James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2002

ED4914:04

Teaching Thinking Skills

Cairns

HECS Band 1

20 hours lectures, 20 hours workshops. Semester 2.

Available as an education elective.

This subject introduces students to the direct teaching of thinking in schools. Topics covered include: student in-class thinking; critical analysis of programs and approaches for teaching thinking; thinking and assessment; ignorance; cognitive demand; infusion of thinking skills into the curriculum and current research on thinking and teaching thinking. There is a particular emphasis on research on Edward de Bono’s CoRT Thinking Skills program.

Learning Objectives:

  1. a critical awareness of research on student in-class thinking and the direct teaching of thinking;
  2. ability to design and analyse lessons and programs to teach thinking directly;
  3. a detailed understanding of at least one major thinking skills program.

Assessment by an essay of 2,500 words (60%); seminar presentation (40%).