Implementing a High-Impact, Critical Thinking Process in a Learner-Centered Environment

When I think of a high-impact, critical thinking, and learner-centered environment I automatically see actively engaged students in the classroom.  The students are collaborating, researching, problem solving, and sharing their progress/solutions with stakeholders.  The teachers are being facilitators and providing the standards that are needed to master a skill. 

 I've seen this type of classroom in a Kindergarten setting.  The teacher designates every Thursday as her Mad Science Thursday.  During this time, students are engaged in hands-on science experiments.  The students are able to observe , make hypothesis, and record their thinking.  The students have the opportunity to generate ideas, make decisions, learn new vocabulary, draw conclusions, and explain their findings all while engaged in the Science activities with every day materials.   The weekly experiments provide multi-sensory and hands-on learning all while discovering how to be better problem solvers, critical thinkers, and build communication skills.  

Teachers need to incorporate more DOK 3 and DOK 4 questioning within their lessons.  Let's focus on the process not product .  Give the students input and choices which all align with standards.  Ultimately, the educators end goal is to create life long learners and prepare our students for real world situations.