The formal development of critical thinking is discussed, and guidance is provided to help faculty insure that critical thinking becomes an integral part of learning. Theory, research, teaching practice, and college programs pertinent to the development and role of critical thinking are presented in order to show how educators have shaped…

This study sought to determine the cognitive levels of questioning of end-of-chapter test items accompanying selected fifth-grade science textbooks. The extent to which test items emphasized high level questioning and significant differences among texts in the distribution of knowledge and above-knowledge-level test items were also investigated.…

Because critical thinking has become a popular topic among speech communication educators in recent years, this paper reviews the literature on teaching critical thinking skills and discusses its relevance for speech communication instruction. First, the paper briefly sketches the history of the critical thinking movement and describes the…

Intended for teachers across grade levels and disciplines, this monograph reviews research on the development of critical thinking skills and introduces a series of these skills that can be incorporated into classroom teaching. Beginning with a definition of critical thinking, the monograph contains two main sections. The first section reviews…

Intended to help upper elementary and secondary school teachers increase their students' critical thinking, this booklet discusses the theory and techniques behind the use of questioning to evoke prior knowledge and further inquiry. The first portion of the booklet discusses the theory and research that underlie the use of questioning, examining…

Twenty successfully field tested learning activities are designed to help junior high school students develop skills in reading social studies materials, critical thinking, geography, and history. Each self-contained activity includes background information, examples, and student exercises. Activities for improving content readings focus on key…

Virginia's assessment of student learning outcomes has been lauded by national organizations for its respect of institutional autonomy while providing meaningful information on student learning outcomes. Virginia recently implemented a process by which each institution's plan to assess student learning outcomes are evaluated by peer institutions.…

Central to the process of reading comprehension is the use of questions and discussions in the classroom in order to direct and to evaluate a student's level of understanding of the materials read. Researchers estimate that approximately 70% of teaching involves the technique of questioning students. It is important that teachers do more than ask…

The British Columbia Social Studies program approaches the study of man-in-his-world from three perspectives: scientific; situational; and critically reflective knowing. Through each method, students are exposed to various interpretations of how the social world has been constructed. The program, however, emphasizes scientific knowledge. Through…

Eight papers which discuss rational and nonrational modes of knowing and consciousness and their relevance to educational practice are presented. Richard Jones in "Looking Back and Forth on Consciousness" considers two modes, the rational and the metaphoric, in a discussion of dreams. Alfred Kuhn discusses random variation and selective retention…

A STUDY AT LOYOLA UNIVERSITY (CHICAGO), SPONSORED BY THE ILLINOIS STATE-WIDE CURRICULUM STUDY CENTER IN THE PREPARATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHERS (ISCPET), TESTED THE HYPOTHESIS THAT "PERSONS ASPIRING TO BECOME TEACHERS OF ENGLISH IN HIGH SCHOOL CAN BE ALERTED AND TRAINED IN SOME OF THE VARIED, SPECIFIC, SEPARABLE, AND MEASURABLE…

Research studies on instructional procedures in elementary school science are reviewed for the period 1960-68. Proposed is a model of an instructional sequence which is used as a reference point for analyzing the studies. Areas discussed include audiovisual aids, comparative studies, ability grouping, use of reading materials, programed…

Concerned with the selection, organization, and expression of ideas, this sequential composition guide for elementary students places emphasis on "doing" and on "using" language in speaking and writing. Introductory materials include basic assumptions about composition, an overview of skills to be mastered, and a glossary of composition terms. The…

This guide is designed to provide seventh-grade social studies teachers with materials needed to present instruction in reading skills and to teach those facts, concepts, and attitudes which are the aim of social studies education. Entries on the subject of westward expansion and transportation in New York State are arranged by topics, and…

This paper discusses the use of social studies in developing critical and creative thought in preschool children. The social studies curriculum at any age level involves three principles: the development of an understanding of the social sciences, encouragement of acceptable socio-cultural behavior, and the development of critical and creative…