Thinking Skills

Mind mapping

Online - Personal Brain

Simply type in your ideas. Drag and drop files and web pages. Any idea can be linked to anything else. Using your digital Brain is like cruising through a Web of your thinking. See new relationships. Discover connections. Go from the big picture of everything to a specific detail in seconds.

 

Metacognition

http://www.asms.sa.edu.au/modules/icontent/index.php?page=18
Thinking about and monitoring thinking and learning is called metacognition. Information is provided by the Australian Science and Mathematics School.

 

Open Source Mind Mapping Programs

EdDraw
http://www.edrawsoft.com/freemind.php
MindMeister
http://www.mindmeister.com/
FreeMind
http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
http://www.wazmac.com/teaching_learning/software/graphics.htm
 

Higher Order Thinking Skills using literature:

Ask a lot of "why" questions. Even when they answer, ask how they arrived at that
conclusion.
Why something happened or didn't happen.
Why the character reacted a certain way.
What would have happened to the plot if he had acted differently. (Any grade)
Take the ending of the book and rewrite it. (Lower grades)
Take a scene/event from the book and tell it from another character's point of
view. (middle and upper grades)
Take a picture from a historical fiction book and compare that picture with a  current photograph of the same place or close to it. Students find the differences  in clothing, transportation, vegetation, anything and tell how the story would be  different if it were set in current times. (upper grades)


Higher Order Thinking Skills using research:
Create a question to be answered through research. For example I had a group of  fifth graders research various scientists with the purpose of deciding which of the  5 scientists made the greatest contribution.

Use ideas in: Beyond bird units! Thinking and Understanding in Information-Rich and  Technology-Rich Environments by David V. Loertscher, Carol Koechlin, and Sandi  Zwaan; Hi Willow Research and Publishing; 2007; ISBN 978-1-933170-37-9; $35.00

Search “Ban Those Bird Units” and you will get hits, such as
http://www.nyla.org/content/user_19/Ban_Birds_Action_Research.pdf

Also, check Jamie McKenzie's question sites: http://www.fno.org and
http://questioning.org
Bring in the "metacognitive" piece...asking them both formally and  informally to reflect on their work, their "information search" learning and skills  as well as their writing and presentation skills. In addition, I think it is  helpful to have them write down three or so things they would do  next time (i.e.,  spend more time considering and defining my research questions, use a particular  resource first, etc.) For higher grades, evaluating websites. Start with a Google search on hoax  websites. Afterwards, have more fun with websites with similar topics.
http://library.humboldt.edu/owls/owl5-Exercise3.htm has a few to compare. As an
assessment task have them do an annotated bibliography on a topic they are studying.

Asking Questions

 McKenzie, Jamie. (1997). The Question IS the Answer: Creating Research Programs for an Information Age, From Now On: The Educational Technology Journal, 7 (2) http://www.fno.org/oct97/question.html

 Foundation for Critical Thinking
 http://www.criticalthinking.org/

 Blakey, Elaine and Spence, Sheila. (1990) Developing Metacognition, ERIC Digests.
 http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-9218/developing.htm

 Glasson, S. (2005). Hooked on questioning: How the teacher librarian can change questioning practices in their schools. Information leadership in a culture of change, IASL Reports, 2005, Hong Kong. Attachment

 Ngeow, K, & Kong, Y. (2001). Learning To Learn: Preparing Teachers and Students for Problem-Based Learning. ERIC Digests.
 http://www.ericdigests.org/2002-2/problem.htm

 Combes, B. (2005). Starting at the beginning: A conversation about information literacy. Connections (54) 1-3.
 http://www.curriculum.edu.au/scis/connections/cnetw05/54starting.htm
 

PMI chart  : use to organise evaluation of an issue, compare advantages and disadvantages, and make decisions

PNQ chart  : use to consider the positives, negatives and questions about an issue

Venn diagram  : use to compare items or issues, by recording aspects of similarity and difference

Mind map  : use in activities that involve planning, brainstorming, notemaking, organising or problem solving

Consequences chart  : use with a 'what if' question or problem to aid decision making

Diamond ranking chart  : use to order a list of items according to priority levels

Multiple Intelligences Test from mitest.com

http://www.kurwongbss.eq.edu.au/thinking/MI%20Smarts/smarts.htm

Creative, Critical, Lateral, Logical Thinking

The questions here do not have answers — yet!
These are about a hundred open-ended questions here, what-if questions, which will only have answers if you make some assumptions. You will need to decide what assumptions you wish to make. Only then will you know your answers. They will be your answers, not my answers.

.ppt which refers to Thomas  Armstrong's "MI Pizza" at
 http://web.utk.edu/~lre4life/ftp/mishow.ppt

 Teaching unit using "Smart Pizza"  on Shearer's Strike and the Tree of Knowledge by the Wanpa-rda Matilda Centre
 http://www.wanpardaeec.qld.edu.au/packages/shearers/ss_pdf/sss_pizz.pdf

 Thomas Armstrong :
 http://www.thomasarmstrong.com/multiple_intelligences.htm

 Kurwongbah SS has a personal record sheet based on the pizza slice idea at
 http://www.kurwongbss.eq.edu.au/thinking/MI%20Smarts/smarts.htm

 Qld School of Distance Ed unit introduces MI to Yr 5 in a unit at
 http://www.qldsde.org/teacher/Other/lsode_yr5_onair/unit6.doc

Thinking responsibly
education.qld.gov.au/tal/tips/02348.html

Thinking Toolbox
http://www.schools.nt.edu.au/larapsch/toolbox.htm 
A Northern Territory school has examined current learning theories, researching how the brain works and what children will need to succeed in their adult life. The Thinking Toolbox provides information and links about a range of thinking tools, strategies, theories and resources for teachers and students.

Penguins Arcade Games
http://www.bigideafun.com/penguins/arcade/default.htm
These games are science interactives. Games include Doom Funnel,        Chasers!, Hop!, Jelly Jammers, Light Brigade, Ship Lander, and Spaced Penguin! The games focus on thinking skills, logic, experimentation, problem-solving, as well as some scientific principles such as gravity, and projectile motion. Some of the games use the mouse, others the keyboard.

 Future Problem Solving Program
 http://www.fpsp.org/
 FPSP features curricular and co-curricular competitive, as well as non-competitive, activities in creative problem solving. 

 Math League
 http://www.mathleague.com/
 The Math League is dedicated to bringing challenging mathematics materials
 and contests to students. 

 Compiled by
 Pat Case
  An excellent resource for lesson plans, teaching strategies, etc.  is the Education Queensland database
 Curriculum Exchange.
  http://education.qld.gov.au/tal/curriculum_exchange/


 Suggested search terms include: higher order thinking, group strategies,Bloom's Taxonomy, deBono's Six Hats, Gardner's multiple intelligences, CoRt Thinking, SWOT analysis, Scamper, Hot Potato, Round Robin, etc.

 SELECTED WEB SITES

 HIGHER ORDER THINKING - GROUP STRATEGIES

 The Xpata Lesson Planner - offers a 7 day free trial period,
 including:-printable lesson plans, teacher and administrator manual.
  www.xpata.com

 Education Queensland - Productive pedagogies
http://education.qld.gov.au/corporate/newbasics/html/pedagogies/pedagog.html

 Six Thinking Hats
 http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_07.htm
 Six Thinking Hats is an important and powerful technique. It is used to look at decisions from a number of important perspectives.

Education Queensland - Productive pedagogies - Higher order thinking
http://education.qld.gov.au/corporate/newbasics/html/pedagogies/intellect/in t1a.html

Multiple Intelligences
 http://www.gigglepotz.com/mi.htm
 Ideas for integrating curricula using Multiple Intelligences.

Education Queensland - Higher Order Thinking
http://education.qld.gov.au/public_media/reports/curriculum-framework/productive-pedagogies/html/int-01.html

  Bloom's Taxonomy Construction Wheel
 http://www.stedwards.edu/cte/resources/bwheel.htm
 Use this wheel to help plan your lessons and units of work.

Covington, USA - Higher Order Thinking Skills
  http://www.covington.k12.tn.us/resources/word/hots1.htm

 Beyond Bloom
 http://www.nexus.edu.au/teachstud/gat/whitton.htm
 This site considers how Bloom's Taxonomy applies to the planning of  lessons.


 Bunbury District Education Office, WA - Teaching and Learning Strategies
  http://www.bunburydeo.wa.edu.au/pdf_docs/t&l_strategies/t&l_strategies.pdf

Formulating Questions for Higher-Level Thinking
 http://www.glc.k12.ga.us/passwd/trc/ttools/attach/bckgrnd/sep/qthigh.pdf
 Tool for developing questions using Bloom's taxonomy.

Flinders University - Group work strategies  * Recommended by YARN
  http://www.flinders.edu.au/teach/teach/groupwork.htm

 Flinders University - Online Assessment Tool  * Recommended by YARN
  http://www.flinders.edu.au/teach/assess/tut/what.htm

 Aldridge SHS - Strategies for teaching SOSE - a compilation of teaching
 strategies http://www.aldridgeshs.qld.edu.au/sose/

skills/strategi.doc>

 Mountain Creek State School - Thinking Strategies
  http://www.mtncreekss.qld.edu.au/home/6hweb/

pages/thinkingstrategies.htm

 Tony Ryan and Eric Frangenheim - The E Learning Lesson Planner
  http://www.headfirst.com.au/matrix/plan.PDF

 Capra Ryan - ILPO 6-step information process
  http://www.capraryan.com.au/t_and_l/infolit.htm

  Guru Planner
 http://guruplanner.com.au/
 Guru Planner is the only digital planner solution designed specifically for primary school teachers. It includes a work program, student records, various assessment modules, notes, calendar, PD attended, timetables, term planners and much more.

School Board of Broward County, Florida - Teaching Strategies
http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/ci/whatsnew/strategies_and_such/pdfs/virtual_volume_t-strategies.pdf

 Disney Learning Partnership - Concept to classroom - a series of workshops
  http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/resources.html

 Midwest Regional ACSI Convention, Kansas City1998 - Higher Order
Strategies for the classroom
  http://members.aol.com/MattT10574/HigherOrderLiteracy.htm

 Macquarie University - Teaching Strategies using a Bulletin Board
  http://online.mq.edu.au/docs/teachstrat.pdf
 Group work strategies - College of Wooster
  http://www.wooster.edu/writing_center/groupwork.html

 University of California - Tools for teaching
  http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/collaborative.html

 Business Communication Strategies

http://www.tatamcgrawhill.com/digital_solutions/monippally/Instructor/15File.html

 Teachers on the Web - a compilation of teaching strategy websites
  http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/researchskills/thinking.htm

 Group Work Strategies Worksheet - Mathematics classroom environment
  http://www.homebase8.org/math/consortium/session1/reflections.doc

 The De Bono Project - James Moulder

http://forum.learningspace.com.au/web1/James/oprogram.nsf/1bdcd705fdb5a8974a

25664c007a94fc/72767be98798527dca25698a0017fe65?OpenDocument

 MI and Bloom Units
 http://www.cap.nsw.edu.au/teachers/tech_based_resources/tech_based_resources.htm
 Multiple Intelligence and Blooms Taxonomy Learning Grids created by
 practising classroom teachers in our CAP Schools across NSW.

Creativity Web - Resources for Innovation and Creativity
  http://members.ozemail.com.au/%7Ecaveman/Creative/index2.html

 BLOOM'S TAXONOMY

 Longview Community College - Bloom's Taxonomy & Critical Thinking
  http://www.kcmetro.cc.mo.us/longview/ctac/blooms.htm

 Major Categories in Bloom's Taxonomy
  http://faculty.washington.edu/krumme/guides/bloom.html

 Mount Edgecumbe High School Bloom's Cognitive and Affective Taxonomies
  http://www.mehs.educ.state.ak.us/blooms.html

 Donald Clark's Learning Domains - Bloom's Taxonomy
  http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/bloom.html

 W. Huitt - Bloom et al.'s Taxonomy of the Cognitive Domain
  http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/col/cogsys/bloom.html

 University of Texas - Bloom's Taxonomy - Model questions and key words
  http://www.utexas.edu/student/utlc/handouts/1414.html

GrassRoots Taxonomy of Thinking Skills
http://www.schoolnet.ca/alasource/e/project.centre/shared/taxonomy.asp
Adapted from Bloom's taxonomy of Thinking Skills, the GrassRoots taxonomy gives a description of each skill, an outline of what the student does, sample trigger words used in the task, sample tasks, and an example of student 'products' that can be used to demonstrate the application of thinking skills.
 

CoRT
 Project Ideels - CoRT  thinking activities
  http://www.ideels.uni-bremen.de/about_cort.html

Edward de Bono’s Authorised Website
www.edwdebono.com
Edward de Bono is a world leader in the areas of creative thinking and the direct teaching of thinking as a skill. Teachers wishing to understand and apply these principles, including the CoRT Thinking Programme, will find appropriate information and links on this website.

 Edward De Bono website
  http://www.edwdebono.aust.com/debono/home4a.htm
 ACT Education Dept. - CoRT thinking
  http://www.decs.act.gov.au/services/garran/docs/cort_thinking.doc

 Info. on CoRT thinking skills - Edward De Bono Foundation - Dublin
  http://www.aughnacloyprimaryschool.org.uk/thinking%20skills.htm
 THE DECISION MAKING MATRIX

 Education Queensland - Federation Webquest - using the decision making matrix
  http://education.qld.gov.au/tal/federation/html/fed_day/bg_matrx.htm

 Marine Education society - teaching guide to setting up an edu-action project
 http://www.mesa.edu.au/cams/module15/resources01.htm

 EXPERT JIGSAW

 Florida Curriculum Framework - teaching strategies - jigsaw
http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/ci/whatsnew/strategies_and_such/strategies/jigsaw.html

 HOT POTATO

 Natural maths - Hot Potato and Graffiti Walls
  http://www.naturalmaths.com.au/Settings/graffiti.htm

 Education Queensland - Grade 5 lesson plans *(To access with password)
  http://education.qld.gov.au/tal/tips/docs/01180.doc

 K.W.L.

 Florida Curriculum Framework - teaching strategies - K.W.L.
http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/ci/whatsnew/strategies_and_such/strategies/kwl.html

 Education Queensland - Lesson plan incorporating K.W.L.
  http://education.qld.gov.au/tal/tips/docs/00980.doc *(to access with password)

 ROUND ROBIN

 Florida Curriculum Framework - teaching strategies - Round Robin
http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/ci/whatsnew/strategies_and_such/strategies/roundtable_roundrobin.html

 SCAMPER

 Infinite innovations -  SCAMPER advanced tutorial
  http://www.advancedbrainstorming.com/tutorials/scampertutorial.html

 Florida Curriculum frameworks - teaching strategy - Scamper

http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/ci/whatsnew/strategies_and_such/skills/scamper

.html

 Education Queensland - An integrated unit for years 3-5 *(to access with
 password)
  http://education.qld.gov.au/tal/tips/docs/01432.doc

 Tasmanian Education Department - English Learning area - Scamper
  http://www.discover.tased.edu.au/english/scamper.htm

 Pioneer Senior High School - Scamper
  http://www.pioneershs.qld.edu.au/SchoolPolicies/SPELT/scamper.htm

 SIX THINKING HATS

 Western Australia Department of Education - "De Bono's six thinking hats"
  http://www.eddept.wa.edu.au/gifttal/EAGER/6Hats.html

 Deakin University - De Bono's "six hats"
  http://www.deakin.edu.au/~spalm/srp70733.html

 James Moulder - De Bono's "six thinking hats"

http://forum.learningspace.com.au/web1/James/

Read6340.nsf/504ca249c786e20f85256284006da7ab/0d2ea56660a17b91ca25694b004efe94?OpenDocument

 Cook Primary School - De Bono's "six thinking hats"
  http://www.cookps.act.edu.au/hats.htm

 Sue Lemmer's proforma for De Bono's "six thinking hats"

http://www.tsof.edu.au/lt.sa/ltproject/discoverynetwork99/workunits/lemmer/interactivebooks/hatlarge.pdf

www.edwdebono.com
Edward de Bono is a world leader in the areas of creative thinking and the direct teaching of thinking as a skill. Teachers wishing to understand and apply these principles, including the CoRT Thinking Programme, will find appropriate information and links on this website.
 

Aussie School House - De Bono's "six talking hats"
  http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/teachereduc/indexTE.html
 Tasmanian Education Department - "six thinking hats"
  http://www.discover.tased.edu.au/english/sixhats.htm

 Learning context based in art - utilizing K.W.L. and "six talking hats"
for Pre-school to grade 3
  http://education.qld.gov.au/tal/tips/docs/01175.doc

 Y CHART ANALYSIS

 Tasmanian Education Department - Teaching strategies - Y charts
  http://www.discover.tased.edu.au/english/ycharts.htm

 Murrumba District Learning Technology Matrix - Grade 7 Master Matrix
  http://www.schools.ash.org.au/murrumba/vtc/elplans/module2matrix.pdf

 BOOK REVIEWS AND RESEARCH

 Book Review - Reflections on Classroom Thinking Strategies
  http://scs.une.edu.au/TalentEd/ResMat/frangen.htm

 A Reasoning Taxonomy for gifted education - Dr Paul Jewell
  http://www.nexus.edu.au/teachstud/gat/jewell1.htm
 ERIC Digest - Higher order thinking skills
  http://www.ericfacility.net/ericdigests/ed350487.html

 Flinders University Research Proposal 2001 - Children's knowledge constructions
  http://wwwed.sturt.flinders.edu.au/edweb/programs/eddprops/Noela.pdf

 Queensland Board of Senior Secondary Studies 2001 - Research results
  http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/publications/senior/files/hots.pdf

 Researching pedagogy and teaching outcomes - South Australia
  http://www.tsof.edu.au/lt.sa/spotlight/wcce/Wccejfab1.pdf

 I use the six hats with picture books with kids as young as Kinders, They love it (especially "finding" their (imaginary) hats where they left them last week) You may need an adult on hand.
 You may be able to have cutout hats in the six colours with the base questions on them and a list of application suggestions from which kids can choose (e.g. a well known song or advertisement; a recent news story or even a popular tv show (Big Brother ? or whatever is a favourite at your school)
 All these are open ended and flexible.
 There are worksheet activities in de Bono's books (levels 1-2 for primary, 3 for high school - published by Hawker-Brownlow)