8. How is “critical thinking” developed through RIP® scientific inquiry?

Readers of Look at Us Now! Making Scientific Practices Matter in the Classroom…and Beyond will notice that every investigation emphasizes how the Research Investigation Process (RIP®) impacts critical thinking in students. Each chapter shows with varying degrees how the process of scientific inquiry engages students in critical thinking from the initial observation to the conclusion. Logical connections are made throughout the process of the investigations as students observe objectively, ask questions based on observations, check and weigh assumptions, critically evaluate previously generated knowledge, collect and consider evidence in hypothesis testing, and test hypotheses. All of these actions assess and challenge the quality of logical thinking and reasoning. Students practice the various skills of critical thinking while addressing the criteria that define each of these components of scientific inquiry. Within each inquiry component, the RIP® employs a number of strategies and activities that assess the thinking that occurs while students progress through the steps of the investigation.

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