Critical Thinking
In most schools today, vocabulary programs involve the use of word lists and workbooks. These exercises, involving rote memorization, are often tedious and result in low retention levels. Current research strongly suggests that, contrary to this practice, students learn best in virtually any subject by approaching problems inductively. This intellectual process requires the use of higher-order reasoning skills, especially those of analysis, synthesis, and application. In vocabulary acquisition specifically, once students have formed their own set of associations with a new word and its relationship to a variety of contexts, their understanding of its meaning and usage increases significantly.
At the heart of every Get A Clue program is the WATS™ System, our patented academic process for vocabulary acquisition. WATS, an acronym for Words And Their Stories, is based on the premise that every word has a story, and to understand that story is to understand the meaning of a word and its usage. WATS takes a multi-step approach that requires students to use inductive reasoning, and other higher-order reasoning skills, to develop a working definition of a word, even before any formal definition is given. The result is increased retention and a greater ability to use words accurately in everyday language.
Below are some useful links to research on critical thinking: