Thinking Skills

Thinking is as natural a part of our lives as breathing, blinking, or swallowing. It would be logical to assume that everyone understands what is meant by the word thinking because we do it all the time. However, depending on the person and the context, thinking means different things to different people in different places. Change, progress, and innovation all depend on flexibility of thought. Thinking also underlies the basic elements of everyday communication: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. It is the engine of learning.

Thinking skills may refer to skills used and honed during daily goings-on, such as inquiring, problem solving, reflecting, being creative, critiquing, and so on. There are low-order thinking skills, such as remembering, comprehending, and actively listening and processing information. There are ...