Bloom’s Upside Down: Reimagining Critical Thinking in the AI Era

This session explores how generative AI is forcing educators to reimagine critical thinking instruction by flipping Bloom's Taxonomy. Traditional approaches beginning with knowledge acquisition before advancing to analysis are being challenged in an era where AI can instantly deliver factual content. Research by Gonsalves (2024) reveals the need for a revised framework that starts with higher-order interrogation of AI-generated content, followed by collaborative refinement and melioration of information. Participants will explore practical strategies for teaching students to critically evaluate AI outputs, merge AI tools with traditional research methods, and develop ethical reasoning skills essential for responsible AI use. Through interactive demonstrations, attendees will experience how starting with evaluation and analysis of AI content can spark deeper engagement and more authentic learning than traditional knowledge-first approaches. Discover how to transform your classroom practice by designing assessments that position AI as a collaborative partner rather than a shortcut, teaching students to formulate precise prompts, and implementing activities that cultivate reflective thinking. Leave with a toolkit of practical, classroom-tested strategies to help students develop the metacognitive skills needed to thrive in an AI-integrated educational landscape, ensuring technology enhances rather than diminishes critical thinking development.