Critical thinking, problem-solving and collaboration skills, all necessary for postsecondary success, can be improved by having students design their own instruction, according to a Rand Corp. report analyzed in a K-12 Dive article.
Most school districts with a formal process to include student voice in teaching and learning say input leads to more hands-on and engaging instruction, according to the Rand report.
Students’ participation in academic learning to stimulate critical thinking includes activities such as answering high-level questions from teachers, inquiry-based learning, project-based learning, and engaging in STEM and career and technical education courses.
Student input relating to improvements, problem-solving and recommendations for engaging instruction supports critical thinking development, according to district leaders polled for the research.
Helen Lee Bouygues, founder of the Reboot Foundation, a nonprofit that creates teacher resources to support students’ critical thinking skills, says teachers want help integrating critical thinking concepts into daily classroom lessons. They are concerned technology is stifling students’ critical thinking development, she says.
“Good critical thinking skills can be a stronger predictor of success in school and personal life than raw intelligence, so we must teach young people to be good critical thinkers,” Bouygues says.
An added benefit: Increasing student input is one approach schools are using to combat the chronic absenteeism that persists after the pandemic. This can include participation in annual surveys, student government, focus groups and advisory councils. Student recommendations that influence instruction can create a sense of ownership, school involvement – and increased attendance. Value-added suggestions can range from increasing business courses and flexible time for studying to modifying school schedules and promoting internships.
Survey results come from polling in fall 2023 and spring 2024 from members of the American School District Panel, which is a research partnership between Rand and the Center on Reinventing Public Education.
K-12 Dive
