Students are active discussion participants within the Thinking Classroom.
"Reflections on Classroom Thinking Strategies," written by Eric Frangenheim, is designed by teachers, for teachers, according to Teacher Training Resource Bank Online. The reflections outlined within the book have been not only birthed within the classroom, but tested there, as well. The ideas illustrated within the book are intended to ignite a love for learning for both students and teachers, using one basic belief and three main strategies.
The Thinking Classroom
The Thinking Classroom has a mission that includes four major goals. It provides teachers the ability to interactively teach thinking. It justifies the thinking of teaching philosophy by raising the student learning and understanding ratio. It introduces teachers to many different approaches to teaching thinking. It illustrates ways that thinking can fuse into the curriculum to enrich learning and knowledge. The Thinking Classroom has a thinking-centered curriculum design online, as well as in the classroom, for teachers to attend online workshops and courses, to compile portfolios, activities, lessons and to receive and provide feedback from other educators. The rationale behind the Thinking Classroom is the belief that intelligence can be learned; therefore, teachers are obligated to teach thinking.
Analysis and Evaluation Strategies
Analysis and evaluation strategies promote thinking and active learning. According to analysis of the research literature from Chickering and Gamson's "Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education" in 1987, students must not simply just listen, but they must solve problems, read, write and discuss. According to Frangenheim's reflections, students must be active in the classroom and become involved in higher-order thinking tasks, such as analysis and evaluation that promotes instructional learning skills.
Creative Thinking Strategies
Creative thinking strategies focus on generating originality. Extending ideas and imagination, formulating hypotheses and original outcomes in any activity, are all examples of creative thinking strategy goals. Within a classroom that promotes creativity, the teacher and students value unusual and challenging questions and value diversity. They make connections, try new approaches, find new solutions and evaluate new ideas. Games and questions promote creative thinking skills. For example, asking students to design a video game or to invent something will help them formulate original plans.
Cooperative Thinking Strategies
Cooperative thinking strategies are designed to improve the students' experience within the classroom as they restructure information within group tasks. Students can use cooperative thinking strategies to learn, work and think cooperatively and productively together. Cooperative strategies help to improve interpersonal skills, as well as help students learn manipulate the outcome of their own learning.
