About the Critical thinking course

Critical thinking provides students with the skills, tools and opportunities to improve their:

• problem-solving skills
• higher-order thinking skills.

Students will conduct project work that provides opportunities to:

• think critically
• build creatively
• write for an audience
• manage time and effort.

Students may undertake either 100 or 200 hours of study in Critical thinking in Stage 5. Courses are structured in the following ways:

• A 100-hour course consisting of Core 1 and Core 2 and one option
• A 200-hour course consisting of Core 1 and Core 2 and 4 options.

Course documents

Schools must use the Critical thinking course document (DOCX 156 KB) to develop educational programs for this course. They must comply with the:

• Curriculum planning and programming, assessing and reporting to parents K–12 policy
• associated Curriculum policy standards.

Assessment

Critical thinking assessment advice (DOCX 141 KB) is available to assist teachers. They can select a range of different activities to assess and report on.

Assessment activities should:

• reflect the school's organisation of the course
• provide students with opportunities to show their learning.

Teaching resources

Schools may choose to adapt or modify this content or use other materials suitable to their local context, provided they comply with the course documents.

Professional learning

Engaging with professional learning courses may help you develop knowledge, understanding and skills for effective course implementation.

• Complete the department-approved elective course – Critical thinking microlearning (NR36619)
• Access recordings from statewide staffroom sessions via the Teaching and Learning 7–12 Statewide staffroom.

Contact

For more information:

• visit the Teaching and Learning 7–12 statewide staffroom including the Stage 5 Elective – Critical thinking channel
• email secondaryteachingandlearning@det.nsw.edu.au