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Abstract

This work focused on increasing Year 3 students’ use of critical thinking and taking the second-person perspective (2^ndPP) when interpreting and resolving life issues. Previous research indicated the Personal Viewpoints Pedagogy (PVP) elicited social thinking that exhibited strong perspective-taking and precursors to critical thinking – incipient critical thinking (ICrT). A 10-lesson curriculum with PVP applied to narratives from the Book of Acts, and a ‘do unto others’ focus (ActsPVP Curriculum) was taught. Pre- and post-test comparisons using a ‘Stealing Scenario’ to judge heart-based thoughts and attitudes (Heb 4:12) indicated that 2^ndPP and ICrT increased support of the PVP’s impact on social thinking processes.

Keywords

biblical narrative brain and development critical thinking personal viewpoints pedagogy second-person perspective social issues resolution

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A cognitive window into Year 3 students’ social thinking processes

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