Making Critical Thinking a Daily Habit: Sage’s Critical Thinking Challenge Winners
Critical thinking is an important skill, but in practice, it’s often taught in isolated moments rather than as something students can and should use every day. At a time when people are surrounded by misleading information and AI-generated content, critical thinking is more important than ever.
To address this, Sage’s 2026 Critical Thinking Challenge is a global initiative that invited academic librarians, faculty, and researchers to share practical ideas for making critical thinking part of everyday learning. The response reflected how urgent this need has become. Sage received nearly 200 submissions from educators in 36 countries across six continents; you can read the top eight — all of which offer practical examples educators can adapt globally for their own classrooms — on Social Science Space.
The top three winners are awarded stipends to be used for research or library needs.
- First place (US$2,000): Changiz Mohiyeddini, professor of behavioral medicine and psychopathology, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. Winning submission: A daily Cognitive Immune System protocol at the beginning of lectures and library sessions.
- Second place ($500): Oh Zi Jian, business management lecturer, Batu Lanchang Vocational College. Winning submission: A Daily Verification Loop with three steps that can be applied to teaching across disciplines.
- Third place ($500): Diana Popa, senior lecturer, School of World Languages and Cultures, University of Vermont. Winning submission: Pause the Scroll: Daily micro-habits applicable in and out of the classroom.
The Critical Thinking Challenge builds on Sage’s broader commitment to helping educators teach and apply critical thinking in a fast-changing information landscape. The challenge complements other Sage initiatives and resources, including the annual Critical Thinking Bootcamp, reports from critical thinking expert Tom Chatfield, textbooks, and courses designed to develop these skills.
