Visible Thinking: Building Understanding through Thinking Routines and Dispositions

Learn how to integrate the tools of “visible thinking” to deepen learning in any setting.

Overview

We all become more effective as learners when we become aware of our learning processes and learn to manage how we think and learn. Visible Thinking, a research-based approach developed by Project Zero and used across subjects and settings worldwide, has two goals: to deepen content learning and to cultivate students’ thinking skills and thinking dispositions.

This course explores three themes at the heart of Visible Thinking: thinking routines, thinking dispositions, and documentation of student thinking. Participants will explore relevant research, learn to integrate Visible Thinking into their curriculum and assessment, and try out practices with peers and in their own classrooms.

Course Details

The online course, developed by Project Zero’s Shari Tishman & Jessica Ross, begins with a one-week orientation, during which you will explore the online platform and get to know fellow members of the learning community. Six two-week content sessions follow, with an average time commitment of about 3-4 hours per week. In each session you will:

• Learn new ideas
• Review and reflect on key ideas from the previous session
• Plan for trying and/or fully implementing course ideas in the classroom
• Work on a project or curriculum unit
• Reflect and share feedback with a coach and peers

Enrollment is by team, which promotes a deeper and richer learning experience and will help you sustain your use of core ideas after the course concludes. Team members will collaborate on most of the assignments, including the development of a project. Teams meet face-to-face every two weeks.

Although the sessions are structured and coach-facilitated, all the online interactions in the course are asynchronous. You and your team can decide when to work on the course materials as long as you submit the assignment(s) on or before the due dates.

This online course is not linked to a degree program. Academic credit is not available. You will be eligible for a digital certificate representing 45 professional development hours upon successful completion.

​View the course outline for additional information on course sessions.

Online Course Schedule

Please review the course schedule to ensure that you and your team will be able to participate fully in the course, taking into account your local holidays and vacations. The average time commitment is about three to four hours per week.

Session 1 (Orientation week), September 17 - September 23
Session 2, September 24 - October 7
Session 3, October 8 - October 21
Session 4, October 22 - November 4
Session 5, November 5 - November 18
Session 6, November 19 - December 2
Session 7, December 3 - December 16

Objectives

• Learn about thinking dispositions and ways to help students develop them
• Understand how thinking routines encourage deep thinking and learning
• Explore the relationship between thinking routines and the documentation of student thinking
• Explore how collegial study groups can enrich our understanding of student thinking
• Identify thinking dispositions and thinking routines you will incorporate into your practice

Who Should Attend

This course requires enrollment by teams of 3-6 people. Teams need to be able to meet locally, in person, at least once every two weeks. Teams can be comprised of:

• Teachers and school leaders
• Museum educators and other educators in informal learning environments

Course Textbook

The following textbook is required for participants in this course, and is not included in the course tuition. The textbook is available for purchase on Amazon or through the publisher Jossey-Bass — in both paper and digital format.

• Making Thinking Visible: How to Promote Engagement, Understanding, and Independence for All Learners by Ron Ritchhart et al. (Jossey-Bass, 2011)

English Language Proficiency Requirements

English language proficiency is a requirement for application to and successful participation in this online course. All participants are expected to have fluency in English, including a basic knowledge of education terminology, in order to effectively engage with the content, complete assignments, and interact with other members of the learning community.

Fees and Policies

This online course is focused on professional development and not linked to a degree program at HGSE. Academic credit is not available for this online course. You will be eligible for a digital certificate representing 45 professional development hours upon successful completion of the course.

Payment or a purchase order must be received within thirty days of course acceptance and prior to the course start. While a purchase order confirms enrollment, an outstanding balance is maintained until payment is rendered. Click here for more information on payment and financial aid.

Please click here for more information on our on-campus and online refund and withdrawal policies.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education reserves the right to change faculty or cancel programs at its discretion. In the unlikely event of program changes, the school is not responsible for non-refundable travel arrangements or other planning expenses incurred.