Leveraging Technology to Develop Students’ Critical Thinking Skills

Abstract

This article describes the nexus of the Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, principles of the Backward Curriculum Design process, and the Education 1.0, 2.0, & 3.0 communication flows working together to help TK-12 educators leverage technology tools to support the development of students’ critical thinking skills. We offer the addition of the Backward Curriculum Design and Ed 1.0–3.0 communication flow to the TPACK framework to provide educators with a roadmap that evaluates the use of technology tools to reinforce higher levels of student learning and thinking. As well, we contextualize our additions to the TPACK framework with examples demonstrating how to assess, select and effectively incorporate technology, inclusive of artificial intelligence applications, into classroom instruction. A set of guiding questions using the principles of this new framework are included.