FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

To effectively develop critical thinking skills in students, what should a teacher do first?

1. Assess students’ prior knowledge

2. Give concepts

3. Encourage group discussions

4. Implement problem-solving tasks

The correct answer is: Give concepts

To effectively develop critical thinking skills in students, the most logical first step is to assess students’ prior knowledge. This allows the teacher to understand what students already know and where their misconceptions might lie. Understanding prior knowledge provides a foundation for introducing new concepts and challenging students to build upon what they already understand. When teachers assess prior knowledge, they can tailor their instruction to meet the specific needs of their students. If students have a solid foundation in the basics, they are more likely to engage effectively with new concepts and problem-solving tasks. This step is crucial because critical thinking often requires a solid base of knowledge to analyze, evaluate, and create new ideas based on what has been previously learned. Thus, evaluating prior knowledge is a vital first step in facilitating deeper understanding and critical analysis in the learning process.