Critical and Creative Thinking

Critical and Creative Thinking - Bloom's Taxonomy
What are critical thinking and creative thinking?

What's Bloom's taxonomy and how is it helpful in project planning?

How are the domains of learning reflected in technology-rich projects?
Benjamin Bloom (1956) developed a classification of levels of intellectual behavior in learning. This taxonomy contained three overlapping domains: the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective. Within the cognitive domain, he identified six levels: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. These domains and levels are still useful today as you develop the critical thinking skills of your students.
Critical thinking involves logical thinking and reasoning including skills such as comparison, classification, sequencing, cause/effect, patterning, webbing, analogies, deductive and inductive reasoning, forecasting, planning, hyphothesizing, and critquing.
Creative thinking involves creating something new or original. It involves the skills of flexibility, originality, fluency, elaboration, brainstorming, modification, imagery, associative thinking, attribute listing, metaphorical thinking, forced relationships. The aim of creative thinking is to stimulate curiosity and promote divergence.
Read the article Teaching Thinking Skills and Critical and Creative Thinking for additional background information.
While critical thinking can be thought of as more left-brain and creative thinking more right brain, they both involve "thinking." When we talk about HOTS "higher-order thinking skills" we're concentrating on the top three levels of Bloom's Taxonomy: analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.
Cognitive Domain
Knowledge
collect describe identify list show tell tabulate define examine label name retell state quote enumerate match read record reproduce copy select Examples: dates, events, places, vocabulary, key ideas, parts of diagram, 5Ws
Comprehension
associate compare distinguish extend interpret predict differentiate contrast describe discuss estimate group summarize order cite convert explain paraphrase restate trace Examples: find meaning, transfer, interpret facts, infer cause & consequence, examples
Application
apply classify change illustrate solve demonstrate calculate complete solve modify show experiment relate discover act administer articulate chart collect compute construct determine develop establish prepare produce report teach transfer use Examples: use information in new situations, solve problems
Analysis
analyze arrange connect divide infer separate classify compare contrast explain select order breakdown correlate diagram discriminate focus illustrate infer outline prioritize subdivide points out prioritize Examples: recognize and explain patterns and meaning, see parts and wholes
Synthesis
combine compose generalize modify invent plan substitute create formulate integrate rearrange design speculate rewrite adapt anticipate collaborate compile devise express facilitate reinforce structure substitute intervene negotiate reorganize validate Examples: discuss "what if" situations, create new ideas, predict and draw conclusions
Evaluation
assess compare decide discriminate measure rank test convince conclude explain grade judge summarize support appraise criticize defend persuade justify reframe Examples: make recommendations, assess value and make choices, critique ideas

Affective Domain
Domain Attributes: interpersonal relations, emotions, attitudes, appreciations, and values
accepts attempts challenges defends disputes joins judges contributes praises questions shares supports volunteers
Psychomotor Domain
Domain Attributes: fine and gross motor skills
bend grasp handle kick operate reach relax stretch type write express perform conduct act
Resources on Bloom's Taxonomy

Bloom's Taxonomy
This site contains the levels, example words, products, and example questions.
Other Sites with an Overview and Key Words:
Bloom's Taxonomy: An Overview
Bloom's Taxonomy
This page provides an overview of the domains and sample questions.
Other Sites with Sample Questions:
Taxonomy of Educational Objectives
Learning Skills Program: Bloom's Taxonomy
This page lists the six levels of the cognitive domain with examples.
Other Sites Listing the Taxonomy:
Designing and Managing MCQs
Major Categories in the Taxonomy of Educational Objectives
Question Types Based on Bloom's Taxonomy
Bloom's Taxonomy
Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum
Explore the questions associated with each Bloom category.
Critical Thinking Resources

Critical Thinking
This page provides an overview of critical thinking.
Critical Thinking on the Web
This links page provide connects to lots of teaching and learning resources related to critical thinking.
Free Brainstorming Training
Learn basic and advanced techniques for brainstorming.
Mission: Critical
This website provides an advanced look at critical thinking and specifically analysis of arguments and persuasion.
Examples and Applications of Critical Thinking

Evaluating Primary Sources
This website does a great job providing an example of using Bloom's Taxonomy for evaluating primary resource materials.
Integrating Critical Thinking Skills Into the Classroom
In this article Anne Buchanan defines critical thinking and provides steps for integrating these ideas into the classroom.
The Layered Curriculum
The Layered Curriculum approach focuses on increasing levels of complexity. Explore some examples.
What Is a Thinking Curriculum?
Fennimore and Tinzmann explore the characteristics of a "thinking curriculum."
Creative Thinking Resources

Creativity Links
This page links to great resources on creative thinking.
Creative Problem Solving
This page highlights six steps in creative problem solving.
Creativity Web
This page contains ideas on linking creative thinking to critical thinking and multiple intelligences.
Within this Website:
Six Hats of Thinking
Techniques for Creative Thinking
Edward de Bono's Methods & Concepts of Lateral Thinking
This page provides an overview of deBono's ideas about creativity. You can also learn about the Six Hats.
Introduction to Creative Thinking
This page compares critical and creative thinking and discusses the myths of creative thinking.
The Inventive Thinking Curriculum Model
This page provides ideas for invention and creative thinking.
Lateral Thinking Puzzles
Classic lateral thinking puzzles can be found on this page.
Learning to Learn: Creativity
This module helps users learn about creativity.
Tutorial on creativity, brainstorming and innovation
This tutorial provides basic information about creativity, brainstorming, and innovation. It also provides ideas and activities.

Build A Project
Select a topic and a technology. Brainstorm examples of outcomes at different levels of Bloom's Taxonomy.