Letter to the Reader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

Critical Thinking Competency Standards: Guide for Educators

The Structure of This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Understanding the Intimate Relationship Between Critical Thinking, Learning, and Education

The Concept of Critical Thinking 4

The “What” and the “How” of Education 5

Critical Thinking Is the “How” for Obtaining Every Educational “What” . 5

Critical Thinking and Learning 7

Critical Thinking and the Educated Person . 8

Critical Thinking and Information Literacy . 8

The Growing Importance of Critical Thinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Critical and Creative Thinking . 10

Critical Thinking and the Mastery of Content 11

Adapting the Standards for Particular Subjects 13

The Structure and Components of the Competencies

Relating the Competencies to Critical Thinking Concepts 15

Outlining the Components in Each Competency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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A Master Rubric 18

The Critical Thinking Competencies

Standard One: Purposes, Goals, and Objectives . 20

Standard Two: Questions, Problems, and Issues 21

Standard Three: Information, Data, Evidence, and Experience 22

Standard Four: Inferences and Interpretations . 23

Standard Five: Assumptions & Presuppositions 24

Standard Six: Concepts, Theories, Principles, Definitions, Laws, and Axioms . 25

Standard Seven: Implications and Consequences . 26

Standard Eight: Points of View and Frames of Reference . 27

Standard Nine: Assessing Thinking . 29

Standard Ten: Fairmindedness 31

Standard Eleven: Intellectual Humility . 32

Standard Twelve: Intellectual Courage 33

Standard Thirteen: Intellectual Empathy 34

Standard Fourteen: Intellectual Integrity . 35

Standard Fifteen: Intellectual Perseverance 36

Standard Sixteen: Confidence in Reason