Wednesday, February 20, 2008

You Better Think (Think, Think)

Developing "critical thinking skills" are all the rage in K-12 education these days. We often hear the phrase bandied about in debates about the need for higher standards and a push to provide students with skills that will meet the demands of the new economy.

But what does that phrase really mean?

An article in Monday's Washington Post explores this very question with some who think they know, others who think it means nothing and still more folks who think you should just challenge everything anyway ("Question Authority.").

How has an emphasis on "critical thinking skills" played out in your school? Are students better prepared now than they were five, 10 even 20 years ago?