Why Critical Thinking Matters for Our Children's Future

Summary Points:

• Critical thinking skills allow analysing information objectively, solving complex problems, and making reasoned decisions
• These abilities are crucial for workforce readiness and lifelong success
• Schools develop critical thinking through inquiry learning, STEM programs, and vocational training
• Parents can reinforce these skills at home through open discussions, questioning assumptions, and involving children in decision-making

As parents, we know our children are growing up in a world that's moving faster than ever before, with new challenges emerging constantly. That's why developing sharp critical thinking skills is one of the most important tools we can give them for success down the road.

You have likely heard about the importance of "critical thinking" for the workforce. But what does this really mean? Critical thinking allows our children to analyse information objectively, solve complex problems using reasoning and evidence, and make sensible decisions. Rather than just accepting what they're told at face value, critical thinkers learn to question assumptions, consider different perspectives, and draw logical conclusions.

Why does this matter so much? Well, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) calls critical thinking a key skill for thriving in today's society and workplaces. Closer to home, a 2015 Australian Industry Group survey found that 93% of employers view strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities as extremely or highly important when hiring.

The good news is that Damascus College is making a concerted effort to develop these valuable critical thinking muscles in our children through:

STEM Programs: Initiatives like ESTEEM get students questioning, researching, formulating hypotheses, and applying findings to tackle real-world problems. What an engaging way to learn!

Inquiry Learning: In classes like English, Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, our children analyse texts, evaluate evidence and arguments, explore diverse viewpoints and back up their own positions. So much richer than rote learning.

Vocational Training: Practical vocational streams like the VCE Vocational Major and Hands On Learning embed problem-solving, design thinking and decision-making into the learning through authentic hands-on projects.

But we parents play an important role too in nurturing critical thinking at home. Here are some ideas:

• Initiate discussions about current issues, different cultures and ideas. Ask your children to explain their reasoning and consider other perspectives.
• When they state an opinion, sometimes playfully take the opposing view. "Ok, but what about this evidence?" This helps them question assumptions.
• Get them involved in major family decisions like household purchases. Have them research options, compare sources, and justify their recommendations.
• When running errands or playing at the park, encourage them to observe carefully and describe what they notice. Then ask what conclusions they might draw.
• Expose them to different media sources and discuss how to evaluate reliability, identify bias, and verify questionable claims.

The more we engage our children's minds and create an atmosphere of open inquiry at home, the more we reinforce the critical thinking habits they're developing at school.

The world is transforming at a rapid pace, and the ability to think critically, be a self-starter, and adapt will undoubtedly give our children an edge in their future careers and enable them to make meaningful contributions to society. By integrating critical thinking practice throughout their learning experiences, we are cultivating resourceful problem-solvers, lifelong learners, and future leaders equipped to navigate an ever-evolving landscape.

References:

OECD. (2019). The Future of Education and Skills: Education 2030. https://www.oecd.org/education/2030-project/

Australian Industry Group. (2015). Competencies for workplace success. https://www.aigroup.com.au/policy-and-research/mediacentre/releases/report-greenlights-competencies-for-success/