TRACT stands for Twelve Rules for Authentic Critical Thinking. It provides a toolkit for critical thinking, drawing on the ideas of some of the most influential knowers, with links to media sources and pre-existing lessons that help you explore their work.
TRACT will help students hone their cognitive abilities, consolidate their learning, and give them ideas to help create their UA portfolios.
TRACT: Twelve Rules for Authentic Critical Thinking
Here are 12 rules for authentic critical thinking, inspired by the ideas of some of our knowledge heroes. The members-only Padlet provides presentations for each rule, explaining what they are, why they matter, and how key thinkers can deepen your understanding of them.
Each rule is explored through real-world lessons, video links, and structured suggestions for portfolio products. Whether you’re an IB or non-IB learner, TRACT will support you in developing a more thoughtful, rigorous, and reflective approach to understanding the world.
1 Accept that you’re biased
2 Learning begins with humility
3 ECREE
4 Don’t insist on certainty
5 Agree on terms
6 Seeing is not believing
7 Memory is fallible
8 Identify the agenda
9 Be an outsider
10 Embrace emotion
11 Avoid silo thinking
12 Be wary of Nkali
Access the sample TRACT presentations
The padlet below provides you with a sample version of the TRACT resource, which comprises the presentations for rules 4 & 9, links it to a pre-existing lesson, and discusses related key thinkers.
The resource hones authentic critical thinking, introduces thought-leaders, and suggests UA Portfolio products. It’s designed for both IB and non-IB learners. The full version is accessible to site members.
Workshops to help you escape your echo chamber!
Our online and in-person workshops are practical, honest, and jargon-free. They cover TOK essays, exhibitions, and course design, but their deeper aim is to help all learners to become authentic critical thinkers.
Browse our professional development and student training options here, or drop us a line at [email protected] to find out more, and discuss how we can help you.