What’s Essential?

By now, you should have your partnership or group formed and selected a topic for your Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Project. Make sure you reference this rubric throughout the project. You should save this somewhere easily access able – Google Docs should work.

Debriefing the Readings

You read both Chapter 4: Supporting Student Critical Thinking and Chapter 6: Supporting Student Problem Solving. I’d like us to split into six groups. With chart paper and markers, write the main points for each section assigned to your group. Choose no more than 3-5 points for each section.

• Group 1: pp. 98 – 102 (Overview of Critical Thinking and Technology)
• Group 2: pp. 102 – 105 (The Critical Thinking Process, Guidelines for Supporting Student Critical Thinking with Technology)
• Group 3: pp. 105-110,  116-117 (The Critical Thinking Technologies, Assessing Critical Thinking with and Through Technology)
• Group 4: pp. 155 – 162 (Overview of Problem Solving and Inquiry in K-12 Classrooms)
• Group 5: p.163 – 169 (Guidelines for Technology-Supported Problem Solving)
• Group 6: p. 170 – 173 (Learning Activities: Problem Solving and Inquiry, Assessing Learner Problem Solving and Inquiry)

We’re going to take a poster walk around the room and debrief.

What’s Essential?

The first element of your project is to create an essential question to guide the project. Let’s look at this What’s Essential Prezi to learn about essential questions and see some examples.

For the rest of class time, work with your partner or group to create some potential essential questions to guide your adventure.

• Write the question that will be investigated. It could be an essential question, but this isn’t required. (You may have more than one.)
• Parents and students should know what the adventure is about based on this question.

If your group agrees on the essential question(s), go ahead and look at the post for Monday (it should be available now).

NETS

Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making

Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. Students:

a.	Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation.
b.	Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project.
c.	Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions.
d.	Use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions.

For Monday

• Remember, we will not be meeting face-to-face on Monday. You will still have an assignment that needs to be complete for Wednesday’s class. I will post Monday’s blog today so that you and your partner/group can plan to meet and work through the next step, Hooking Students. You should also look at the rubric for criteria in completing this section.
• If you want to create a Google Site, you can start this with your partner or group. This is not required at this point, but keep a few things in mind if you do:
  • Make sure the title of your site reflects the nature of your adventure.
  • Share permissions within your site with your partner or group. You will want to make sure everyone can make edits. Here’s a video to help you choose the correct settings.
  • Make sure your navigation bar reflects the sections in the rubric: Author Introduction, Inquire, Hook, Organize, Explore, Show What you Know, Finding a Career, and Parent Teacher Letter.