Educating independent thinkers

Critical thinking plays an important role in modern democracies, especially in the digital age. The abundance of information produced by rapidly advancing technologies and diversifying media can be a challenge for young people to filter. Our recent articles have explored how integrating critical thinking into curricula can prepare pupils to navigate this world, and how schools can implement creative approaches to help pupils think critically and spot disinformation.

• Teaching critical thinking to prepare pupils for global challenges
• Countering disinformation and conspiracy theories through education
• Developing critical thinking on Safer Internet Day
• The role of critical thinking in science education

Practical approaches for teachers

Critical thinking is a key skill that students can learn through methods that encourage analytical, reflective and independent thought. In this month’s Education Talks video interview, Onno Hansen-Staszyński, Project Officer at SAUFEX (Secure Automated Unified Framework for Exchange), discusses strategies for building resilience and teaching critical thinking in a polarised world. Our expert and practice articles and publications explore the importance of critical thinking to digital media literacy, and some ideas to help schools to educate active thinkers.

• Critical digital media literacy – A new citizenship skill? by Juliane von Reppert-Bismarck from Lie Detectors
• Innovative projects to develop critical minds
• Ideas to turn passive learners into independent thinkers
• Education Talks: The challenges of teaching critical thinking to young people, a video interview with Onno Hansen-Staszyński

Professional development courses on critical thinking

Explore some areas of critical thinking in education via our related webinars and course materials:

• The Socratic method in schools: midwife, sometimes gadfly, 26.02.2025
• Using debate to build critical thinking and communication skills, 12.02.2025
• Supporting critical thinking with technology in the classroom, 17.02.2025
• Nurturing thoughtful minds through collaboration and eTwinning, 26.02.2025