Critical Thinking

"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn" - a quote often misattributed to Benjamin Franklin - is an ancient Chinese proverb as relevant today as it was two thousand years ago.

Students are better involved when they are given the freedom to think more deeply about their learning. Providing them with opportunities to ask questions, express their opinions and to problem-solve gives them the potential to do just that.

Some of my favourite tutoring sessions have allowed students the space and the freedom to share and think critically. Previous sessions have included discussions on crime, race and what they feel makes humans unique. Outside of the classroom, the ability to think, speak and write affords them the power to make positive change for themselves and to the world.

Since Google has placed information right at our fingertips, asking good questions is now much more valued that simply knowing the right answer. Critical thinking, therefore, has become an essential quality for 21st century life.

This is the second of my 10 chosen qualities; I'll be sharing the next eight each week this summer.

Do you agree? Should critical thinking be valued more in schools?