Mod 11 Discussion: Teaching Critical Literacy

I selected critical thinking through synthesis of information as my critical literacy resource. In my Health Science class, I have students regularly read articles and case studies and I ask them to summarize what they learned from it and integrate it with their prior knowledge. To deepen their understanding, students respond to reflective and analytical questions such as “Do you agree with the action or intervention taken?”, “What might happen if…?”, “How would you respond if this involved your loved one?”, or “If you were in this situation, would you make the same decision?”. Asking these questions goes with the the switching category approach by encouraging students to place themselves directly within the scenario. This process not only strengthens their ability to synthesize newly learned information but also helps them apply theoretical knowledge to real-world contexts which will help them develop critical thinking.