Techy Tools for Critical Thinking

Resources by thinking skill, as presented at NAGC 2023

Analytical Thinking

Noticing Details

Virtual Vacations

Visit locations around the world and play location guessing games

Noticing Details

Asking Questions

Tuva Labs

Interact with various data sets and graphs; explore questions related to data

Asking Questions

Classifying & Organizing

Padlet

Virtual whiteboard with tons of options to organize ideas collaboratively

Classifying & Organizing

Making Hypotheses

Estimation 180

Cumulative estimation activities, where each guess builds off the previous

Making Hypotheses

Investigating & Reflecting

Checkology

Online lessons in digital literacy and critical analysis of media

Investigating & Reflecting

Tableau

Visual, interactive representations of data with the ability to create new visualizations based on your own data sets

Explore

Convergent Thinking

Making Observations

Learn Around the World

Virtual field trips where students can interact with live guides and ask questions

Making Observations

Using Evidence

ESRI GeoInquiries

Hybrid lessons where students can interact with maps to substantiate content-based inquiries

Using Evidence

Inferencing

Google Experiment: Fabricus

Digital interactive exploring how we decipher hieroglyphics; includes game and learning opportunities

Inferencing

Deduction

Puzzle Baron

Interactive logic elimination grid puzzles

Deduction

Reflecting

What If?

A variety of scientific questions are answered in intricate details; students reflect on solutions and evidence

Reflecting

Blockly

Coding puzzles which use blocks to help students understand the order, relationship, and logic behind the code

Explore

Divergent Thinking

Generating Ideas

Curipod

Interactive slide generator with AI support for creation and feedback

Generating Ideas

Changing Perspectives

Google Experiment: Seeing Music

Use your computer's microphone or upload audio media to see the music come to life in a visual format

Changing Perspectives

Elaboration

Pixton

Comic strip and avatar generator for presenting, creating, and exploring content in new ways

Elaboration

Innovation

DIY.org

Challenges and projects in multiple disciplines (art, science, tech., etc.) for students to build and create

Innovation

Giving Ideas Purpose

BoomWriter

Collaborative group book-making where students vote on next chapters and create a physical book as a product

Giving Ideas Purpose

Poem Portraits

AI-generated collaborative poetry; great for idea starters and critical thinking about how some ideas may be unique but not purposeful

Explore

Evaluative Thinking

Considering Perspectives

DocsTeach

Interact with primary sources to consider various perspectives and aspects of history and culture

Considering Perspectives

Developing Criteria

Google Experiment: Tiny Sorter

Create a small mechanical sorter that works with the computer's camera to sort small objects based on input

Developing Criteria

Assigning Value

Living Room Candidate

Historical records of all presidential campaign ads since the 50's; investigative lessons to consider values

Assigning Value

Discussing Gray Area

Parlay

Digital format for group discussion, including options for verbal and text response as well as idea organization

Discussing Gray Area

Making & Defending Judgements

CueThink

Assign math tasks; students work through problems in workspace and then collaborate to discuss strategies

Making & Defending Judgements

DebateGraph

Interactive way to graph complex issues to show perspectives, arguments, implications, interactions, and impacts

Explore

Visual-Spatial Thinking

Spatial Language

MineCraft Education

Complete lessons, challenges, and puzzles to develop spatial awareness and language through gameplay

Spatial Language

Visualizing

CoSpacesEDU

Create virtual- and augmented-reality components to enhance existing content and explore further

Visualizing

Visual Perspectives

Toy Theater

Manipulate 3D shapes in space to build ideas like toys, buildings, etc. in a digital workspace

Visual Perspectives

Exploring Dimensions

TinkerCad

Take 2D ideas into 3D using the digital building space, then add coding to make ideas come to life

Exploring Dimensions

Seeking Structure

Science vs. Magic: Fractals

Explore with the fractal tool to edit angles, skew, and shapes to create amazing fractals

Seeking Structure

GeoGebra

Lessons and interactives in a variety of math strands which allow students to manipulate shapes, objects, and numbers to investigate concepts

Explore

Techy Tools for Critical Thinking

Resources by thinking skill, as presented at NAGC 2023

Analytical Thinking

Convergent Thinking

Divergent Thinking

Evaluative Thinking

Visual-Spatial Thinking

Know of another great tech resource we missed?

Send us your additions to our list, and we can make this resource even better for the future!

The GATEWAY Gals