The Importance of Critical Thinking Skills for Science Students

Many science students today are being taught in ways that aren’t engaging their minds. Sadly, many science lab experiences are set up to be very controlled and they don’t allow students to develop the critical thinking skills that they need. All of the conclusions are already right there in front of the students and they are expected to follow everything that is laid out procedurally. If the science community wants to develop more young scientists with critical thinking skills, then changing the approach to how students are being taught might be necessary.

More Thoughtful Experiments Are Necessary

The problem with the current experiments that are being held in school laboratories is that they are too controlled. It’s important to be able to do things safely but the experiments are often so simple that they don’t allow for much thinking. It’s basically following a recipe in a cookbook and having to make sure that you measure the ingredients properly. It’s not about coming up with your own signature dish.

Many scientists suggest allowing students to participate in experiments where they are allowed to draw their own conclusions. Not having all of the answers laid out before you makes a big difference. Students need to be able to think about what is happening and they need to be able to observe what is going on rather than feeling as if they’re painting by numbers. Most educators seem to understand the need for a change.

Scientists Need to Be Inquisitive

Scientists need to be inquisitive if they are going to be able to find success in science fields. Being able to think about things and being willing to try new things are all parts of science. If students cannot develop these critical thinking skills in the classroom, then they won’t be prepared for the larger world of science that awaits them. Discoveries are not usually made if you are not willing to do new things and think about things from different perspectives, after all.

The importance of critical thinking for science students should not be understated. This is a problem that education systems need to address. Science is one of the most important fields for humanity and America specifically needs more young minds to get interested in science. Changing the way that laboratory experiments are conducted in schools will go a long way toward helping kids to develop the proper critical thinking skills.