Teaching critical thinking to prepare pupils for global challenges

Critical thinking plays an important role in modern democracies, especially in the digital age.  However, there are some important questions to consider when teaching critical thinking. 

How can we educate independent thinkers? 

Definitions of critical thinking emphasise logical or rational thinking – for example, according to the OECD it means questioning and evaluating ideas and solutions.  

In the school context, critical thinking means involving pupils in exercising judgement, reasoning and analysis skills and teaching them how to evaluate information sources. Research has tried to identify the most effective ways to teach critical thinking. The common conclusion is that critical thinking should be part of learning across disciplines rather than a stand-alone subject.  

Teachers therefore need to use different methods associated with critical thinking, such as questioning, discussion, inquiry and problem-based learning and reflection. It’s also important for teachers to have reliable sources where they can find evidence-based methods suitable for their subject area.  

Assessing pupils’ critical thinking abilities is another challenge for schools. To help teachers assess any exercise with technical or disciplinary requirements, which includes space for students to demonstrate their critical thinking skills, the OECD has developed a comprehensive scoring guide framework for assessing critical thinking. 

Virtuous circle to address global challenges 

Sustainability education is an ideal way for pupils to develop critical thinking while growing their sense of responsibility for real-life challenges.  

In school, pupils gain the scientific and environmental knowledge necessary to understand the science and consequences of climate change. However, simply acquiring knowledge may not be enough to shift their attitudes and mindset and inspire them to action on sustainability issues. 

Pupils can develop creativity and critical thinking skills that empower them to address real-world challenges by emphasising student-centred active learning approaches. Critical thinking prepares pupils to evaluate complex issues and identify misleading information such as the deceptive marketing practices and false claims of sustainability known as greenwashing. Through thoughtful analysis and reflection, pupils can learn to make informed, responsible choices. 

The 2021 eTwinning prize-winning ⁠Climate Volunteers project demonstrates how a student-centred, multidisciplinary approach can help develop a stronger sense of responsibility in tackling global issues. Pupils were encouraged to think critically through teamwork, gaining a deeper understanding of different sustainability challenges and the ways they are interconnected.