Here's how you can infuse critical thinking into teachers' continuing education programs.

Explicit Instruction in Critical Thinking Skills: Incorporate modules or workshops that explicitly teach critical thinking skills, such as problem-solving techniques, evaluating evidence, and logical reasoning. Case Studies and Real-World Examples: Use case studies and real-world examples relevant to teaching contexts. Encourage teachers to analyze these scenarios critically, identifying underlying issues and proposing solutions. Socratic Questioning: Model and encourage Socratic questioning techniques during discussions and activities. This approach prompts teachers to explore assumptions, consider alternative viewpoints, and justify their reasoning.

I've attended some webinars and found them useful, but they can be challenging when there are too many participants and not enough personal engagement. I take notes and try to participate as much as I can, but without proper introductions, it's hard to connect. In-person workshops help me a lot with networking and sharing real-life class issues. These face-to-face interactions make it easier to engage deeply and apply what I've learned to my teaching practices.

I once learned that my floating dots were connected by someone else in the same industry—teaching. I always had this in the back of my mind but didn't know how to unravel the issues with my classes. More experienced fellow teachers shared great insights that I could fully understand and implement into my class. This experience showed me the value of reflective practice and the importance of seeking feedback from peers.

This should be the foundation of education—educating students to become critical thinkers. Encouraging them to ask questions and fostering a love for learning through inquiry is essential. This fundamental element should never be overlooked, as it is the core reason why we teach. By integrating critical thinking into the curriculum, we prepare students to navigate complex problems and think independently, which is vital for their future success.

Having a community where teachers can share and collaborate is invaluable. It not only improves our teaching skills but also helps us deal with the emotions and concerns we face. Teachers often lack the supporting tools or teams, so having a network for professional growth is crucial. Continuous education and collaboration among teachers are important not just for our development but, more importantly, for the benefit of our students. By working together, we can create a more supportive and effective educational environment.

We must always consider the cultural practices of our time and how each generation differs in their experiences, thought patterns their interests and their practices when we adapt our curriculum to fit the current status of the generation we are teaching we are creating a vehicle through which we can reciprocate oOur ideas and language on a common platform.