Ways to Teach Critical Thinking in Study Sessions

When Students Over-Rely on ChatGPT, Critical Thinking Suffers—Here’s How to Turn the Tide Educators worldwide are seeing an unsettling trend: students increasingly defaulting to ChatGPT for essays, problem-solving, and research. The immediate result? Polished homework with minimal effort. The long-term impact? A real risk to the very skills we strive to instill—critical thinking and problem-solving. But it doesn’t have to be this way. ChatGPT can be a powerful ally if we (1) acknowledge its limitations, (2) teach students how to use it responsibly, and (3) design activities that still require their brainpower. Here are concrete strategies—both in and out of the classroom—to flip ChatGPT from crutch to catalyst: 1️⃣ In-Class Engagement - Think-Pair-Share-ChatGPT: Pose a question, let students first discuss in pairs, then compare their ideas with ChatGPT’s answer. Have them critique the bot’s reasoning, exposing gaps and sharpening their own analyses. - Fact-Checking Face-Off: Challenge small groups to verify the references ChatGPT provides. They’ll quickly see its “credibility” can be smoke and mirrors, reinforcing the need for proper research and source validation. 2️⃣ Homework Hacks - Two-Version Assignments: Encourage students to submit one draft written themselves and one draft generated (or revised) by ChatGPT—then highlight and explain every change. They learn that blindly copying AI output often produces superficial work. - ChatGPT as Peer Reviewer: Ask the bot for feedback or counterarguments—and have students defend which suggestions they accept or reject. This fosters deeper reflection and ownership. 3️⃣ Project-Based Learning (PBL) Approaches - Authentic Audiences: Require real-world deliverables (e.g., presentations to the local council, kids’ books for a younger class). ChatGPT can supply initial facts, but students must tailor and translate knowledge for a specific audience—no bot can do that seamlessly. - Process Show-and-Tell: Have students document how they arrived at each conclusion, including any AI prompts. If ChatGPT did most of the heavy lifting, it’ll be obvious in their final presentation—and in their understanding (or lack thereof). The bottom line? ChatGPT isn’t the end of critical thinking—unless we let it be. By designing assignments that value process over one-click answers, we can harness AI to enhance rather than erode our students’ intellectual growth. Check out “ChatGPT vs. Critical Thinking: Friend, Foe, or Frenemy in the Classroom?” by Ruopeng An for a deep dive into research, anecdotes, and classroom-tested ideas. Let’s equip the next generation to use AI as a thought partner—not a substitute for thinking. Share this post with fellow educators who might be wrestling with the same issues, and let’s ignite a new wave of critical thinkers! #ChatGPT #CriticalThinking #Teaching

For educators seeking practical implementation, not just theory: 1. The 20-Minute Rule Require 20 minutes of unaided work before any AI collaboration Application: Human: Draft initial climate policy arguments AI: Generate counterarguments Toggle: Develop a more nuanced position 2. "Blind Bake" Assessments Students submit three components: Original handwritten draft (scanned) AI-enhanced version "Toggle Map" documenting their decision-making process Key Benefit: Makes cognitive offloading visible and intentional 3. Skill-Specific Toggle Zones Designate certain skills as AI-free territories: History: Primary source analysis Science: Hypothesis formulation Math: Initial problem structure and approach 4. Feedback Roulette Peer reviewers identify: Which sections appear AI-assisted Their reasoning behind these assessments Builds meta-awareness for both creator and evaluator 5. Cognitive Time-Stamping Leverage document version history to: Compare thinking before and after AI assistance Identify when AI bypassed valuable struggle Evaluate process quality, not just final output Free Resource: I've created a Toggle Method Lesson Planner template – comment "TOGGLE TOOL" for access. "AI shouldn't make thinking easier – it should make thinking deeper." #EdChat #AIStrategy #CriticalThinking #ToggleTeaching Pragmatic AI Solutions Alfonso Mendoza Jr., M.Ed. Amanda Bickerstaff Vriti Saraf Pat Yongpradit France Q. Hoang Mike Kentz

How to Master the Socratic Method: A Step-by-Step Guide Socratic Questioning is a powerful technique for fostering critical thinking and better decision-making. Step 1: Start with Open-Ended Questions Begin by identifying the problem you aim to solve. ↳ Open-ended questions are your catalyst. These questions should encourage expansive thinking and avoid simple yes/no answers. For instance: → What is the problem at hand? → Why is this an issue? → Who is affected by this problem? Step 2: Propose Ideas Based on these Questions Once you have articulated the problem, propose your initial thoughts or hypotheses. ↳ This step is crucial for setting a baseline for your critical examination. → What is your initial hypothesis? → What are the origins of your current thinking on this problem? → How did you arrive at this conclusion? Step 3: Probe with Progressive Questioning Now, delve deeper into your initial thoughts by asking progressively targeted questions. ↳ The goal is to test the robustness of your arguments and identify any flaws or gaps. → Why do you believe this hypothesis? → Is your thinking too vague? → What is the rationale behind your assumptions? Step 4: Challenge Underlying Assumptions Expose and scrutinize the assumptions that underpin your original thinking. ↳ This step is about being ruthlessly honest with yourself. → Why do you believe this assumption to be true? → How do you know it’s true? → How would you know if you were wrong? Step 5: Evaluate the Evidence Examine the evidence you used to back your thinking. ↳ Assess its credibility and look for hidden evidence that might have been overlooked. → What concrete evidence supports your hypothesis? → Is it based on reliable sources? → Could there be hidden evidence that contradicts your hypothesis? Step 6: Understand the Consequences of Being Wrong Consider the implications of errors in your thinking. ↳ Understanding the stakes will help you gauge the rigor of your analysis. → What are the potential consequences of being wrong? → Can mistakes be quickly corrected, or not? → What is the risk-reward ratio here? Step 7: Evaluate Potential Alternatives Broaden your perspective by considering alternative viewpoints. ↳ This will give you a fuller understanding of the problem and possible solutions. → What alternative beliefs or viewpoints might exist? → Why might these alternatives be superior to your original thinking? → Why do others believe these alternatives to be valid? What do they know that you don’t? Step 8: After Zooming In, Zoom Out Finally, revisit your original thinking. ↳ Reflect on the entire process to draw broader conclusions about your approach to problem-solving. → Was your initial thinking correct? If not, where did it err? → What systemic errors can you identify in your thought process? → How can you apply these insights moving forward to avoid similar mistakes? P.S. Repost if useful ♻️ #ideaskills #criticalthinking #decisionmaking

Have you ever used the Socratic method in your #CustomerEducation or #learninganddevelopment program? To put it simply, the Socratic method uses a series of open-ended questions to provoke deeper thought, critical thinking, and re-examination of beliefs. There are two keys ways you can incorporate the Socratic method in business, and specifically, in your education programs. 1) Question your own approach to designing your learning program. Ask yourself or your team: - Why are we approaching it this way? - Why do we think that's the best way? - Is there another way to look at it? - What could we be missing? - What's at risk if we're wrong? (Zapier has a great article on using the method in business - link in the comments). 2) Use the Socratic method in your learning design. Ask your audience probing questions, either via AI or branching exercises, or peer-led discussion via community. This could look like: - How do you complete this task? - Are there other ways to achieve that outcome? The fun thing about the Socratic method is that it's sparks discussion and encourages the learner to come to their own conclusions rather than simply telling them what to do. Traditional training: "Do it this way because it's the right way to do it." Socratic: "What if you could approach it a better way?" #producttraining #customertraining