Higher-Order Thinking Skills

Defined: Higher-order thinking skills go beyond basic observation of facts and memorization. They are what we are talking about when we want our students to be evaluative, creative and innovative (UCONN, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning).

Activity: The ninth grade social studies students used Minecraft in a world history civilizations project. They created fictitious civilizations in a virtual world. The students worked on the same server so they were able to collaborate and build complex societies (Kolb).

ISTE Standards: Empowered Learner, Knowledge Constructor, Creative Communicator, Innovative Designer, Computational Thinker, Global Collaborator

CCSS: Historical Thinking Standards in Alignment to Common Core Standards 

Tech Tool Integrated: Minecraft

The students Minecraft project lasted the entire year. The students were able to identify issues and problems in the past, evaluate alternative courses of action, formulat a position or course of action on an issue, evaluate the implementation of a decision, and consider mulitple perspectives (Kolb).