Skills in thinking relate closely to skills in literacy and numeracy. Thinking allows learners to explore text and information of all kinds critically and to use them purposefully. CfE guidelines state that ‘it is important that all learners are given appropriate opportunities to develop their thinking skills.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

Examples of the experiences offered in English which develop thinking skills are listed below:

Remembering involves such activities as recall, recognition or locating information.

Understanding might involve activities such as describing, explaining, summarising and translating.

Applying requires the learner to use or apply their knowledge and understanding in different contexts.

Analysing requires learners to break down information into component parts and search for relationships.

Evaluating involves making an informed judgement about something, for example an issue or method. Activities such as comparing, appraising, prioritising, rating or selecting, could involve learners in evaluating.

Creating happens when learners are required to generate new ideas and products through activities such as designing, creative writing, planning, reconstructing, inventing, formulating, producing and composing.

 

In Improving Scottish Education 2005-2008, HMIE states: “Curriculum for Excellence sets high expectations of rigour. This means that teachers should plan consistently for appropriate pace, challenge, depth and progression, and consciously promote the development of high order thinking skills.”