Definitions

A. “Critical thinking strategies” means techniques used by students to conduct research and to solve problems. Using critical thinking, one studies a subject or problem with open-mindedness. The process begins with a statement of what is to be studied, proceeds to unrestricted discovery and consideration of possibilities, and concludes with a pattern for understanding that is based on evidence. Motives, bias and prejudice of both the learner as well as the experts are then compared and form the foundation of judgment.  B. “Essential questions” are questions that explore matters of import. They are questions worthy of our time and are likely to spark interest and awaken curiosity. They require new thought rather than the mere collection of facts, second-hand opinions or cut-and-paste thinking. The traits of an essential question include:  (1) the question probes a matter of considerable importance;  (2) the question requires movement beyond understanding and studying (i.e., some kind of action or resolve) pointing toward the settlement of a challenge, the making of a choice or the forming of a decision;  (3) the question cannot be answered by a quick and simple yes-or-no answer;  (4) the question probably endures, shifts and evolves with time and changing conditions, offering a moving target, in some respects;  (5) the question may be unanswerable in the ultimate sense;  (6) the question may frustrate the researcher, may prove arid rather than fertile, and may evade the quest for clarity and understanding.  C. “Information literacy” means the ability to recognize when information is needed and to locate, evaluate and effectively use the needed information. Since information may be presented in a number of formats, the term “information” applies to more than just the printed word. Other literacies such as visual, media, computer, network and basic literacies are implicit in information literacy.

D. “Inquiry-based process” means the process by which students learn to formulate appropriate research questions, organize search data, analyze and evaluate the data found, and communicate the results in a coherent fashion. E. “Media literacy” means the process of analyzing, evaluating and creating messages in a wide variety of media modes, genres and forms. Media literacy is an expanded conceptualization of literacy. Media literacy uses an inquiry-based instructional model that encourages people to ask questions about what they watch, see and read. Media literacy education provides tools to help people critically analyze messages in order to detect propaganda, censorship and bias in news and public affairs programming (and the reasons for such) and to understand how structural features - such as media ownership or its funding model - affect the information presented. Media literacy aims to enable people to be skillful creators and producers of media messages, both to facilitate understanding as to the strengths and limitations of each medium, as well as to create independent media. By transforming the process of media consumption into an active and critical process, people gain greater awareness of the potential for misrepresentation and manipulation (especially through commercials and public relations techniques), and understand the role of mass media and participatory media in constructing views of reality. Media literacy is the tool students need to access, analyze, evaluate and produce communcation in a variety of forms. Students need to understand the ways that words, images and sounds influence the way meanings are created and shared in our contemporary global society. F. “Network of learners” means a social or intellectual group of people who are collaborating in order to learn. A network of learners can be a group of people meeting physically or virtually in an effort to share information and create new knowledge. The network can include members of the school’s learning community or members from the community at large. G. “Triangulation” is an approach to data analysis that synthesizes data from multiple sources. Using triangulation, one seeks to quickly examine existing data to strengthen interpretations and improve policy and programs based on the available evidence. By examining information collected by different methods, by different groups and in different populations, findings can be corroborated across data sets, reducing the impact of potential biases that can exist in a single study. 