Why Critical Thinking Matters More Than Ever in Education
Listening in to recent conversations of education leaders and officials from around the world as they discussed the current state of their systems and schools and the challenges that they are facing in teaching and learning, I have heard stories, ideas, and difficult concepts that are being faced.
While many of the challenges discussed are common across different countries and areas globally, there are also striking differences in the level of access that some students are experiencing over others. Even in various parts of the United States, the way that some students are experiencing the world right now — including the pandemic and anti-racism movement — are starkly different. While this can be a challenge, it is also a unique opportunity to remind ourselves and teach our students and children about the importance of critical thinking and perspective in history.
History is Told by the Victors
It’s no secret that history is often only told from the perspective of the ‘victors’. This usually means that the aggressors, the conquerors, and the ones with the most access are the ones whose voices are captured and portrayed for future generations. All too often this means that the voices of Indigenous people, Black people, People of Colour, and often of women are not part of the narrative. The resounding voices by which history has been told and taught have been white male voices — which means we’re only every getting one part of deeply complex stories.
The TALIS 2018 results indicate that in OECD countries, just shy of 60% of teachers are regularly giving tasks that requires students to think critically. At a time when sources of information are broader and more accessible than ever, it is vital that we do encourage students to think critically about what they are reading, understand how to find and use primary sources, and support students in using not only their research skills but their imagination as they seek to understand other perspectives of stories being told. By doing this, not only do we help them see a holistic image of the world, but we also help them to develop empathy. Seeking to understand the perspective of others is a skill the transcends subject matter and knowledge and will serve students in all areas of their lives.
Different Lenses for Understanding
As a former museum educator, watching the ‘light bulb moments’ happen for students when the programs we delivered offered them an opportunity to look at history from different perspectives was always remarkable. Encouraging them to use critical thinking to examine the importance, significance, and consequences of local and national history was something that was often new but incredibly intriguing for them.
Of course, there are exceptions to the concept that history is told by victors, but usually these expectations still do not include minority voices. Whether through source material or encouraging imagination about the periphery stories to those typically presented, encouraging students to seek other frames of reference can yield surprising results.
I’ll never forget a grade 6 student telling me that while her school was named after a prolific local founder, it never occurred to her that that founder had a wife, mother, or event servant that worked for him. Imagining what their perspectives were on his story and career showed her tangibly, in a single period of programming, that every story has more than one side. It helped her understand not only history, but a disagreement that she had had with a classmate earlier that week. Perspective is everything.
Student Voice in Unprecedented Times
Today’s students are living in an ‘unprecedented time’. Between climate change, COVID-19, and the anti-black racism movement, these are times that will be captured and examined long into the future. Today’s stories will be told and examined — and now more than at any other point in history we have an opportunity to influence the narrative that the next generations will read. We can actually shape the way today’s history is heard tomorrow.
We are living at a time when access to information is unlike it ever has been. This means that today’s learners can seek and find information about not only the past, but the present, too. What’s happening in Yemen? What is life like for a students in Nigeria right now? Do kids in the next county over have the same internet service and TV channels that I do?
“Most educators believe that teaching for critical thinking is important, but many are unsure what critical thinking actually is and what it looks like in practice.”
Critical Thinking Can Start with Owning History
I believe that one of the first steps to empowering critical thinking around history and social studies curriculum is helping students understand that their voices and their stories have inherent value. Once they embody that truth for themselves, they will automatically go looking for stories from people who look, sound, and live like them, as well as from others.
When we see ourselves as part of history, and develop a commitment to both influencing it and telling it, doors open that we may have never imagined — no matter how old we are.
Primary sources are key resources in understanding history from different perspectives, but how can students best understand ‘primary resources’ in the present? Access to a global PLN can support teachers in accessing opportunities to collaborate with other around the globe so that students can get a firsthand look at what is happening in other places and spaces.
How do we capture student voice for the future? I encourage students to use their voices and ideas to develop answers to this. Their knowledge and imagination is paramount in shaping what the future can look like and how they can share their ideas around capturing, storing, and sharing their voices for future students and scholars to benefit from. History CAN and must be written by everyone — especially now.
The Critical Thinking Consortium has some excellent resources for all levels to encourage and support critical, creative, and collaborative thinking for students of all ages.
Curious about connecting with other education leaders globally and taking part in action-based conversations? Learn more about Catalyst.
