The DCS Learner Profile defines nine essential skills every Dexter student develops throughout their education. Represented by The Helm (pictured above), the goal is for each student to master these skills by the time they graduate from Dexter High School.
This series explores the Learner Profile in action, offering a deeper look at the core values that guide Dexter Community Schools and how they are emphasized in the classroom.
Creative & Critical Thinking
In March, teachers, staff, and instructional coaches focused on the Creative & Critical Thinking competency. Upon graduating from Dexter Community Schools, students must be able to critically analyze and evaluate a variety of information and claims in order to determine what to think, believe, or do. Throughout their time at DCS, students learn how to make sense of problems and persevere to develop innovative, viable ideas and solutions that meet the needs of various audiences and challenges.
Creative & Critical Thinking in Action
Here are some recent Creekside student reflections on Creative & Critical Thinking:
- “Being critical, in my opinion, is judging. I judge my work and my thoughts. I do not judge others unless they need help with their work, but often I do not say anything, which is one of the communication skills that I need to work on."
- "To be a creative problem solver, you need to think outside the box and tackle it in a different way. That new way can make solving the problem much easier. Don't think that something is too "unrealistic" before you try."
- “I think all the time; the only times I do not think as much is when I am talking and I am doing something like cleaning, things like that. I get my ideas from my thinking, so thinking a lot is really helpful, especially since school requires thoughts of education.”
- “I will admit I am not that good with sharing my creative ideas, because they are not always the best ones in most ideal topics, like in math. But, other times I can do real well when it is something I am truly interested in. I can really get good ideas and more ideas. Although, some might not be as good as the others. It is still good to have back-up ones, in my opinion.”
- "I love coming up with ideas for everyday problems and making stuff. I like to think hard on stuff just in case I get it wrong."
- "One time I used creative thinking was when our class went out into the woods to build shelters. This was going to be fun, but you needed some creativity. You would have to build a shelter out of creativity. My group and I decided to make a 180-degree half-circle around a tree, and it worked really well. It was 41 degrees outside, and when you got in our shelter, it reached a whopping 85 degrees."
Critical and Creative Thinking is evident in each and every classroom throughout the District. Each year, the yearbook classes at Dexter High School tackle the enormous challenge of putting together DHS Unsinkable:
Volume 78 of DHS Unsinkable was passed out to Dexter High School students last Monday, after eight months of planning and collaboration among the students in Barry Mergler’s Yearbook class. Students start with a blank canvas each September, and through hours of brainstorming, organization, problem-solving, and decision-making, they create a 200+ page hardcover book that commemorates the school year.
To get the yearbook started, the team first puts together a schedule with deadlines and decides who’s in charge of what. Students brainstorm a meaningful and unique design idea that represents the school and the times, then develop that theme throughout the book. This year’s theme is AI. “The team wanted to capture the 2025 AI boom, giving future students a way to compare ‘old school’ AI with what’s ahead,” says Mergler. Students created the cover art and portrait dividers using AI. The team also selects an assortment of photos, stories, and events that best represent the school year (including at least one photo of every student), and ensures that all students and activities are fairly and accurately represented.
With an enterprise of this scale, it’s not surprising that a fair amount of time is spent problem-solving. Layout challenges, caption wording, missing/low-quality photos, scheduling conflicts, team management, and budget limitations are just some of the issues that crop up during the production process. Proofreading all text and checking layouts for consistency can be tedious, but teaches critical thinking and attention to detail.
Producing a successful yearbook combines critical thinking with creative thinking to document the school year in a unique and visually engaging way while ensuring accuracy, organization, and fairness. Both types of thinking are essential to producing a high-quality publication that the entire school community will cherish.
By focusing on one competency each month, DCS helps students identify their strengths and areas for growth. These concrete examples reinforce the skills and prepare students to confidently share their experiences when asked, “What are your core strengths?”
Next month’s competency: Financial Literacy