Delayed   461 #13 Posted June 4, 2019 2 minutes ago, Voice of reason said: They study PSE now, which is compulsory up to 16. Personal and Social Education. This is the place for the content the OP rightly suggests. I remember critical thinking forming part of the compulsory A-level known as 'General Studies'. I would imagine it's something different now Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
alchresearch   213 #14 Posted June 4, 2019 15 minutes ago, Voice of reason said: They study PSE now, which is compulsory up to 16. Personal and Social Education. This is the place for the content the OP rightly suggests. PSE is an ever-changing subject to account for trends and issues.  It includes stuff like budgeting and money management, and now covers "fake news" of all things. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
RootsBooster   24 #15 Posted June 4, 2019 15 minutes ago, alchresearch said: PSE is an ever-changing subject to account for trends and issues.  It includes stuff like budgeting and money management, and now covers "fake news" of all things. Well that's not a million miles off what I'm talking about Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Baron99   774 #16 Posted June 4, 2019 (edited) During the last US Presidential elections there was a figure given out that around 2/3 of Americans get their new from social media. It's probably the same here?  A lot of folk don't watch the main news outlets of the BBC or ITN. Edited June 4, 2019 by Baron99 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
tinfoilhat   11 #17 Posted June 4, 2019 Given that critical thinking isn't "fun" and would be hard to put in a test, and would be hammered by the usual suspects in the press if it was introduced, no, critical thinking won't be taught in schools any time soon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
RootsBooster   24 #18 Posted June 4, 2019 8 minutes ago, tinfoilhat said: Given that critical thinking isn't "fun" and would be hard to put in a test, and would be hammered by the usual suspects in the press if it was introduced, no, critical thinking won't be taught in schools any time soon. If it's taught at A-level then surely a watered down version could be introduced sooner Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Pettytom   1 #19 Posted June 4, 2019 14 minutes ago, RootsBooster said: If it's taught at A-level then surely a watered down version could be introduced sooner You would hope that as teachers introduce students to sources of information, they would also encourage them to evaluate those sources.  History, Citizenship and Science would provide perfect contexts for the sort of skills that you describe Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
tinfoilhat   11 #20 Posted June 4, 2019 33 minutes ago, RootsBooster said: If it's taught at A-level then surely a watered down version could be introduced sooner The government and a large chunk of the media don’t want a population of critical thinkers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Voice of reason   0 #21 Posted June 4, 2019 47 minutes ago, tinfoilhat said: Given that critical thinking isn't "fun" and would be hard to put in a test, and would be hammered by the usual suspects in the press if it was introduced, no, critical thinking won't be taught in schools any time soon. It's a fairly wide-ranging, non-exam subject:  Overarching concepts developed through the Programme of Study 1. Identity (their personal qualities, attitudes, skills, attributes and achievements and what influences these; understanding and maintaining boundaries around their personal privacy, including online) 2. Relationships (including different types and in different settings, including online) 3. A healthy (including physically, emotionally and socially), balanced lifestyle (including within relationships, work-life, exercise and rest, spending and saving and lifestyle choices) 4. Risk (identification, assessment and how to manage risk, rather than simply the avoidance of risk for self and others) and safety (including behaviour and strategies to employ in different settings, including online in an increasingly connected world 5. Diversity and equality (in all its forms, with due regard to the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010) 6. Rights (including the notion of universal human rights), responsibilities (including fairness and justice) and consent (in different contexts) 7. Change (as something to be managed) and resilience (the skills, strategies and ‘inner resources’ we can draw on when faced with challenging change or circumstance) 8. Power (how it is used and encountered in a variety of contexts including online; how it manifests through behaviours including bullying, persuasion, coercion and how it can be challenged or managed through negotiation and ‘win-win’ outcomes) 9. Career (including enterprise, employability and economic understanding) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
altus   534 #22 Posted June 4, 2019 4 hours ago, RootsBooster said: We live in an age of information, there is currently more information freely available & accessible than there has ever been before.  Unfortunately much of it is false or baseless information, largely driven by the clickbait/online ad monetisation culture, along with peoples' own desires to push their opinions and agendas through social media. It occurs to me that I take critical thinking, reason and rationality for granted, but many people will easily believe what they read without the slightest consideration of the validity of the content or source. The consequences vary greatly, from breeding mistrust and hatred, right through to financial ruin and negative impact on health (sadly including death, due to odd beliefs).  I've long been of the opinion that critical thinking should be taught in schools, I think that it could be incorporated well into a class about information and the importance of credence. We still have religious education classes, I have no problem with children being taught about religions (although not being 'taught religion') but I think critical thinking is far more important in life. What are the forum-folks' opinions, if this is something you'd agree with, is there a class you'd be happy to substitute for it? Is there an alternative that should be taught or an existing class this could be blended in with?  What you're arguing for is covered in the much maligned subject Media Studies.  I do think it should be taught to all pupils, not just those who choose it as an option. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
tzijlstra   11 #23 Posted June 4, 2019 As an information scientist and librarian this is a topic close to my heart. Let me begin by firmly pointing the finger at our education system, where, over the past decades, school libraries and school library services have been relentlessly ripped out of the system. Just because information doesn't come in the form of printed items anymore, doesn't mean that there is no need to teach people about information, in fact, it became even more important.  Another major issue is that the obsession with 'fixed curriculum' means that kids are spoonfed from pre-designed programmes that simply do not include information literacy as a priority. This is again a major problem that exists in our education system. Kids should come out of primary education being able to distinguish key criteria such as - who wrote it, why did they write it and what should my response to this be. It is the basic foundation for criticality and academic ability.  It shouldn't be a separate topic for schools, it simply needs to become engrained in what the kids are taught on a daily basis and to do that effectively schools need to have access to top-quality resources, provided by professional librarians. This isn't a new message, librarians and the School Library Association have been shouting about this for decades now, it is just that nobody listens unfortunately and thus we find ourselves in this hole.  1 hour ago, tinfoilhat said: Given that critical thinking isn't "fun" and would be hard to put in a test, and would be hammered by the usual suspects in the press if it was introduced, no, critical thinking won't be taught in schools any time soon. I disagree with this strongly, it is a similar argument to what my undergrad students keep telling me: "I don't get it, it is hard, so it isn't fun." Nonsense, we apply critical thinking on a daily, near constant basis. Simple things, from planning your week ahead to doing the shopping, to complex things, from planning your careeer and buying a house. It all involves criticality and it can be assessed, just not in the normative structures that we have embedded in our pedagogies. What is required is teachers who have a much stronger understanding of philosophy and cognitive processes.   Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
RootsBooster   24 #24 Posted June 4, 2019 35 minutes ago, altus said: What you're arguing for is covered in the much maligned subject Media Studies.  I do think it should be taught to all pupils, not just those who choose it as an option. I remember Media Studies touching upon critical thinking mildly, such as the media sensationalising things and exaggerating, but nothing much more in-depth than that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...