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.
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