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Critical and Creative Thinking
Students identify, explore and clarify online information and use that knowledge in a range of situations. They think broadly and deeply using skills, behaviours and dispositions such as critical reasoning, logic, resourcefulness, imagination and innovation at school and in their lives beyond school. Students analyse problems, refine concepts and reflect on the decision-making process to make ethical decisions and take respectful action.
Typically by the end of Year 8, students:
Identify and clarify information and ideas
clarify information and ideas from texts or images when exploring challenging issues
Organise and process information
critically analyse information and evidence according to criteria such as validity and relevance
Consider alternatives
generate alternatives and innovative solutions, and adapt ideas, including when information is limited or conflicting
Seek solutions and put ideas into action
predict possibilities, and identify and test consequences when seeking solutions and putting ideas into action
Think about thinking (metacognition)
assess assumptions in their thinking and invite alternative opinions
Reflect on processes
evaluate and justify the reasons behind choosing a particular problemsolving strategy
Apply logic and reasoning
identify gaps in reasoning and missing elements in information
Draw conclusions and design a course of action
differentiate the components of a designed course of action and tolerate ambiguities when drawing conclusions
Evaluate procedures and outcomes
explain intentions and justify ideas, methods and courses of action, and account for expected and unexpected outcomes against criteria they have identified
Typically by the end of Year 8, students:
Identify and clarify information and ideas
clarify information and ideas from texts or images when exploring challenging issues
Organise and process information
critically analyse information and evidence according to criteria such as validity and relevance
Consider alternatives
generate alternatives and innovative solutions, and adapt ideas, including when information is limited or conflicting
Seek solutions and put ideas into action
predict possibilities, and identify and test consequences when seeking solutions and putting ideas into action
Think about thinking (metacognition)
assess assumptions in their thinking and invite alternative opinions
Reflect on processes
evaluate and justify the reasons behind choosing a particular problemsolving strategy
Apply logic and reasoning
identify gaps in reasoning and missing elements in information
Draw conclusions and design a course of action
differentiate the components of a designed course of action and tolerate ambiguities when drawing conclusions
Evaluate procedures and outcomes
explain intentions and justify ideas, methods and courses of action, and account for expected and unexpected outcomes against criteria they have identified