Kristina Bybee, a social studies teacher at Creek, is taking part in a national initiative aimed at improving students’ critical and analytical skills. The project, known as the CLEAR Thinking Project (Civic, Legal, Ethical, and Analogous Reasoning), is a three-year research program hosted by Auburn University in Alabama, with funding from the U.S. Department of Education.
The CLEAR Thinking Project brings together teachers from across the U.S. to develop, implement, and refine lessons that promote critical thinking in high school students. Bybee is working with a group of five government teachers from various states, including North Carolina, Colorado, and Alabama, to create and evaluate these lessons.
“We’re creating lessons, teaching them, and then analyzing how they work,” Bybee said. “We’re recording ourselves and our students’ reactions, then going back to see what worked, what didn’t and how we can improve.”
The project is designed to not only enhance the teachers’ ability to deliver lessons focused on critical thinking but also to provide students with essential skills that extend beyond the classroom.
Bybee emphasized the importance of teaching students to think critically and analyze information, which she believes is crucial for their success both in school and in their future endeavors.
“If I can become a better teacher at helping students with their critical thinking and analysis skills, it will benefit them beyond school,” Bybee said. “They’ll be able to approach information more thoughtfully instead of just accepting things at face value.”
The CLEAR Thinking Project is part of a broader effort to equip educators with the tools they need to foster better reasoning skills among students. Although the initial phase for the project is set up to last 3 years, the findings and strategies developed could inform educational practices for up to 10 years. There is also the potential for the program to be extended by an additional 2 years.
Bybee is currently the only teacher from Colorado participating in the CLEAR Thinking Project, making her contribution more notable. Her involvement came about through her connections as a James Madison Fellow, a prestigious fellowship for teachers specializing in American history, Government, and social studies. As the project moves forward, she hopes to not only enhance her teaching methods but also share her experiences and insights with educators across the country.
“It’s exciting to collaborate with teachers from different parts of the country and keep my teaching fresh after 18 years in the classroom,” Bybee added.
