Processes and Strategies
Many studies document the enormous preoccupation with transmission of information and rote application of skills, and how little class time is devoted to thinking.
Roland Case (2001)
Thinking Processes - the 'how' of thinking
Thinking Strategies - 'what' occurs during the process
- defining and clarifying the task
- gathering and sorting information
- exploring possibilities
- making judgments
- applying thinking
Thinking Strategies - 'what' occurs during the process
Strategy
adjusting analysing classifying comparing connecting determining importance elaborating empathising evaluating generalising hypothesising inferring / extrapolating justifying paraphrasing planning predicting questioning recalling self – questioning summarising synthesising visualising |
Definition
altering or adapting thinking based on new information critically examining the components or essential features to develop further understanding organising on the basis of common attributes examining the qualities or characteristics of two or more ideas to identify the similarities and/or differences making mental links between prior knowledge and new information making decisions about what information is important by considering the purpose, situation and subject matter building on what one already knows to extend and expand ideas seeing things from a different point of view; often characterised by the ability to put oneself into another’s shoes judging the value and quality of ideas drawing a conclusion from a particular instance and applying it to a broader context making a prediction and providing reasons that can be investigated and/or verified combining information with one’s own ideas to make a reasoned conclusion defending, substantiating or validating thinking by providing supporting information restating ideas or information in one’s own words to clarify meaning organising ideas to formulate a course of action using prior knowledge to make an informed guess about possible outcomes asking questions to further understanding, clarify meaning and challenge ideas retrieving knowledge from one’s own memory generating one’s own questions to clarify meaning, monitor understanding and explore new ideas condensing information to convey the most important ideas or details combining information from a variety of sources to refine one’s thinking forming mental pictures that assist in clarifying and developing ideas |