Dimensions of Thinking

Book excerpt: Organizing and clarifying research and theory from diverse sources, including philosophy and cognitive psychology, this book provides a framework intended to help educational practitioners (principals, supervisors, curriculum directors, and teachers) plan programs for incorporating the teaching of thinking throughout the regular curriculum. Chapter 1 discusses the need for a framework for teaching thinking and presents a historical perspective on the study of thinking. Chapters 2 through 6 discuss five dimensions of thinking: (1) metacognition; (2) critical and creative thinking; (3) thinking processes--such as concept formation, problem solving, and research; (4) core thinking skills--the "building blocks" of thinking--including focusing, information-gathering, organizing and generating skills; and (5) the relationship of content-area knowledge to thinking. The final chapter presents guidelines for using the framework. (A glossary of key terms and an outline of the book are appended, and thirteen pages of references are attached.) (ARH)