© crown copyright 2007 developing critical and creative thinking in science naigs july 09

© Crown copyright 2007

Developing critical and creative thinking in science

NAIGS

July 09


Objectives

• To explore critical and creative thinking in science

• To consider how consultancy can support development of creative and critical thinking


Outcomes

Participants will have:

• clarified their understanding about critical and creative thinking

• identified strategies that can be used in consultancy work to support creativity


Importance of science- KS3 POS The study of science fires pupils’ curiosity about phenomena in the world around them and offers opportunities to find explanations. It engages learners at many levels, linking direct practical experience with scientific ideas. Experimentation and modelling are used to develop and evaluate explanations, encouraging critical and creative thought. Pupils learn how knowledge and understanding in science are rooted in evidence. They discover how scientific ideas contribute to technological change – affecting industry, business and medicine and improving quality of life. They trace the development of science worldwide and recognise its cultural significance. They learn to question and discuss issues that may affect their own lives, the directions of societies and the future of the world.


Discuss…

Why is critical and creative thinking important to science?


‘Science in schools is dull. It bears no resemblance to what goes on in the real world…..Here science is incredibly creative, there’s lots of problem solving goes on, and there’s none of that in school science’

Work related learning in science, Warwick University


Task 1

• What is critical and creative thinking?– Use handout 1 as stimulus for this

activity.

• Think about some examples of how scientists’ creativity has been vital for the development of science


Creative thinking

• Thinking or behaving imaginatively

• Purposeful imagination

• Originality

• Outcome of value


Creativity in the classroom

• Discuss when you last saw pupils having the opportunity to be creative in science lessons ? – How did the teacher develop this creativity ?– How did / could your consultancy support

creativity?


Plenary

Handout 2 contains some features of classrooms that foster critical and creative thinking.

How can your ‘consultancy’ support the development of these features?


NS publication

• Developing critical and creative thinking: in science – Ref 00054 – 2008DVD-EN

– www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/nationalstrategies/

Crown copyright

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© crown copyright 2007 developing critical and creative thinking in science naigs july 09

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