Workshop at a Glance
The 2-Hour Critical Thinking with AI Workshop
Our workshop is designed to be immediately impactful and endlessly applicable. In just two hours, students learn thinking frameworks they'll use for the rest of their lives.
Session Structure
Three Learning Cycles
Module 1
Causal Reasoning & Systems Thinking
Learn to identify cause-and-effect relationships and understand how systems interact
Module 2
Perspective-Taking & Empathetic Reasoning
Develop the ability to understand and reason from multiple viewpoints
Module 3
Insight Mapping & Knowledge Connection
Learn to connect ideas across subjects and contexts
Each Module Follows the Same Pattern
10 Minutes
Framework Introduction
10 Minutes
AI-Guided Challenge
7.5 Minutes
Small Group Discussion
7.5 Minutes
Personal Reflection
Module Breakdown
Module 1: Causal Reasoning & Systems Thinking
Learning Objective: Students learn to identify cause-and-effect relationships and understand how systems interact.
Framework Taught:
- First-order vs. second-order effects
- Feedback loops and unintended consequences
- Root cause analysis
🎯 AI-Guided Challenge: "The Decision Architect"
Students are presented with a real-world scenario (e.g., "Your school wants to ban phones during lunch"). They use AI to explore: What are the immediate effects? What are the long-term effects? Who benefits? Who is harmed? AI prompts them to think deeper: "What assumptions are you making?" "What evidence would change your mind?"
Small Group Discussion:
- Groups of 5 share their causal maps
- Compare different perspectives
- Identify blind spots in each other's reasoning
Personal Reflection:
- Students journal: "What surprised me about this exercise?"
- "How could I use this framework in my own life?"
- "What's one decision I'm facing where this applies?"
Module 2: Perspective-Taking & Empathetic Reasoning
Learning Objective: Students develop the ability to understand and reason from multiple viewpoints.
Framework Taught:
- Steelmanning (arguing the strongest version of an opposing view)
- Cognitive empathy vs. emotional empathy
- Identifying hidden assumptions and values
🎯 AI-Guided Challenge: "The Perspective Simulator"
Students are given a controversial topic relevant to their lives. They must argue FOR and AGAINST the position. AI helps them strengthen both arguments. Students identify which perspective they find most compelling and why.
Small Group Discussion:
- Share the strongest argument for the "other side"
- Discuss: "What did I learn by trying to understand a different view?"
- Explore: "How does this change how I approach disagreements?"
Personal Reflection:
- "When have I dismissed someone's perspective without understanding it?"
- "How can I use this skill in my relationships?"
Module 3: Insight Mapping & Knowledge Connection
Learning Objective: Students learn to connect ideas across subjects and contexts.
Framework Taught:
- Analogical reasoning
- Pattern recognition across domains
- Building mental models
🎯 AI-Guided Challenge: "The Insight Connector"
Students pick a concept they're learning in school (e.g., photosynthesis, supply and demand, narrative structure). AI helps them find connections to 3 other domains (sports, relationships, technology, etc.). Students create an "insight map" showing how the same pattern appears everywhere.
Small Group Discussion:
- Share insight maps
- Challenge each other: "Does this connection really hold?"
- Build on each other's ideas
Personal Reflection:
- "What's the most surprising connection I found?"
- "How does seeing patterns across subjects change how I learn?"
- "What's one insight I want to remember?"
Why This Structure Works
Active Learning
Students retain 90% of what they practice and apply immediately, compared to just 5% from lectures
Metacognition Built In
Reflection phases force students to think about their thinking—transforming a one-time lesson into a lifelong skill
AI as Thought Partner
Students use AI to challenge assumptions, explore perspectives, and strengthen reasoning—not just get answers
Small Groups Build Confidence
Groups of 5 create psychological safety while providing diverse perspectives
What Students Walk Away With
By the end of the 2-hour workshop, students will:
- ✅ Understand how to break down complex problems into cause-and-effect relationships
- ✅ Know how to argue multiple sides of an issue with intellectual honesty
- ✅ Be able to find patterns and connections across different subjects
- ✅ Have practiced using AI as a thinking tool, not a shortcut
- ✅ Have reflected on their own thinking process and identified areas for growth
- ✅ Feel confident that they can apply these frameworks to any challenge
What Educators Receive
After the workshop, you'll get:
- 📊 Engagement Report: Which students participated most actively
- 📈 Reflection Summaries: Key insights from student journals (anonymized)
- 🎯 Growth Indicators: Which thinking frameworks resonated with which students
- 💡 Follow-Up Recommendations: How to reinforce these skills in your classroom
Next Steps
"We don't rise to the level of our expectations; we fall to the level of our training." — Archilochus