UNIFY Critical Thinking 7-10

Critical Thinking
UNIFY Project - Year 7-8-9-10
Critical Thinking develops thinking and reasoning knowledge, skills and confidence. Students learn to construct
arguments, rebut counter-arguments and critically appraise alternative solutions.
Critical Thinking is a UNIFY Project for students in Year 7-8-9-10. It is available in Round 2 and Round 3. Schools can
include students from one year level or form a composite group across Year 7-8-9-10.
The target group for Critical Thinking is students who would benefit from extension in higher order thinking. Many
schools use this project as part of their extension program for high achieving or gifted students. It can also be used as a
tool to engage students who are coasting and may respond to a challenging learning program.
Content & Assessment Guide
Lesson No. Lesson Focus
Project Introduction, Technology Introduction
1
Introduction to the project content and web conferencing technology.
IMPACT and Introduction to Argument
Introduction to IMPACT workflow via guidelines for discussions, reasons and
ideas. eLearn tour and practice quiz.
Pre-assessment
Knowledge quiz in eLearn followed by student construction of an argument.
Brief review of IMPACT workflow via argument guidelines.
Cognitive Bias
Examples of cognitive bias and other phenomena that preclude good
reasoning
Deductive and Inductive reasoning
Exploring types of reasoning, identifying sound, valid, invalid deductive
arguments and strong/weak inductive arguments. Constructing inductive and
deductive arguments.
Fallacies 1
Introduction to common logical fallacies.
Fallacies 2
Identifying fallacies in arguments, strategies for avoiding/defeating fallacies.
Ethics
How ethics apply to society and particular occupations/organisations,
compare and contract ethics and morals, introduction to ethical dilemmas.
Morals and Justice
Making decisions when faced with moral dilemmas, using arguments to
justify moral choices.
Standard Argument Technique
Direct and indirect attacks. Choose and argument topic and being
constructing your argument
Post-assessment
Knowledge quiz in eLearn followed by student construction of an argument.
Where to From Here
Review, consolidate and extend on project learning. Celebrate success.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
“Critical Thinking teaches us how
to think quickly and not always
go for the first answer. I am
learning to not jump to
conclusions and identify
fallacies.”
Student – NC Region
Critical Thinking – Round 1 2015
“I like how we learn different
things that will be useful in the
future unlike some other
programs which just bore me.
Before Critical Thinking I
struggled now Critical Thinking is
helping me to understand. I am
learning to understand different
subject areas that I struggled in
before.”
Student – DDSW Region
Critical Thinking – Round 1 2015
“Critical Thinking helps us to
develop our slow thinking and
fast thinking abilities... So in the
future our slow thinking can
become automatic and in turn it
will develop to be a fast thinking
ability!”
Student – CQ Region
Critical Thinking – Round 1 2015
NB: This is a guide only – there may be minor changes.
Key Points
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The content introduces students to a few of the great philosophers in history, with an analysis of their ideas – it
also gives students the opportunity to reflect on their perspectives and other’s perspectives.
Students participate in 1 x 60-70 min web conference per week and access online extension activities any time.
Students connect with university and industry representatives via a special online event each round, including
representatives from the School of History, Philosophy and Classics from the University of Queensland.