Highly Effective Thinkers: Critical Thinking for Teens by Timothy J. Redmond

Timothy J. Redmond recounts his journey from conspiracy belief to critical thinking advocate, which inspired him to develop a high school course teaching teens how to think skeptically and avoid cognitive pitfalls. The course, structured in seven units, covers topics such as cognitive biases, evaluating information sources, and the importance of skepticism and intellectual humility in forming well-reasoned beliefs. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2025/04/highly-effective-thinkers-critical-thinking-for-teens/ About the Author: Timothy J. Redmond received his MA and PhD in political science from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He teaches history, government, and critical thinking at Williamsville East High School and is an adjunct professor at Daemen College. Redmond is a Jackson Center fellow, the recipient of the 2019 Toby Ticktin Back Award for excellence in Holocaust education, and an associate director of the Human Rights Academy. His monthly newspaper column, “The Examined Life,” appears in the East Aurora Advertiser. Follow him on Twitter @tjredmo. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.