Developing critical challenges

Mary Abbott

Critical thinking and you1. I have tried my hand at writing critical

challenges. 2. I have read lots of critical challenges others

have created.

3. I have implemented critical challenges others have created.

4. I am new to the critical thinking model.

Criteria for a critical challenge

Criteria for a critical challenge- invites a reasoned judgment among plausible options in light of criteria

- meaningful and engaging for students

- develops key aspects of the curriculum

- focused to limit requisite tools

Is this a critical challenge?-invites a reasoned judgment among plausible options in light of criteria- meaningful and engaging for students- develops key aspects of the curriculum- focused to limit requisite tools

Based on the clues make a reasonable guess about what might be in the box.

Is this a critical challenge?-invites a reasoned judgment among plausible options in light of criteria- meaningful and engaging for students- develops key aspects of the curriculum- focused to limit requisite tools

Based on the clues make a reasonable guess about what might be in the box.

Is this a critical challenge?

How are local governments structured in urban and rural settings?

-invites a reasoned judgment among plausible options in light of criteria- meaningful and engaging for students- develops key aspects of the curriculum- focused to limit requisite tools

Is this a critical challenge?

How are local governments structured in urban and rural settings?

-invites a reasoned judgment among plausible options in light of criteria- meaningful and engaging for students- develops key aspects of the curriculum- focused to limit requisite tools

Is this a critical challenge?

Rank order the three most economically sound solutions to revitalizing the Haslem creek fish habitat.

-invites a reasoned judgment among plausible options in light of criteria- meaningful and engaging for students- develops key aspects of the curriculum- focused to limit requisite tools

Is this a critical challenge?

Rank order the three most economically sound solutions to revitalizing the Haslem creek fish habitat.

-invites a reasoned judgment among plausible options in light of criteria- meaningful and engaging for students- develops key aspects of the curriculum- focused to limit requisite tools

Is this a critical challenge?

Compare your life with the life of a child in Egypt.

-invites a reasoned judgment among plausible options in light of criteria- meaningful and engaging for students- develops key aspects of the curriculum- focused to limit requisite tools

Is this a critical challenge?

Compare your life with the life of a child in Egypt.

-invites a reasoned judgment among plausible options in light of criteria- meaningful and engaging for students- develops key aspects of the curriculum- focused to limit requisite tools

Is this a critical challenge?

Who would you like to be in the story?

-invites a reasoned judgment among plausible options in light of criteria- meaningful and engaging for students- develops key aspects of the curriculum- focused to limit requisite tools

Is this a critical challenge?

Who would you like to be in the story?

-invites a reasoned judgment among plausible options in light of criteria- meaningful and engaging for students- develops key aspects of the curriculum- focused to limit requisite tools

Types of critical challenges

Critique the piece Judge the better or best

Rework the piece Decode the puzzle

Design to specs Perform to specs

Scaffolding critical challengesWhat? When? Example

Culminating critical challenge

• at the end of a unit What is the greatest legacy of Ancient Egypt?

Intermediate critical challenge

• class or two at the end of a section

What are the 5 most significant events of this time period?

Regular critical challenge

• 2-4 sessions throughout a unit

Develop complete and believable explanations of your drawings.

Mini challenge • one session What are the five most important ideas in this paragraph?

TC2 Model of Critical Thinking

Community of Thinkers

Critical Challenges

Teach and Assess the Intellectual

Tools

Background Knowledge

Critical Thinking Vocabulary

Thinking Strategies

Habits of MindCriteria for

Judgment

En

Curriculum connection

Curriculum connection

Curriculum connection

Enduring understanding

Critical challenge

• judgment• engaging• important• focused

Designing critical challenges

Critical challenge

BackgroundKnowledge

Criteria for judgment

Thinking vocabulary

Thinking strategies

Habits of mind

•Judgment• engaging• important• focused

Critical challenge

BackgroundKnowledge

Criteria for judgment

Thinking vocabulary

Thinking strategies

Habits of mind

• judgment• engaging• important• focused

Critical challenge

BackgroundKnowledge

Criteria for judgment

Thinking vocabulary

Thinking strategies

Habits of mind

• judgment• engaging• important• focused

Critical challenge

BackgroundKnowledge

Criteria for judgment

Thinking vocabulary

Thinking strategies

Habits of mind

• judgment• engaging• important• focused

Critical challenge

BackgroundKnowledge

Criteria for judgment

Thinking vocabulary

Thinking strategies

Habits of mind

• judgment• engaging• important• focused

Create a powerful headline for the paragraph

BackgroundKnowledge

Criteria for judgment

Thinking vocabulary

Thinking strategies

Habits of mind

•Judgment• engaging• important• focused

Scaffolding critical challengesWhat? When? Example

Culminating critical challenge

• at the end of a unit What is the greatest legacy of Ancient Egypt?

Intermediate critical challenge

• class or two at the end of a section

What are the 5 most significant events of this time period?

Regular critical challenge

• 2-4 sessions throughout a unit

Develop complete and believable explanations of your drawings.

Mini challenge • one session What are the five most important ideas in this paragraph?

Create a powerful headline for the paragraph

BackgroundKnowledge

Criteria for judgment

Thinking vocabulary

Thinking strategies

Habits of mind

•Judgment• engaging• important• focused

Criteria for a Powerful Headline:• informative• engaging• concise

•knowledge of paragraph• knowledge ofcontext• awareness ofplay on words

•Key words•Web: key ideas•Play on words

•(bias)

Create a powerful headline for the paragraph

BackgroundKnowledge

Criteria for judgment

Thinking vocabulary

Thinking strategies

Habits of mind

•Judgment• engaging• important• focused

Criteria for a Powerful Headline:• informative• engaging• concise

•knowledge of paragraph• knowledge ofcontext• awareness ofplay on words

•Key words•Web: key ideas•Play on words

LESSON ACTIVITIES