What instructional strategy is noted for enhancing critical thinking in students?

Socratic questioning is a powerful instructional strategy that enhances critical thinking in students by encouraging them to engage deeply with content and explore their thoughts and beliefs. This method involves a dialogue where the teacher poses open-ended questions that stimulate thoughtful responses, prompting students to analyze their reasoning and consider different perspectives.

Through Socratic questioning, students learn to articulate their ideas more clearly, evaluate the validity of their arguments, and strengthen their ability to think independently. This strategy fosters an environment where inquiry and exploration are valued, making it particularly effective for developing higher-order thinking skills essential for problem-solving and decision-making.

The other strategies mentioned do not inherently promote the same level of critical engagement. Direct instruction typically focuses on teaching specific content through explicit teaching methods, which may limit opportunities for students to think critically about what they are learning. Lecture-based learning usually emphasizes the teacher's presentation of information, which can lead to passive absorption of knowledge rather than active engagement. Similarly, passive reading does not encourage interactive dialogue or critical analysis, as it often involves students consuming information without questioning or reflecting on it.