‘Thinking & Learning Toolbox’Rationale

Matt BuxtonDjanogly City Academy Nottingham

Image: http://www.dailygalaxy.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/05/23/blue_brain_5.jpg

Thoughts are...• Private• Invisible• Abstract

Ref: Caviglioli, O., Harris, I. & Tindall, B; Thinking Skills & Eye-Q; Stafford:NEP; (2002), p.9

Image: http://www.camargue-nature.co.uk/Images/Bch_Bduc_solitude.jpg

““Thinking can be transformed Thinking can be transformed from being a private, from being a private,

abstract and invisible act, to abstract and invisible act, to one that is public, concrete one that is public, concrete

and visible.”and visible.” Ref: Caviglioli, O., Harris, I. & Tindall, B; Thinking Skills & Eye-Q; Stafford:NEP; (2002), p.9.

Rationale

• Thinking is hard because it’s invisible, private and abstract

• Therefore, we need to make it visible, public and concrete

• Visual Thinking Templates help to do this by:– Facilitating Thinking by enabling students to produce

structured graphic organisers which can be seen, edited, commented upon.

– Stimulating Thinking by ‘leading’ them through particular ‘thought-processes’.

Ref: Thinking Skills & Eye-Q; Caviglioli, O., Harris, I. & Tindall, B; Stafford:NEP; (2002)

Two distinct areas of Thinking:

Image: http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee277/jefferyhodges/The_Thinker_close.jpg

The Three-Stage Learning Model

3-Stage Learning Model - Rationale

• Break down learning process.• Focus on Conceptual Thinking.• Facilitate & Stimulate cognitive processing.• Focus assessment opportunities at Thinking

Stage, as opposed to solely Output Stage.• Provide Visual link between Thinking and

Output, particularly literacy i.e. Visual essay planning.

How to use the ‘Toolbox’• The student ‘Toolbox’ has one slide for each Thinking Tool;

a blank template for them to complete – either on PowerPoint or a paper-based version printed by the teacher.

• The teacher ‘Toolbox’ has one blank template & one completed example to show the students.

• Copy-&-Paste required templates onto new PowerPoint for student ‘workbook’; provides lesson sequence.

• Ideally, the Tools should be introduced with a ‘practice’ first that is not related to the lesson content; then used with the lesson content.

• The Tools should be used by students numerous times throughout the year; it is important that opportunities are built-into your teaching and planning for them to do so.

Objective• The over-arching objective is for us to arrive at a

situation where students will independently use appropriate Tools within Tasks.

• To achieve this, we must:– Ensure students know about the Toolbox– Ensure they know how to use a range of Tools– Design & Plan lessons and tasks which require the use of

the tools– Ensure the students use the Tools regularly– Assess the students ‘Thinking’ by giving comments and

feedback on their use of the Tools.

Learning/Thinking Tool: Target Chart

Web 2.0 functionality & collaboration

• Microsoft Learning Gateway running over either SharePoint 2003 or 2007 can enable users to collaborate on documents online.

• Students can therefore work collaboratively from remote locations.

• This fundamentally extends Learning Opportunities and enhances Student Design of their learning.

Web 2.0 functionality & collaboration

• Upload PowerPoint ‘Toolbox Workbook’ to a Sharepoint 2003/2007 site.

• Remote users then access document online.• When the document opens, the learner

selects ‘Edit Presentation’ - • The learners then work on the document,

saving regularly by clicking Save icon –• Each learner must Refresh the document

regularly to see their peers amendments -