THINKING
Critical and Creative Thinking in the Christian and Public School Systems
Critical and creative thinking (CCT) are skills for the 21st Century. Knowledge and technology are changing at a rapid pace. CCT skills are essential for working in a 21st Century world.
Students are taught to generate and evaluate knowledge, clarify concepts and ideas, seek possibilities, consider alternatives and solve problems. CCT are integral to activities that require students to think broadly and deeply using skills, behaviours and dispositions such as reason, logic, resourcefulness, imagination and innovation in all learning area at school and in their lives beyond school. (ACARA, 2012)
These general capabilities apply to every child in every school across the country whether the Public or Private sectors of education. These are skills needed to be successful learners in the 21st century environment.
"Teaching students how to think critically and creatively increases motivation and management of their own learning. They become more confident and autonomous problem-solvers and thinkers." (ACARA, 2012)
The challenges of 21st century learning requires our children to be creative, innovative, enterprising and adaptable, motivated and confident. Challenges of the 21st century with global warming, food and water shortages, refugee crises and environmental disasters bring challenges and obstacles that
need to be addressed and resolved. It is our students that will be
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going out in the world to problem solve the difficulties that exist and are yet to come.
No matter what our core beliefs, our faiths or way of life, these CCT skills cross boundaries, they are an integral part of 21st century learning and are desparately needed. These thinking skills can be applied to different situations and problems, anywhere, anytime.
"Dispositions such as inquisitiveness, reasonableness, intellectual flexibility, open and fair-mindedness, a readiness to try new ways of doing things and consider alternatives, and persistence both promote and are enhanced by critical and creative thinking." (ACARA, 2012)
Schools across the nation, Public or Private, concentrate in every Key Learning Area to develop the general capabilities of CCT.
“Critical and Creative thinking are fundamental to students becoming successful learners. Thinking that is productive, purposeful and intentional is at the centre of effective learning."
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