Thinking Skills

TCH 347 Social Studies in the Elementary School

Department of Teacher EducationShippensburg University

Han Liu, Ph.D.

List of Thinking SkillsCritical thinkingCreative thinkingDecision makingProblem solvingAnalytical Thinking vs. Synthesizing thinking Inductive thinking vs. Deductive thinkingGeneralizing thinking vs. particularizing thinkingSequential thinking vs. Parallel thinkingComparative thinking Inferring/Predicting/Hypothesizing/Interpreting

thinkingAffective thinking/ Moral reasoning thinkingEvaluating thinking

Critical ThinkingA person choose criteria or

standard to use in analyzing, evaluating, or judging a statement, an idea, a point of view, an action, a behavior, the quality of a group discussion, etc.

Five steps

Five steps for Critical ThinkingDefine what is to be judged, analyzed, or

evaluated.Clarify the criteria that will be used.Gather accurate, relevant data about the

issue or topic.Evaluate the data for bias, inconsistency,

fallacies in reasoning, or persuasive techniques such as emotional appeals,. Distinguish fact from opinions

Complete the judgment, analysis, or evaluation based on evidence and reasons related to the criteria.

Questions for Critical ThinkingWhy did some settler remain loyal to

Britain during the American Revolution? What reasons were given for being a loyalist? A patriot?

To what extent should immigrants keep their ethic and cultural heritage? To what extent should they be Americanized?

Was this book helpful to your study of Pennsylvania history? What were its strengths” its weaknesses?

Creative ThinkingCreative thinking is the sources

of originality, divergent thinking, and new ideas. Teachers may stimulate creative thinking in social studies by encouraging students to suggest new ways of doing things.

Projects/Activities for Creative ThinkingLet students design projects by

themselvesOrganize activities for

competitionEncourage different ways of

completing the same goal

Decision Making Students make intelligent choices

by identifying objectives and alternative ways of achieving them.

Steps for Decision MakingDefine the issue or situation that requires a

decisionSet decision-making goals, and clarify the

values and support the chosen valuesEvaluate each alternative and its

consequences in terms of goals and valuesRank the alternatives based on positive and

negative consequencesDecide on the best alternative, and take the

action it requiresEvaluate the decision making process, the final

decision, and the way it has been carried out

Decision Making ProblemsTo whom and how to report the

campus safety problems?Everyone in the class gives the

dog a different name, how to decide the final name for the dog?

Policy decision: drill oil in Alaska or develop nuclear power?

Problem Solving and InquiryThese thinking processes involve the

rational and objective study of questions, issues, problems ranging from investigating ways of living in families, communities, and culture around the world to studying contemporary issues and global problems. Students try to understand, explain, and predict human behavior. Creative thinking and critical thinking are involved in problem solving and inquiry.

Steps for Problem Solving Identify and define the problem If helpful, break the problem into partsState questions, hypotheses, or hunches to guide

the process. Determine what is already known, and what

information needs to be gatheredChoose procedures to gather information and the

sources to be usedAnalyze data and decide which information is

relevant and reliableUse data to test the hypothesesSynthesize the information and draw a conclusionDevelop an action plan

Analytical thinking vs. Synthesizing ThinkingAnalytical thinking: From whole

to parts

Synthesizing thinking: From parts to whole

Inductive Thinking vs. Deductive ThinkingInductive Process: Draw general

conclusion based on analysis of particular cases that share common characteristics

Deductive process: Apply generalization to individual cases.

Inductive ProcessCollect, organize, and examine

dataIdentify common elements and

what is generally true for the data

State a generalization based on common or general elements

Check the generalization against all data to make sure that it is sound

Deductive ProcessPresent the generalization to the

groupPresent supporting data, cases,

or evidenceRefer students to additional

sources of data, and ask them to find more support

Test the generalization against all data gathered

Sequential Thinking vs. Parallel ThinkingSequential Thinking: Think

following a linear logical order

Parallel thinking: Think in parallel manner about several issue simultaneously

Generalizing Thinking vs. Particularizing ThinkingGeneralizing is summarizing

common features of things or concepts

Population growth, industrialization, and urbanization must be controlled if the environment is to be improved.

Particularizing means to single out something special, outstanding among a group of things or concepts

Nile is the longest river in the world.

Comparative ThinkingThink by comparing two or more

similar/different factors at the same time

Inferring/Predicting/Hypothesizing/Interpreting Thinking

Inferring: To draw a possible consequence, conclusion, or implication from a set of fact or premises

Predicting: To forecast or anticipate what may happen under certain conditions

Hypothesizing: Is more general than inference and prediction and should apply to all similar cases. It should be testable.

Interpreting: Same mean manifested in different forms

Affective Thinking/Moral ReasoningThink with emotions, feeling, or

values involved.

Evaluating ThinkingEvaluating is an ongoing process

that continues from the beginning of an activity through its culmination. How well am I doing?