Critical Thinking Skills
Critical thinking involves logical thinking and reasoning including: supporting opinion with evidence, considering and evaluating differing viewpoints, predicting outcomes or solutions, establishing criteria for judgment and judging according to those criteria. Critical thinking is convergent thinking, gathering information and data from various sources and then applying logic and knowledge to formulate an opinion, make predictions, make informed decisions, or evaluate different viewpoints. It involves deliberative, objective analysis.
Divergent Thinking Skills
Divergent thinking refers to creative thinking and creative problem solving: the ability to develop unique and multiple ideas, products, approaches / solutions to problems and answers to open-ended questions. It involves fluency, flexibility, elaboration, originality.
Problem Solving Skills
Problem-solving skills refer to the ability to apply critical thinking and decision-making skills to analyze a situation and then form a workable solution. It involves collecting data, identify patterns, draw inferences, using deductive/inductive reasoning, brainstorming and evaluating possible solutions, drawing conclusions, communicating findings, and reflection. The components include:
Communication Skills
Communication skills refer to the ability to share and communicate ideas effectively. It involves speaking, writing, listening, and nonverbal forms of expression (e.g., symbolic, visual, physical).
Communication skills are benchmarked in the Common Core Standards for Language Arts for Speaking and Listening.
The components include:
Vocabulary, responsiveness, thoughtful listening, presentation skills, offering and accepting constructive criticism, communicating ideas / sharing information in multiple ways
Research and Independent Study Skills
Research and independent study skills refer to collecting and interpreting information in order to yield meaning. This occurs through data gathering, synthesizing material, scientific investigations, or any other form of inquiry that makes use of information.
The components of the Pennridge Research Process include:
Planning, Choosing a Topic, Investigating Resources, Selecting a Focus, Collecting Information, Drawing Conclusions, Communicating Findings, Assessing Product and Process
Self-directed learning
Interpersonal Skills
Interpersonal skills refer to the ability to demonstrate leadership and interact effectively within a group. The components include:
Critical thinking involves logical thinking and reasoning including: supporting opinion with evidence, considering and evaluating differing viewpoints, predicting outcomes or solutions, establishing criteria for judgment and judging according to those criteria. Critical thinking is convergent thinking, gathering information and data from various sources and then applying logic and knowledge to formulate an opinion, make predictions, make informed decisions, or evaluate different viewpoints. It involves deliberative, objective analysis.
Divergent Thinking Skills
Divergent thinking refers to creative thinking and creative problem solving: the ability to develop unique and multiple ideas, products, approaches / solutions to problems and answers to open-ended questions. It involves fluency, flexibility, elaboration, originality.
- Fluency – generating multiple ideas
- Flexibility – generating varied ideas, viewing an issue from different perspectives, or changing perspective to increase possibilities
- Originality – generating unique, novel, or unusual ideas
- Elaboration – adding to or modifying ideas / solutions / or products in order to improve them
Problem Solving Skills
Problem-solving skills refer to the ability to apply critical thinking and decision-making skills to analyze a situation and then form a workable solution. It involves collecting data, identify patterns, draw inferences, using deductive/inductive reasoning, brainstorming and evaluating possible solutions, drawing conclusions, communicating findings, and reflection. The components include:
- Identify the problem
- Define the problem
- Explore solutions / Enumerate plausible options
- Analyze options
- Act on the strategies / Implement the plan
- Reflect and evaluate the strategies / plan / solution
Communication Skills
Communication skills refer to the ability to share and communicate ideas effectively. It involves speaking, writing, listening, and nonverbal forms of expression (e.g., symbolic, visual, physical).
Communication skills are benchmarked in the Common Core Standards for Language Arts for Speaking and Listening.
The components include:
Vocabulary, responsiveness, thoughtful listening, presentation skills, offering and accepting constructive criticism, communicating ideas / sharing information in multiple ways
Research and Independent Study Skills
Research and independent study skills refer to collecting and interpreting information in order to yield meaning. This occurs through data gathering, synthesizing material, scientific investigations, or any other form of inquiry that makes use of information.
The components of the Pennridge Research Process include:
Planning, Choosing a Topic, Investigating Resources, Selecting a Focus, Collecting Information, Drawing Conclusions, Communicating Findings, Assessing Product and Process
Self-directed learning
Interpersonal Skills
Interpersonal skills refer to the ability to demonstrate leadership and interact effectively within a group. The components include:
- Working cooperatively with others
- Fostering actions towards achievement of goals and objectives
- Collaborating effectively
- Encouragement and consideration of other perspectives and opinions
- Willingness to take appropriate academic risks
- Effective conflict resolution