Implementation of critical thinking into educational curricula of partner schools as a response to current challenges of modern Europe

"The aim of the project was to acquire and implement elements of critical thinking in the teaching process at the partner schools Cirkevna spojena skola, Bardejov, Slovakia and Salesian School Chertsey, UK. Critical thinking was encouraged in group and project teaching by analyzing various topics in the field of geography, history, religion and informatics and by group and class discussions. Project participants learned to analyze the topic, to search for reliable and relevant information on the Internet, to discuss in an international group and to take a qualified attitude to current issues based on reliable information. Some topics and demonstrations of the critical thinking analysis were elaborated in written form. Critical thinking questions and forms of work at the lesson have also been gathered during the project. The project was completed by the ""Public Speaking Competition"" at Cirkevna spojena skola Bardejov where the participants had an opportunity to present their contributions to other students and school teachers. The speakers' entries were judged by an expert jury from Salesian School Chertsey. The main criterion of the competition was the ability to analyze the topic.Four study exchanges took place during the project. Each exchange was attended by 24 students on the Slovak side who were accompanied by four teachers and 20 students on the English side who were accompanied by two teachers. During the short-term (7-day) educational visits, all project participants enriched each other by their view at various topics from different regional, European and multicultural aspects."