Free Editable Slides to Teach Critical Thinking Skills

Amanda Werner discusses the importance of critical thinking for both students and adults in this episode of the Empower Students Now podcast. Highlighting that critical thinking involves asking good questions, examining information, recognizing biases, and being open to changing viewpoints, she provides practical steps for teaching and practicing this skill. Through various examples and classroom scenarios, Amanda emphasizes the need for intellectual humility and the importance of fostering a safe environment for questioning and learning. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own experiences of changing their minds based on new evidence and to share these insights with their students.

00:00 Introduction and Holiday Wishes
00:23 Introducing Critical Thinking
02:38 Defining Critical Thinking
04:38 Classroom Scenarios and Questions
06:34 Challenges in the Information Age
08:30 Teaching Critical Thinking
11:08 Evaluating Sources and Evidence
13:00 The Importance of Questioning
17:12 Emotional Influence and Willingness to Change
19:32 Practical Tips for Educators
22:49 Conclusion and Reflection

Support the show