Viljandi American Corner, ESTONIA
April 3, 2007

The ability to be creative and think critical are important academic and life skills that can be encouraged in the language classroom. Furthermore, activities encouraging deep thought and creativity motivate students and make learning interesting. Through interactive tasks, analysis of authentic video of real classrooms, and discussion of the realities of language teaching practice in Estonia, this workshop focuses on integrating critical thinking skills into your classroom through practical and simple activities. Participants will leave with additional readings, handouts, and an action plan for their own classrooms.

Content

Activities promoting creativity and critical thinking

• Warming up (linguistic and visual puzzles): Bill's Brain Teasers
• Elephant optical illusions
• Team building activities: The ampersand from Businessballs.com
• Granchy Gak

Theoretical background

• What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is a mental process of analyzing or evaluating information, particularly statements or propositions that people have offered as true. It forms a process of reflecting upon the meaning of statements, examining the offered evidence and reasoning, and forming judgments about the facts. ~ from The Foundation for Critical Thinking

• What is creativity?

Creativity always involves thinking or behaving imaginatively. Second, overall this imaginative activity is purposeful: that is, it is directed to achieving an objective. Third, these processes must generate something original. Fourth, the outcome must be of value in relation to the objective. ~ from UK National Curriculum site on Creativity

• Discussion questions from Jeremy Slagoski
• Bloom's Taxonomy: Overview from Wikipedia

Video: Shaping the way we teach: Successful practices around the world

• Module 9: Critical and creative thinking
• Observation, discussion, and extension

Action planning

• Group roles: 6 hats by Edward de Bono
• Sharing

Resources and links

• Supplementary readings and links for Shaping the way we teach Module 9
• Teaching Thinking Skills by Kathleen Cotton
• US Department of State Office of English Language Programs
• UK National Curriculum site on Creativity
• The Foundation for Critical Thinking
• Role playing games and activities Businessballs
• Bill's Brain Teasers
• Cool Optical Illusions