Critical and creative thinking

In the Humanities and Social Sciences curriculum, students develop their critical and creative thinking as they investigate civic, economic and business, geographical and historical concepts and ideas through inquiry-based learning. The effective development of critical and creative thinking in Humanities and Social Sciences enables students to learn to apply concepts and skills to new contexts and endeavours. Students build their inquiry skills as they learn to develop and clarify investigative questions, and to assess reliability when selecting information from diverse sources. Students develop analytical skills by using evidence to support an argument or position on a social, cultural or political issue. They interpret and analyse economic data and information and apply discipline-specific knowledge and understandings as they draw conclusions and propose solutions to complex problems.

Students develop creative thinking dispositions when they are encouraged to be curious and imaginative in investigations and field work, when considering multiple perspectives about issues and events, and when thinking deeply about questions that do not have straightforward answers. They imagine alternative futures in response to social, environmental, civic, economic and business challenges that require problem-solving and innovative solutions. They propose appropriate and alternative courses of action and consider the effects on their own lives and the lives of others.