Beyond Engagement: Building Classrooms that Think
3 credits / 45 hours
Instructor Dawn Nachtigall
Course Description
This course is inspired by “Building Thinking Classrooms” by Peter Liljedahl and is designed to support K–12 educators in fostering deeper student thinking, engagement, and independence across subject areas. While rooted in mathematics research, the strategies in this course are adapted for use in any classroom setting, including ELA, science, social studies, and special areas.
Participants will examine core principles of thinking classrooms and learn how to shift from teacher-centered instruction to student-centered learning environments where students are actively engaged in meaningful thinking. The course will focus on practical, research-based strategies such as designing high-cognitive-demand tasks, promoting collaborative learning, using purposeful questioning, and creating classroom structures that support risk-taking and perseverance. Educators will reflect on their current practices and apply strategies to create equitable, engaging environments where students are empowered to think critically.
Price range: $285.00 through $580.00
Course Description
This course is inspired by “Building Thinking Classrooms” by Peter Liljedahl and is designed to support K–12 educators in fostering deeper student thinking, engagement, and independence across subject areas. While rooted in mathematics research, the strategies in this course are adapted for use in any classroom setting, including ELA, science, social studies, and special areas.
Participants will examine core principles of thinking classrooms and learn how to shift from teacher-centered instruction to student-centered learning environments where students are actively engaged in meaningful thinking. The course will focus on practical, research-based strategies such as designing high-cognitive-demand tasks, promoting collaborative learning, using purposeful questioning, and creating classroom structures that support risk-taking and perseverance. Educators will reflect on their current practices and apply strategies to create equitable, engaging environments where students are empowered to think critically.
Course Objectives
Students that enroll in this class will...
Know
1. Key principles of thinking classrooms as outlined in Building Thinking Classrooms
2. What productive struggle is and the importance of that struggle when learning something new
3. Characteristics of high-cognitive-demand tasks and instructional strategies that promote student engagement
4. The role of the teacher in facilitating, rather than directing, student thinking
Understand
1. How classroom structures, questioning techniques, and task design influence student thinking and participation
2. The importance of productive struggle in developing deeper learning across content areas
3. That shifting to a thinking classroom requires intentional changes in both instruction and classroom
and Be Able To
1. Design and adapt lessons that promote student thinking, collaboration, and engagement
2. Implement strategies such as purposeful questioning and task design to support deeper learning
3. Create classroom environments where students take ownership of their learning and demonstrate independent thinking
