Introduction: Why Critical Thinking Matters for Today’s L
Core Skills Every Student Must Build
Critical thinking is not one skill; it is a combination of several cognitive abilities. Tutors must target these skills deliberately.
1. Observation and Questioning
Students must learn to pay attention to details and ask “why” more often.
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Tutor Tip: Use picture analysis, science experiments, or short stories and ask students to list everything they observe. Follow up with probing questions: “Why do you think this happened?”
2. Analysis and Evaluation
Breaking problems into parts and assessing credibility is essential.
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Tutor Tip: Give students two different online articles on the same topic. Ask them to analyze differences and evaluate which is more reliable.
3. Inference and Problem-Solving
Encourage students to draw logical conclusions.
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Tutor Tip: Present incomplete information in math or history and ask students to infer missing parts.
4. Communication and Reasoning
Critical thinking must be communicated clearly.
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Tutor Tip: After solving a math problem, ask: “Explain your solution as if teaching a friend.”
5. Creativity as Critical Thinking
Creativity isn’t separate from critical thinking — it’s the ability to generate innovative solutions.
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Tutor Tip: Assign students open-ended projects like designing a sustainable school canteen.
💡 Example Case Study (Mini)
A Grade 8 student struggled in science because she memorized terms without understanding processes. A tutor introduced diagram-based questioning (“What if the sun disappeared for 24 hours — how would it affect plants?”). Within weeks, she not only improved her grades but began asking independent questions in class.