I began my capstone project by identifying and reading the Ontario Ministry of  Education Ministry documents. Below is a list of the documents I reviewed. However, one trend I noticed was that critical thinking was not included as a theme in older publications. The newest documents and resources have critical thinking as a key transitional learning skill.

• Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8 Mathematics 2020
• What Works? Research into Practice Think About It! April 2017
• Framework of Global Competencies Ontario Ministry of Education 2017
• Research and Resources – Digital Citizenship January 2017
• The Kindergarten Program 2016
• 21st Century Competencies Foundation Document for Discussion 2016
• Literacy for a Connected World Capacity Building K-12 September 2015
• OSAPAC Critical Thinking and Information Literacy 2014/2015 
• Achieving Excellence A Renewed Vision for Education in Ontario 2014
• 21st Century Teaching and Learning Digital Citizenship and Digital Literacy What Research Tells Us….Winter 2014
• Ontario Curriculum, Social Studies Grades 1 – 6, History and Geography Grade 7 – 8 2013
• Growing Success – Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting in Ontario Schools 2010
• Reach Every Student Energizing Ontario Education Winter 2008
• Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8 Language 2006
• The Critical Thinking Consortium – Funded by the Government of Canada
• Website for Ontario Software Acquisition Program Advisory Committee
• Innovation Learning Fund Digital Learning Looking Deeper

Another big idea I learned is that curriculum is content, but critical thinking is a skill that can be applied to future situations. The content of learning may not linger, but if a student can think critically they will be able to solve problems and see connections in data sets and information. The content is the material that is delivered to engage students in deeper learning that develop critical thinking processes in students.

Teachers can foster students with critical thinking skills by modelling curiosity and develop an atmosphere of inquiry. They can also provide students with thinking strategies that extend beyond broader relevance and investigate the perspectives of others through a social justice lens.