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**This wiki has been set up to support teachers in developing a //thinking culture// within their learning community, as it appears it is merely a 'collection' of a range of "Thinkers Tools", "Ideas", "Frameworks" and "Possibilities". ** I'm not sure where I first heard the quote that
 * What I think.... **

"Children enter school as question marks and leave as full-stops" but it has stuck with me. What happens to the 'but why, but why?"

I believe that nurturing a sense of wonder (regardless of the age of learner) and curiosity is vital to building a community of spontaneous and creative thinkers. We need thinkers that are confident communicators, who are risk takers and have become global rather than local in their thinking. When leading their own learning these thinkers let the 'So What' (their desire, their interest) drive the need for learning.

I think that
 * "Good Thinking" is more often taught using three approaches: Skills (tools based), Dispositions (Intellectual Traits based) and Understandings (Relevant and Rich Contexts).
 * There is no "One size fits all model"
 * Thinking Skills are __supported__ by the use of Thinking tools
 * Just 'having' a toolbox is **NOT** enough, it is **NOT** about a random splattering of 'this and that'.
 * It is **ALL** about making connections, about going deeper, about lifting the bar about explicit teaching and role modelling.
 * Challenge is never a criticism, to allow challenge even when things are working well, allows the opportunity to see another perspective.

IT is ALL about a common language of thinking and learning. The cognitive operations that make up thinking need to be explored, explained, taught and practiced over and over in a variety of contexts using a variety of strategies before they can be mastered. We must therefore allow students to be individuals and complete tasks in their own way, to challenge ideas and reflect on tasks. Learners will then gain deeper understandings of concepts, be more critical, confident and in turn creative.

** What do the "Great Thinkers" say? **

**Howard Gardiner** stated (2009, ICOT) ** "Character is more important than intellect" **
 * "If you can't use it flexibly it is of no use!"
 * "It is a mistake to have a "Uniform School" "
 * "It is important to nurture individuality"

**Art Costa (2009, ICOT)**

"WE must not only prepare students for tests in life but the tests of life"
 * Skillful, creative, critical thinking is what we are striving for.
 * Habit is a cable, we weave it each day and at last we cannot break it.
 * We must have curriculum mind shifts From: Not knowing right answers To: Knowing how to behave when answers are not immediately apparent.

David Perkins considers (2009, ICOT)

"What's worth knowing for a good life in a complex world?"
 * We are educating for the unknown
 * Visible thinking "I use to think" "Now I think"
 * "Flexpertise" vs "expertise"
 * David's Book "Making learning Whole"

Edward Debono said (2009, ICOT)
**"The biggest problem facing the world today is NOT climate change........but lack of thinking"** **Lane Clark** stated (2009, ICOT)
 * Why do we need creativity? Because without design all we have is judgement.
 * 0-5 years "Why?"
 * 6 - 11 years "Why not?"
 * 12 - 75+ years "Because"

**"Prepare kids for their futures not your past" **

She believes that you need to ask yourself these questions
 * "What does it mean to think?"
 * "What are thinking skills?"
 * "What are thinking tools?"
 * "What is the relationship between skills and tools?"
 * "Does thinking occur in levels?"
 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"What's the relationship between thinking and learning?

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Lane believes that learning requires high challenge and low threat. That we must move from proving they know it to proving they've learnt it. We must also move to "Real world learning" rather than "In School learning"

= Visit my website = = [|SWITCH ON NZ] = = to book e-learning workshops or professional learning opportunities for your teachers or school. =