How Do You Assess Critical Thinking Skills?
Critical thinking skills include the ability to evaluate information, to formulate solutions for given problems, to analyze details for trends and patterns, and to apply previous experiences to current situations. They are vital to schooling, job performance and handling myriad problems in life. As a teacher or a parent, you should assess students not just to see if they are absorbing classroom information, but if they can apply critical thinking skills appropriately. The ability will serve them well as they enter adulthood and embark upon a career. Present a lesson or an assignment to the student–including possible ways to go about finding a solution–then ask him if he understands it. Have him tell you what the assignment is, keeping an eye on whether he’s just repeating what he’s been told or whether he’s truly processed the nature of the task. Quiz the student on the overall context of the assignment or lesson. Ask her to explain why it is important to learn about, say, the U.S. C
