In an era where rote memorization is no longer the gold standard of education, the focus has shifted towards fostering higher-order thinking skills in students. These skills, which range from comprehension to analysis and creativity, form the basis for developing a deeper understanding of subjects and promoting innovative thinking. However, the integration of these skills into the curriculum is a challenge that many educators face. Fortunately, a plethora of free resources are now available to not only provide lessons and activities that encourage higher-order thinking but also offer a framework that allows teachers to seamlessly incorporate these skills into their teaching.
One such resource that is making waves in the education technology sector is the revision of Bloom’s Taxonomy for digital learning. Spearheaded by Dr. Kecia Ray, a veteran in education technology, this initiative delves into the history of Bloom’s Taxonomy and its evolution in the digital age. On a lighter note, "What If?", conceived by artist and former NASA employee Randall Munroe, provides a unique platform for fostering scientific curiosity and analytical thinking. By offering serious responses to outlandish questions, this resource not only entertains but also stimulates higher-order thinking.
Enhancing Higher-Order Thinking Skills: Top Free Resources
Memorizing the alphabet or multiplication tables forms the foundation of learning. But to foster higher-order thinking, students need to master additional skills, such as comprehension, analysis, and creativity. Luckily, numerous free resources are available to provide teachers with a framework for incorporating higher-order thinking skills into their curriculum.
Updating Bloom’s Taxonomy for the Digital Age
Dr. Kecia Ray, a renowned figure in education technology, delves into the history of Bloom’s Taxonomy and its evolution in the digital era. This provides an insightful perspective for educators navigating the blend of traditional and digital learning.
Exploring the "What If?"
‘What If’ is a fascinating project by artist and physicist Randall Munroe. It answers outlandish questions with scientific scrutiny. From contemplating a robot apocalypse to questioning the energy required to relocate the entire human population, Munroe uses his scientific background to analyze these scenarios seriously. It is not only entertaining but also encourages readers to ask and answer their own impossible questions.
Encouraging Deep Learning through Critical Thinking
Michael Gorman, an award-winning educator, and education consultant, provides ten methods to encourage deeper learning through critical thinking. He also offers "I can" statements to help students understand the different stages of higher thinking and realize that they are in control of their learning.
Interactive Mathematical Modeling with Excelets
Professor Emeritus Scott A. Sinex provides an incredible free resource: interactive Excel spreadsheets or ‘Excelets’. These demonstrate the outcome when user-adjusted inputs are applied to various mathematical models. Whether it’s exploring common models like quadratic equations or investigating fun concepts like the height of a stack of cookies, this resource has a lot to offer. It’s perfect for advanced students from ninth grade through to higher education.
Critical Thinking Rubrics
These rubrics serve as a guide for evaluating student performance and creating lessons that promote higher-order thinking. They are tailored for different grade levels and include a section to help students understand critical thinking skills.
Higher-Order Thinking: The Why and How
Understanding the importance of higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) is crucial. This article explains why simple memorization is not sufficient. It briefly touches on child development and Bloom’s taxonomy and provides five practical ways to teach HOTS in the classroom.
Daily Practice Activities for HOTS
This resource provides practical strategies from an experienced social studies teacher for teaching higher-order thinking skills. It starts with a primary document stimulus and then escalates from fact-based to analytical questions.
Brain Workout
Ian Byrd’s website offers differentiated lessons that stimulate students’ brains. His teaching techniques range from asking better questions to moving from abstract to specific, and even finding controversy. Most of the content is free, with some premium video lessons available for purchase.
Incorporating Creativity Tools into Bloom’s Taxonomy
Educator David Cochran gives teachers a new perspective on Bloom’s taxonomy by linking it with creativity tools. This approach promotes higher-order thinking using education technology tools.
In today’s digital age, these resources are invaluable in fostering higher-order thinking skills among students. They not only provide a variety of lesson plans and activities but also empower students to take charge of their learning. As we continue to navigate the blend of traditional and digital learning, resources like these will be instrumental in shaping the future of education.
