This element involves students creating ideas and actions, and considering and expanding on known actions and ideas.
Students imagine possibilities and connect ideas through considering alternatives, seeking solutions and putting ideas into action. They explore situations and generate alternatives to guide actions and experiment with and assess options and actions when seeking solutions. In developing and acting with critical and creative thinking, students:
- imagine possibilities and connect ideas
- consider alternatives
- seek solutions and put ideas into action.
Level 4
Typically by the end of Year 6, students:
Imagine possibilities and connect ideas
combine ideas in a variety of ways and from a range of sources to create new possibilities
Consider alternatives
identify situations where current approaches do not work, challenge existing ideas and generate alternative solutions
Seek solutions and put ideas into action
assess and test options to identify the most effective solution and to put ideas into action
Level 5
Typically by the end of Year 8, students:
Imagine possibilities and connect ideas
draw parallels between known and new ideas to create new ways of achieving goals
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
Level 6
Typically by the end of Year 10, students:
Imagine possibilities and connect ideas
create and connect complex ideas using imagery, analogies and symbolism
Consider alternatives
speculate on creative options to modify ideas when circumstances change
Seek solutions and put ideas into action
assess risks and explain contingencies, taking account of a range of perspectives, when seeking solutions and putting complex ideas into action
This element involves students reflecting on, adjusting and explaining their thinking and identifying the thinking behind choices, strategies and actions taken.
Students think about thinking (metacognition), reflect on actions and processes, and transfer knowledge into new contexts to create alternatives or open up possibilities. They apply knowledge gained in one context to clarify another. In developing and acting with critical and creative thinking, students:
- think about thinking (metacognition)
- reflect on processes
- transfer knowledge into new contexts.
Level 4
Typically by the end of Year 6, students:
Think about thinking (metacognition)
reflect on assumptions made, consider reasonable criticism and adjust their thinking if necessary
Reflect on processes
identify and justify the thinking behind choices they have made
Transfer knowledge into new contexts
Level 5
Typically by the end of Year 8, students:
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 problem-solving strategy
Transfer knowledge into new contexts
justify reasons for decisions when transferring information to similar and different contexts
Level 6
Typically by the end of Year 10, students:
Think about thinking (metacognition)
give reasons to support their thinking, and address opposing viewpoints and possible weaknesses in their own positions
Reflect on processes
balance rational and irrational components of a complex or ambiguous problem to evaluate evidence
Transfer knowledge into new contexts
identify, plan and justify transference of knowledge to new contexts
This element involves students analysing, synthesising and evaluating the reasoning and procedures used to find solutions, evaluate and justify results or inform courses of action.
Students identify, consider and assess the logic and reasoning behind choices. They differentiate components of decisions made and actions taken and assess ideas, methods and outcomes against criteria. In developing and acting with critical and creative thinking, students:
- apply logic and reasoning
- draw conclusions and design a course of action
- evaluate procedures and outcomes.
Level 4
Typically by the end of Year 6, students:
Apply logic and reasoning
assess whether there is adequate reasoning and evidence to justify a claim, conclusion or outcome
Draw conclusions and design a course of action
scrutinise ideas or concepts, test conclusions and modify actions when designing a course of action
Evaluate procedures and outcomes
evaluate the effectiveness of ideas, products, performances, methods and courses of action against given criteria
Level 5
Typically by the end of Year 8, students:
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
Level 6
Typically by the end of Year 10, students:
Apply logic and reasoning
analyse reasoning used in finding and applying solutions, and in choice of resources
Draw conclusions and design a course of action
use logical and abstract thinking to analyse and synthesise complex information to inform a course of action
Evaluate procedures and outcomes
evaluate the effectiveness of ideas, products and performances and implement courses of action to achieve desired outcomes against criteria they have identified