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How to Develop Critical Thinkers

How to Develop Critical Thinkers: a special panel discussion

Children are natural-born critical thinkers, with an insatiable curiosity about the world, and a scientist’s desire to explain the way things work.

But many education systems end up suppressing rather than encouraging these instincts, turning sophisticated young critical thinkers into reluctant participants in the classroom. On 9th November, we’ll discuss this problem, and offer strategies to help you channel rather than curtail your children’s in-born abilities as epistemologists.

The discussion will answer key questions such as ‘what is critical thinking?’, ‘how do we measure success?’ and ‘how can education systems help to develop critical thinking?’. Education is not solely about acquiring information and skills across subject areas, but also about understanding how and why we believe what we do.

At a time when online media has created a virtual firehose of information and opinions, parents and teachers worry how students will interpret what they read and see. Amid the noise, it has become increasingly important to examine different perspectives with both curiosity and discernment. 

We’ll consider how we can help children at every stage of development to grow in their ability to explore the world around them, examine how their loyalties and biases affect their beliefs, and generate fresh insight rather than simply recycling what they’ve been taught. JOIN US!

About our panel

Julie Bogart – Author, education provider, speaker

Julie Bogart is a thought-leader in alternative education, particularly homeschooling. Her company, Brave Writer, teaches an innovative approach to writing and critical thinking instruction. She’s written two books, most recently Raising Critical Thinkers: A Parent’s Guide to Growing Wise Kids in the Digital Age. Her team has worked with students in 191 countries and has taught over 100,000 families. She hosts a popular podcast (Brave Writer) and is an international speaker on the topics of writing, education, parenting, and thinking. She has a Bachelor of Arts from UCLA and a Masters degree from Xavier University. She raised five kids to adulthood and homeschooled them all. Today, she lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. Find out more here.

Sarah Kupke – Head of Professional Learning ECIS

Until recently, Sarah Kupke was the Head of the Sindelfingen Campus at the International School of Stuttgart. Before moving to Germany in 1990, she taught in primary, secondary and special education as well as teaching undergraduate education at the Froebel College in London, UK.

Sarah has worked with Debra Rader, to lead Intercultural Understanding institutes since 2019. Find out more here.

Andrew Rothman – Head of Secondary, Newton College, Lima

Prior to his current role, Andrew worked in both state and independent schools in the US and abroad and has served as a consultant on issues related to instructional leadership for projects sponsored by the World Bank and Peruvian Ministry of Education.

Andrew graduated with Honors in History from Wesleyan University and has a Master’s degree in Education from Harvard, where he was awarded the Donald Oliver Fellowship. Find out more here.

Michael Dunn – Founder of theoryofknowledge.net, and event host

Michael Dunn is the Cambridge-based founder of theoryofknowledge.net. He has worked as a teacher for nearly 25 years, and has led TOK workshops in schools all over the world. Michael has created innovative resources which link TOK to real-world contexts and makes it utterly relevant for students and teachers. Find out more here.

Date and time: November 9, 2022 3:00 PM (London)

REGISTER FOR FREE FOR THIS EVENT HERE!

Ask a question about our webinars

We’ll be happy to answer any question you might have about our webinars.

These might include queries about the content of webinars, how we use Zoom to deliver sessions, webinar materials provided for attendees, or setting up online training for your school.

Please note that theoryofknowledge.net is a proudly independent company. Our webinars are not endorsed by the International Baccalaureate.