Teaching critical thinking: examine the reasoning

Activity: the same data, two headlines

Present a data table with two different news headlines. Ask participants to write which headline describes the data more accurately and which detail it leaves out. For example, use the fictional data in the risk tool to discuss percentage change and percentage points.

Make reasoning observable

• Can the participant find the primary source?
• Do they distinguish data from interpretation?
• Can they suggest an alternative explanation?
• Do they explicitly identify what they do not know?

These questions are not an automatic success scale. Define the learning objective and assessment criteria in advance. Enjoying an activity does not, by itself, demonstrate a measured improvement in thinking skills.

Moving to an evaluation design

If you plan to study a workshop’s effect, specify the measurement, comparison and analysis plan beforehand. Consider participants’ needs and permission procedures too. Preregistration can distinguish planned research from later exploratory work.

Historical connection

This guide continues ELYADAL’s critical-thinking education topic. It is a new activity outline and does not claim a completed training event, participant count or successful outcome. The PiVOLKA 04 record presents historical material separately.