The 1996 PSl Lecture Teaching Thinking: Learning to Think - Thinking to Learn

Abstract

This paper reviews current trends in teaching thinking and identifies core concepts associated with these developments - direct instruction at the level of thinking processes, higher order thinking, using generative tasks, making thought processes explicit, knowledge as socially mediated, and dispositions for thinking. Examples of curriculum materials are drawn from three broadly different theoretical orientations - information-processing, critical thinking and constructivism. The characteristics of “powerful learning environments” are discussed.