Stephanie Simoes

I often post puzzles with counter-intuitive solutions that are harder than they seem. But this puzzle teaches a different kind of lesson.

From Martin Gardner's "My Best Mathematical and Logic Puzzles."

For more puzzles: critikid.com/puzzles

The Over-Gamification of Learning - Critikid Can gamified learning go too far? How to design engaging educational games that don't rely on extrinsic rewards.

In his guest post for Critikid's blog, math teacher and @sembl.bsky.social founder James Myklebust-Hampshire explores how to gamify learning effectively.

Read the full article here: critikid.com/gamification

Milo’s Mind: Beliefs and Rationality Unite - Critikid Milo’s mind is full of BELIEFS—but not all of them are true. Luckily, he has a helpful guide: RATIONALITY, a detective who helps him ask questions and search for evidence. In this picture book for kid...

Teach your 6-9-year-olds that changing your beliefs with new evidence is not a weakness - it's a superpower!

critikid.com/milos-mind-r...

Critikid - Critical Thinking for Kids Critical thinking resources for kids and teens - videos, courses, worksheets, and lesson plans for ages 5-18

Taking a break from current events to boost a #MediaLiteracy education tool from @critikid.bsky.social. Critikid.com is creating some really useful and reasonably priced teaching resources for key aspects of logical thinking for upper elementary and middle grades kids. 🍎📚 #TLSky 🧪🗺️

Thank you, Faith!

There are legitimate criticisms to be made about the company and the kinds of claims it has promoted. But spreading false claims about them only weakens valid criticisms.

For more on fact-checking claims, follow @newslit.org 5/5

We are more likely to believe this if we already have a critical view of Goop. Due to confirmation bias, when a claim fits what we already think, it tends to feel more believable. This is another sign to verify a claim before accepting it. 4/5

Finally, I did a web search. The only sources saying Goop has released an Iran peace kit are random people’s social media posts - nothing on the Goop social media or website. 3/5

Second, I found the original post. The caption said "# satire # FOREENTERTAINMENTPURPOSESONLY" and the page description said "The page features satire and parody stories that are exaggerated, developing fictional - created for entertainment purposes only." 2/5

How did I figure out that this was not true?

First, I noticed that the claim is infuriating. This is a sign to fact-check before accepting it. Outrageous content often gets shared too fast. 1/5

Thank you, John!

Lots of progress made on "Fallacy Detectors 2" yesterday: storyboard for the first 5 episodes complete!

See which logical fallacies are covered in the series: critikid.com/courses/fall...

Today, animation on Fallacy Detectors Part 2 got started!

To be notified when Fallacy Detectors Part 2 is ready, leave your email at the bottom of this page: critikid.com/courses/fall...

Fallacy Detectors Part 1: critikid.com/courses/fall...

Support Critikid Support Critikid

Fallacy Detectors Part 2 is officially in production! 🎬

If you'd like to support the project, you can donate via Ko-fi. Thank you so much to everyone who has helped make this possible.

ko-fi.com/critikid

If someone said, "I'm going to stop drinking alcohol," but then changed it to, "I’m going to stop drinking alcohol when driving," it strongly implies they still plan to drink when they're not driving.

You don't add a qualifier like that unless the unqualified version isn't what you really mean.

Thank you

Nobody has used the "Book a demo" button yet on Critikid's "For Schools" page, and I'm kind of relieved. I don't have any training in sales. But I also know that I'm going to need to do it eventually if I want to sell subscriptions. Do you have any tips for effective sales calls?

Dice, Mr. Smith, and Monty: The Case for Clarity in Probability Puzzles Think you know probability? Stephanie Simoes reveals how vague framing and hidden assumptions lead even experts astray. This sharp, accessible piece reveals why the information-generating process chan...

My first article in Skeptic!
www.skeptic.com/article/dice...

Pseudo-skepticism - What is Not Critical Thinking - Critikid Author Jon Guy explains how critical thinking and rational skepticism differ from cynicism, contrarianism, and denialism.

In his second guest post for the Critikid blog, author @skepticjonguy.bsky.social explains how critical thinking is different from cynicism, contrarianism, and denialism:
critikid.com/pseudoskepti...

Today's goal for Critikid: Edit voiceover recordings for Fallacy Detectors Part 2.
I have hired the same animator who did Fallacy Detectors Part 1 (@izafrenija.bsky.social), and she will get started in early March!
View part 1: critikid.com/courses/fall...

Some people say "scientific skepticism."

I add the adjective for clarity: skepticism can be defined as a general attitude of doubtfulness, which may or may not be guided by evidence. Many skeptics define it as "not accepting claims without evidence", but since it's another abstract noun, I think the specificity can be helpful.

Nice! Do you see "critical thinking" as being synonymous with "rational skepticism"?

What is Critical Thinking - Critikid Author Jon Guy defines critical thinking and distinguishes it from contrarianism and cynicism, clearing up some common misconceptions.

How do you define critical thinking?

Critical thinking is an abstract term, so different people may understand it in different ways.

In a guest post for Critikid's blog, author @skepticjonguy.bsky.social explores this question: critikid.com/what-is-crit...

Critikid’s resources help students evaluate information, recognize common thinking traps, and communicate more clearly. Critical Thinking for Schools makes it easy to use these resources in your K-12 classroom.

critikid.com/for-schools

Here's a demo/trailer I made for "Critical Thinking for Schools."
critikid.com/for-schools

⭐ New Release on Critikid! ⭐

I’ve just launched "Critical Thinking for Schools," a subscription option built for school teachers. One teacher subscription can be used with an unlimited number of students, so you can give your whole class access to the courses.

Learn more: critikid.com/for-schools

The Language of Science: Facts, Laws, and Theories - Critikid Free science literacy worksheet for middle school students explaining the difference between facts, laws, and theories.

3. The Language of Science: Facts, Laws and Theories (PDF only)

This free science literacy worksheet teaches the difference between facts, laws, and theories and addresses common misconceptions.

critikid.com/worksheets/f...

Formal Fallacy Handbook - Critikid Explanations of six formal logic fallacies, also called syllogistic fallacies.

2. Formal Fallacy Handbook (online or PDF)

An explanation of 6 formal fallacies (mistakes in an argument’s logical structure) with examples.

Online version: critikid.com/formal-falla...

Printable PDF: critikid.com/formal-falla...

Printable Data Analysis Handbook - Critikid A printable handbook explaining 8 common errors in data analysis with real-world examples and pictures.

1. Data Analysis Handbook (online or PDF)

An explanation of 8 common errors in data analysis with real-world examples.

Online version: critikid.com/data-analysi...

Printable PDF:
critikid.com/worksheets/p...