Critical Thinking: Buzzword or Benefit?

Academics and employers alike ascribe high value to critical thinking (CT), while education policy and pedagogical research reference critical thinking skills (nearly) ad nauseam. But what is critical thinking? Why does it matter, and how do we foster it in the classroom? This interactive talk will first introduce the basic theories of critical thinking and why it matters in education. Then we will discuss current challenges students face in developing CT skills and highlight some activities known to improve critical thinking in students.