Author: Terry Heick

by TeachThought Staff In one sentence, Bloom’s Taxonomy is a hierarchical ordering of cognitive skills that can, among countless other uses, help teachers teach, and students learn. For example, Bloom’s Taxonomy can be used to: –create assessments –frame discussions –plan lessons (see 249 Bloom’s Taxonomy Verbs For Critical Thinking) –evaluate the complexity of assignments –design curriculum maps –develop online courses project-based learning (often through project-based learning ideas) –self-assessment See How To Teach With Bloom’s Taxonomy for more reading. How Bloom’s Taxonomy Is Useful For Teachers  We’ve looked at ways to use Bloom’s Taxonomy–and there are many reasons for the popularity of Bloom’s…

by Terry Heick There are ideas and then there are ideas between ideas. The spaces between ideas can be pregnant with ideas of their own in the same way that there are stars and then there are spaces between the stars. And these spaces matter because they’re dark and dark (and its absence) characterizes light. Okay, how about this: Every reality has factors. Every effect has a cause. Every data point has a context. You can separate these relationships in a temporary kind of singularity in order to examine them, but in doing so risk losing the thing itself because the…

contributed by Dr. Athena Stanley Artificial intelligence is increasingly present in education conversations. Some teachers are experimenting with it. Others are cautious. Many are simply unsure where it belongs or whether it belongs at all. A recent Gallup poll found that three in ten teachers use AI weekly, with findings indicating improvements in the quality of certain tasks. The study also estimated that AI-supported work could amount to the equivalent of approximately six weeks of time saved over the course of a year. Meanwhile, a RAND study found that more than half of students and teachers report already using AI…

by Terry Heick When students struggle in school, it can be for a variety of reasons. From their grasp of content and literacy skills to their engagement level to behavior and organizational issues, to teacher actions, to the proverbial ‘stuff going on at home,’ the possibilities are maddeningly endless. The following 8-step process is a valuable tool for me as a teacher, so I thought I’d share a version of it here in hopes that it might help you. It was useful not only for me to see what strategic responses I had available to me as a teacher, but…

by Terry Heick Always assume the best in students; at worst, assume there’s more to know. If they fail, assume they tried and want another chance. Assume they weren’t aware of what they weren’t aware of or that they don’t understand the scale or effects of the failure. If they break a rule, assume they weren’t aware of the rule. At worst, assume they had forgotten. If they say or do something that reflects poorly on them, assume they are young and still learning how to see themselves. Or assume that’s something they had to say or do just once…

by Terry Heick Digital and social media have replaced the landscape for education. This isn’t a case of mere impact or transformation–it’s all different now. Everything–the tools, the audiences, the access to content, the data, the opportunity. And this is a displacing and replacing that will only accelerate as re-conceptualizing of the craft of teaching in light of emerging technologies and global distinctions increases. This doesn’t mean that every classroom and school and district is suddenly forward-thinking, but rather that education–and most critically, its students–have already changed, forever altering the tone and context for that education. Eventually, the systems of education…

Wherever we are, we’d all like to think our classrooms are ‘intellectually active’ places. Progressive learning environments. Highly effective and conducive to student-centered learning.The reality is, there is no single answer because teaching and learning are awkward to consider as single events or individual ‘things.’So we put together one take on the characteristics of a highly effective classroom through the idea of conditions. They can act as a kind of criteria to measure your own against–see if you notice a pattern.Read more below. Framework A Conditions-Based Model for Highly Effective Learning Environments A research-informed template for diagnosing learning environments and…

Learning–real, informal, authentic, and lifelong learning–can ‘begin’ with just about anything. In that way, this is obviously not an exhaustive list. Nor am I implying that these are ‘the best’ starting points or that they would be in every case effective in your classroom. There are simply too many variables. What I hope to accomplish with this post is to help you begin to think about what ’causes’ learning–and more specifically, where and how that happens. What Causes Learning? In the real world, learning never stops but it’s not always clear that it’s happening. Or at least we think of…

Online learning has reshaped how people pursue higher education. Some value its flexibility. Others prefer the structure and social presence of classrooms. What often gets missed is how online study affects wellbeing. Depending on routines, habits, and workloads, it can help or hinder. Positive Effects Online study can offer meaningful benefits for mental health. Builds Perseverance Studying from home requires persistence. Students organise their own time, push through distractions, and continue even when motivation fades. This kind of resilience often transfers to work settings and personal problem solving. For example, students learn to prioritise tasks, finish work without supervision, and…

A Basic Framework For Teaching Critical Thinking In School by Terrell Heick In What Does Critical Thinking Mean?, we offered that ‘(c)ritical thinking is the suspension of judgment while identifying biases and underlying assumptions to draw accurate conclusions.’ Of course, there are different definitions of critical thinking. The American Philosophical Association defines it as, “Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally, understanding the logical connection between ideas. It involves being active (rather than reactive) in your learning process, and it includes open-mindedness, inquisitiveness, and the ability to examine and evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view.” But…