This course is FREE with an Online Subscription

Course Description

This course supports primary teachers to foster higher-order thinking through critical, creative, and problem-solving tasks. It offers practical strategies to promote deep thinking, inquiry, and student independence in the classroom.



Audience

Primary School Teachers


Teaching Standards

1.2.2 Proficient Level - Know students and how they learn - Understand how students learn:  Structure teaching programs using research and collegial advice about how students learn

3.3.2 Proficient Level - Plan for and implement Effective Teaching and Learning - Use teaching strategies:  Select and use relevant teaching strategies to develop knowledge, skills, problem-solving, and critical and creative thinking



FREE with  Online Subscription


Participant Feedback


"Overall, the course was valuable and provided clear, actionable tools for improving student engagement and critical thinking."



"This course has been incredibly insightful in equipping me with strategies to foster higher order thinking in my Year 3 students. I particularly appreciated the clear, age-appropriate examples that linked theory to practical classroom activities. The course emphasized the importance of questioning techniques and creating opportunities for students to explain and evaluate their thinking. I also found the focus on a growth mindset and risk-taking invaluable for encouraging creativity in young learners. Moving forward, I feel more confident in designing tasks that promote critical thinking and ownership of learning. The course was practical, engaging, and highly relevant to my teaching."



"The course has provided a solid foundation for understanding how to encourage higher order thinking in young learners. The strategies and frameworks offered—like fostering critical thinking, promoting reflection, and using creative tasks—are directly applicable to the classroom setting. The course content addressed your need for practical strategies that you can implement in real-time to improve student engagement and critical thinking skills."

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Introduction

    • Welcome

    • Acknowledgement of Country

    • Learning Objectives

    • Teaching Standards

  • 2

    Module 1 – Understanding Higher-Order Thinking in the Primary Classroom

    • Introduction

    • Introduction to Higher-Order Thinking (HOTS)

    • HOTS and Bloom’s Taxonomy

    • Webb’s Depth of Knowledge (DoK): A Lens for Task Complexity

    • Why HOTS Matters in Primary Education

    • Developmental Differences: F–2 vs 3–6

    • Scenario Activity - Sorting for Deeper Thinking

    • Translating HOTS into Practice

    • Reflection Question

    • Reference List for Module 1
  • 3

    Module 2 – Problem-Solving Strategies in the Primary Years

    • Introduction

    • The Role of Problem-Solving in Primary Learning

    • Problem-Solving Frameworks

    • Key Elements of Effective Problem-Solving Instruction

    • The Problem-Solving Process: A Simple Scaffold

    • Problem-Solving Template

    • Scenario Activity - Encouraging Flexible Problem-Solving

    • Classroom Activities

    • Teaching Strategies to Support Problem-Solving

    • Reflection Question

    • Reference List for Module 2
  • 4

    Module 3 – Fostering Creativity Through Open-Ended Thinking

    • Introduction

    • What Is Creativity?

    • The 4Cs of Creativity

    • Creating a Safe Space for Original Thinking

    • Strategies for Encouraging Creative Thinking

    • Classroom Activities

    • Embedding Creativity Across the Curriculum

    • Digital Tools to Support Creative Thinking

    • Digital Tools That Promote Creativity

    • How to Integrate Digital Creativity Into Primary Lessons

    • Reflection Question

    • Reference List for Module 3
  • 5

    Module 4 – Encouraging Critical Thinking and Reasoning

    • Introduction

    • Understanding Critical Thinking in Primary Education

    • The Importance of Critical Thinking

    • Critical Thinking at Different Stages of Development

    • Strategies That Build Critical Thinking

    • Classroom Activities

    • Embedding Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum

    • Metacognition and Self-Directed Learning

    • Classroom Activities

    • Reflection Question

    • Reference List for Module 4
  • 6

    Course Feedback

    • Course Feedback

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