Author: TeachThought Staff

by TeachThought Staff Critical thinking isn’t a skill, nor is it content knowledge or even evidence of understanding. While it involves and requires these ideas, critical thinking is also very much a state of mind — a willingness and tendency to sit with an idea and ‘struggle wonderfully’ with it. In critical thinking, there is no conclusion; it is constant interaction with changing circumstances and new knowledge that allows for broader vision which allows for new evidence which starts the process over again. Critical thinking has at its core raw emotion and tone. Intent. The purpose of these stems is…

See also The Real You Is All Of Us In the last ten years, too many teachers have left the teaching profession altogether because they feel burned out, unsupported, or unsafe. Any reassurance provided by empty platitudes like, “We’re all in this together” and trivial ‘rewards’ such as denim pants privileges on Friday now feels insulting. Each new email may feel like a trigger as many teachers have come to anticipate new forms of stress with each school day. With no end in sight, what used to feel like teaching can often feel like a never-ending performance in the theatre…

Costa’s Levels of Questioning — designed by educational researcher Art Costa — feature three tiers of questioning designed to promote higher-level thinking and inquiry. Similar to Bloom’s taxonomy, Costa’s lower level prompts students to use more basic faculties; as students move up in levels, the questions prompt them to use more complex thinking skills. Through decades of research on human resilience, Dr. Costa also identified the 16 Habits of Mind, a set of behaviors that support students in navigating the challenges that often occur in school and life, in general. Several of Dr. Costa’s 16 habits — thinking interdependently, innovating,…

contributed by Angela Peery Picture a classroom full of youngsters. They could be darling, chubby-cheeked kindergartners or swaggering, confident high school seniors – or anything in between. Can you see them? Now, picture this class engrossed in reading. What does being engrossed in reading look like? What does it sound like? What evidence exists that true, engaged reading is taking place? See also What Is Critical Reading? In my visualization, I see a room full of freshmen – my classroom of yesteryear. Five or six students are lounging in the reading area, reclining on the sofa or stretched out on…

“Self-belief does not necessarily ensure success, but self-disbelief assuredly spawns failure.” (Albert Bandura) Those who are new to social learning theory might not make the immediate connection to an individual’s beliefs about their own abilities; however, self-efficacy is a core tenet of Albert Bandura’s social learning theory. In this segment of learning theories, we are performing a deep dive into psychologist Albert Bandura, his contributions to social learning theory, how his ideas have evolved, and how teachers can capitalize on social learning theory to increase achievement and other positive outcomes for students in the classroom. The Man Behind The ‘Bobo…

Educators and students at all levels are using design thinking to create solutions for real-world problems. Whether you’re new to the concept or looking for fresh ideas, this updated and curated list features high-quality resources that are free, low-cost, or easily accessible to help you get started today. Essential Toolkits & Guides IDEO U & Design Thinking for Educators A comprehensive toolkit and set of resources from the leading design firm. It provides a step-by-step process for applying design thinking in the classroom. This is an excellent starting point for any educator. Explore the IDEO Toolkit Stanford d.school K12 Lab…

The New Periodic Table Song In Order (To Make You And Your Students Crazy) by TeachThought Staff There once was periodic table song whose frenzied pace and extraordinary organization made it seemingly irreplaceable–a classic among classics. There was no need for another. But in an answer to a question no one asked, the good folks at asapSCIENCE have gone back to the well and produced another stunner sure to take up space on the smartphones of all the cool kids, banging rhythmically out of Beats headphones all over school. This version has the elements in order, and even includes interjections that…

by TeachThought Staff In 13 Brilliant Outcomes Of Project-Based Learning, we gave a quick example of project-based learning to illustrate the relationship between learning objectives and the products and artifacts produced by project-based learning. “As the name implies, project-based learning is simply learning through projects. What is being learned and how that learning is being measured isn’t strictly dictated by the project and any products or artifacts within that project. Rather, the reverse should be true: the desired learning objectives should help dictate the products and artifacts within the project. For example, instead of wanting students to plan a garden…

Beyond the Hype: Practical Big Data for Educators The term ‘big data’ can sound abstract, but in education, its power lies in revealing specific patterns that genuinely impact teaching and learning. For educators and EdTech professionals, grasping these concrete applications, not vague promises, is crucial. The education sector’s embrace of data is undeniable. The global Big Data Analytics in Education market, valued at $22.1 billion in 2023, is projected to surge to an astonishing $115.7 billion by 2033. This isn’t just growth; it’s a clear shift towards data-informed decision-making. But what might that actually look like in your school? Let’s…

26 Of The Best Free Artificial Intelligence Tools by TeachThought Staff This is obviously a field that changes fast. This list highlights free or freemium tools useful for educators and students in both K–12 and post-secondary contexts. Tools are grouped by function and include a concise explanation of what each one does. This is not an exhaustive list but offers a representative sample of current tools that support learning, teaching, and academic work. Research and Literature Review Tools ElicitA research assistant that uses natural language queries to retrieve, summarize, and compare findings from academic literature. ConsensusGenerates evidence-based answers to research…