Creative, critical thinking encouraged in Jordanian schools

AMMAN — Teachers in Jordan and the United States have “very similar” ideas, concerns and questions in regard to adopting critical and creative thinking tools in the classroom, an expert said Thursday.

Approaches in presenting critical thinking to students vary according to the cultural dynamics in both countries, according to critical thinking expert Jeremy Szteiter at a roundtable discussion with the media at the American Language Centre.

Szteiter, the assistant director of the critical and creative thinking graduate programme at the College of Advancing and Professional Studies at the University of Massachusetts, is visiting Jordan to deliver several talks and workshops in his field of expertise. 

In his remarks, he said that Jordanian teachers he met are very excited about what they are learning about critical thinking and are proud of what they have already accomplished in the field.

Critical thinking looks for ways to transform the current didactic lecture style of teaching in schools into one that gives students more room to generate ideas and see mistakes as learning opportunities.

“You still need to teach students a certain amount of content, but teachers might do more to change their practices and do activities that engage students more and make them active learners,” he said, adding that students usually avoid mistakes or hide them to avoid embarrassment.

Enhancing critical and creative thinking abilities occurs through collaborative learning among students.

“People with diverse ideas are always having discussions and questioning and evaluating each other’s work… we need to make sure that people with different kinds of ideas are always sharing [them] and that no one’s idea is suppressed,” he noted. 

He cited the ideal role of teachers as facilitators that guide students towards creative thinking and helping to create a path along which students are directed towards the right areas of learning and thinking. 

Social media outlets can also function as platforms that enables users to access other communities and connect with people that may never be reachable otherwise, he said, adding that social media allow users to understand different points of view that can suggest new solutions to their problems.

On the other hand, social media can also bring us into contact with information that could be wrong or confusing. Critical thinking means being able to filter such information and make sense of it.

Critical and creative thinking are inter-related and inseparable, according to the expert, who added that creative thinking can be emphasised at an early stage in life while critical thinking may come at a later stage to question the reason behind thoughts and actions.

Szteiter delivered several talks to students at the American Language Centre, Educational Sciences Department at Tafila Technical University, the Faculty of Education at the University of Jordan, the Queen Rania Teachers Academy’s monthly forum.  

He also carried out several workshops with the Ministry of Education, civil society organisations and the Shoman Foundation.

“There is always critical thinking in solutions to problems or challenges, but the point is in finding that creative part and applying in on a larger scale,” Szteiter concluded.