solutions
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Thinking About Thinking
THREE STAGES
Evaluate
Plan
Have I succeeded? What have I learned about these
kinds of problems?
What is the goal? What do I already know? What
skills or strategies do I have?
Act Monitor
Am I making progress? Do I need more
information? Should I change strategies?
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Classic Problems
D O N A L D G E R A
L D ---------------------------- R O
B E R T
What are the other letters if D 5?
Herb Simon, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology
Computer Science Carnegie-Mellon UniversityNobel
Prize (Economics)A Founder of Cognitive Science
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D O N A L D G E R A
L D ---------------------------- R O
B E R T
Classic Problems
Good Problem Solvers Ask Themselves What Do I
Already Know That Might Be Relevant?
4. X 10 ( carry 1) 5. A number itself
is an EVEN number 6. EVEN 1 ODD
1. D 5 2. How to add and carry 3. 55
0 ( carry 1)
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D O N A L D G E R A
L D ---------------------------- R O
B E R T
Classic Problems
What relevant knowledge do you have?
Can you break the overall task intosimpler
sub-tasks?
Will it take one strategy or will you have to
shift strategies along the way?
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Problem Solving AttitudesNot Everyone Is The
Same
Formal Problems in Academic Settings
Some People
Plan before acting Consider various
strategies Persist Monitor their efforts
Some People
AskWhat kind of problem is this? Value
chances to solve problems Learn to anticipate
problems
Real Problems in Everyday Settings