Higher order thinking skills involve more than just memorization of the information taught. Instead, higher order thinking requires students to analyze information and dissect the subject. When students use analytical skills to think critically about information being taught, they are less likely to forget the material. Students who are taught to think on a higher level comprehend information on a deeper, more intuitive level and therefore they retain the information longer.
When students learn higher order thinking, they learn how to synthesize and analyze theories, facts, and problems. Higher order thinking helps students to evaluate information and to develop solutions to problems. With these skills, students can apply higher order thinking to academic assignments such as math word problems and essay writing. Problem solving skills helps people to become better decision makers and to better handle challenging situations.
Teaching higher order thinking skills gives students the critical thinking skills to increase scores on standardized tests in the reading comprehension and math exam sections. Standardized testing is used to indicate the success of a student academically and in their professional life. Standardized tests like the ACT and SAT play an important role in whether students are accepted to colleges or receive scholarship awards.
Students who practice higher order thinking skills learn to synthesize and create something new based on information presented to them. Teaching higher order thinking helps students to exercise their creativity and to develop new ideas and different ways of completing tasks. Learning how to think creatively helps people to become leaders and innovators. People who use higher order thinking use their creativity to contribute their ideas, solutions and inventions to society.