20 Higher-Order Thinking Skills: The Key to Deeper Learning

Knowledge is an important part of life. But, in today’s modern education gaining knowledge is not limited to textbooks and teachers sharing solutions. 

Various other approaches such as search online, watch videos, or AI tools are ideal sources of gaining information in today’s education system. 

But having access to information is not the same as understanding or using it wisely. Here comes one of the most important processes called “Higher-Order Thinking Skills”.

In 21st century classroom learning, memorising and high scores is not an effective approach, one must prepare deeply, find solutions to real-world issues, and make effective decisions. 

To do so, higher-order thinking skills guide learners to connect ideas, apply knowledge in new situations, and evaluate information. 

Let’s explore what higher-order thinking skills means and 20 essential HOTS students must have in the 21st century classroom. 

What are Higher-Order Thinking Skills? 

Higher-order thinking skills or HOTS is a cognitive process in which students not just recall facts and understand basic concepts, they go beyond.  

The term comes from Bloom’s taxonomy of learning which includes 6 major levels: 

• Remembering
• Understanding
• Applying
• Analysing
• Evaluating
• Creating

It is an ideal way to understand HOTS better, one must think of learning as a ladder. 

“Remembering” includes students recalling facts, “understanding” involves explaining ideas, and “applying” means using knowledge in an innovative manner. These 3 involve lower-order thinking. 

On the other hand, “analysing” means breaking information into multiple parts to understand it better, “evaluating” means judging or forming opinions according to evidence, and “creating” helps in combining knowledge and ideas to produce something new. 

These 3 involve high-order thinking. Each of these skills are ideal for both personal and professional life. 

20 Higher Order Thinking Skills Students Must Have

Given below are 20 key higher-order thinking skills one must develop to improve classroom learning: 

1. Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is an essential higher-order thinking skill. Here students instead of understanding analyse, verify, and find out conclusions according to evidence. 

Students with critical thinking skills examine information objectively, questioning assumptions, and are able to make reasoned judgments.

This helps them to understand difficult topics instead of rote learning .

2. Creative Thinking

To generate or innovate original ideas students must need creative thinking skills . Here, they learn how to look at problems from different perspectives. 

Students who think out of the box help them to achieve academic progress. Creative thinking is all about increasing curiosity, imagination, and experimentation.

This higher-order thinking skill ideal for modern society needs. 

3. Analytical Reasoning

Analytical reasoning simply means breakdown information or problems to understand and find solutions to gain desired knowledge . 

It helps students observing, comparing, and connecting points to find truth. A simple example includes, class 10th students analysis the science experiment. 

Students find out cause, effect, and relationship between variables. For systematic thinking and base conclusions analytical reasoning is important. 

4. Problem-Solving

For learners, problem-solving is one of the essential skills where they understand the academic or personal problems and look for innovative solutions. 

Teachers help students to understand the challenges, analyse causes, and come up with workable solutions. 

It helps students in real-life situations. For example, a group of students work on an environmental project to showcase innovative solutions to save water on earth. 

5. Decision-Making

Taking the right decisions whether it is personal or professional needs is essential for each student. 

Through careful consideration students can prioritise project topics, specific techniques to complete tasks, and manage time during exams. 

A right decision is taken through combining logic, reasoning, and emotional intelligence . 

6. Evaluation and Judgment

Evaluation and judgment refers to analysis of the information and judging to make right decisions. 

For example, students learning from online resources must learn from trusted sources to avoid any wrong or inaccurate information. 

Evaluation and judgment is an important higher-order thinking skill for the 21st century where technology in education plays a major role to take right decision. 

By this way learners are also able to learn about digital literacy . 

7. Synthesis of Ideas

Synthesis is one step further of summarising where learners gather information from various sources into a coherent format of some kind. 

Synthesis of ideas ensures a collecting information to create innovative solutions or concepts. It helps students to think differently. 

For example, a student becomes creative and uses physics to create an art to design kinetic sculpture. 

8. Logical Reasoning

Logical reasoning in students means capability to think rationally, analyze information, and conclude solutions. 

Logical reasoning is ideal for kids to differentiate guessing from informed decision-making.  

For example, students analyse situations to make a right and measurable choice which enhances learning and improves performance. 

9. Reflection (Metacognition)

Awareness and understanding of one’s own thought processes is known as “Metacognition”. 

The term helps students to plan, monitor, evaluate, and make changes in our learning style to deal with challenges and improve knowledge. 

Here, students are able to evaluate their study habits , understand what are their strengths and weaknesses to customise learning. 

10. Questioning and Inquiry

Critical thinking leads to questioning and inquiry which is ideal to understand the concepts in-depth. 

Implementation of inquiry-based learning makes students curious and interested to explore new ideas, and seek understanding.

Students instead of asking “What” ask “Why” and “How”. For deep learning and student engagement it is an ideal higher-order thinking skill in the 21st century classroom. 

11. Application of Knowledge

One of the higher-order thinking skills is practical application of knowledge in real life. Education which is used by students in real world scenarios is crucial. 

For example, students conduct a science experiment to show photosynthesis in plants. To make learning meaningful, building a connection between theory and practicality is essential. 

Practical application of knowledge helps students to solve education, workplaces, and personal life related problems through information. 

12. Conceptualization

Conceptualization refers to the procedure of forming abstract ideas or general principles. It helps to gain knowledge in a more systematic way. 

It is an ideal way that allows transfer of learning across situations. In this way learners are able to see things in a bigger picture. 

13. Inference and Deduction

With clear evidence and reasoning students draw a conclusion of a particular situation known as inference. 

Deduction is an ideal method in which students progress from general ideas to specific conclusions. 

It helps in strengthening comprehension and logical thinking.

14. Comparing and Contrasting

Higher-order thinking skills like comparing and contrasting guides students to find similarities and differences between concepts. 

It helps students to understand and analyse the information in a better way. In this way students develop critical perspectives by organising information. 

15. Drawing Conclusions

Drawing conclusions simply means exploring and understanding the information to draw a clear and logical conclusion. 

For example, after observing a science experiment on how plants are growing in good and bad soil students conclude how nutritious soil is important for plants. 

16. Innovation and Idea Generation

Innovation and idea generation in today’s education system helps students to convert into real life situations. 

Here, students learn problems in depth and identify innovative ideas which prepare learners for modern careers that demand adaptability and invention.

17. Strategic Thinking

Strategic thinking in students means planning before learning, setting objectives, and dealing with challenges. 

Here, students make choices based on their long-term goals. It is helpful to achieve both personal and career growth. 

For example, thinking strategically about how to manage projects efficiently, allocate time wisely, and techniques to get good results. 

18. Perspective-Taking

Perspective-taking simply means looking things in others point of view for better understanding. This builds empathy , cultural awareness, and open-mindedness. 

It is helpful to connect with a global audience without any difficulties. Various activities like group discussion and debate ensure kids learn tolerance, respect, and collaboration. 

19. Connecting Concepts Across Disciplines

Connecting concepts across disciplines is also known as an interdisciplinary approach. It is an ideal way to link ideas from different fields. 

However, they must make sure the connection is accurate and ideal to implement in the real world. 

20. Design Thinking

A human-centered approach to solve problems and encourage empathy, experimentation, and innovation is known as “Design Thinking”. 

Design thinking can be performed in classroom learning to find innovative solutions for social and environmental problems. 

By this way students can promote teamwork, creativity, and resilience skills. 

Conclusion

Developing HOTS or higher-order thinking skills in students requires thoughtful teaching strategies. Facilitators and parents can help them to reinforce effectively. 

There are many ways by which teachers can promote higher-order thinking in the classrooms such as using open-ended questions, incorporating real-world problems, by providing feedback etc. 

The above mentioned higher-order thinking skills are a crucial part of students’ life in the 21st century classroom. 

Development of these skills helps students to get ready for future confidence. It’s time to encourage higher-order thinking to build better tomorrow. 

Skills