What is

High-order thinking skills

High-order thinking skills are a series of important competencies individuals can utilize in order to improve learning progress and critical thinking. Those who employ high-order thinking skills understand how to analyze and evaluate complex information, categorize, manipulate and connect facts, troubleshoot for solutions, understand concepts, connections and big picture thinking, problem solve, ideate and develop insightful reasoning.

High-order thinking skills, also called high-order thinking or HOT, refer to skills that go beyond memorizing information or regurgitating stories—skills at the bottom of the Bloom’s Taxonomy hierarchy—and emphasize the development of analytical skills. High-order thinking skills are thought to be harder to teach and learn than mere facts, but are ultimately more important for developing critical thinking and analytical faculties. Though essential at the university and college level, high-order thinking skills are thought to be increasingly important in early education.