Cultures of Thinking in Action

Culture is built on our values and beliefs and embedded in the messages we send learners both implicitly and explicitly.

As useful as thinking routines and effective questioning can be, creating a culture of thinking involves more than instituting a set of practices. Lasting transformation begins by embracing a set of beliefs about teaching, learning, and schooling. For those familiar with PZ's Cultures of Thinking ideas, this course supports educators to go deeper with the ideas and learn not only how a culture of thinking looks and feels in learning contexts but also how to create it for themselves and their learners.
 

Overview

Building on Ron Ritchhart's Cultures of Thinking in Action, this course explores the 10 mindsets that support deeper learning and thinking—where thinking is valued, visible, and actively promoted. In this course, you'll:

• Practice building a foundation for a culture of thinking within your team, developing supportive "ways of being" together
• Dive into the principles of thinking, learning, and community
• Develop action steps you can implement as you seek to turn your classroom, school, or other learning context into a community where thinking is valued, visible, and actively promoted
   

Who Should Participate

• Teachers, teacher leaders, and school administrators and leaders
• Museum educators and educators working in informal learning environments
• Facilitators of pre-K to adult learning
   

Time Commitment

Anticipate a workload of 2.5-3 hours per week for four weeks. The course provides 12 total hours of professional learning. During each session: 

• Team Meeting: This 1-hour live, synchronous team meeting happens every week, scheduled and facilitated by the team members with PZ-designed agenda. 
• Reading, Practice, and Assignments: Plan remaining time for reading and individual reflections/assignments. If you are not currently working in a school or educational organization, you will need a classroom context or a consistent group of students with whom you can try out/practice the ideas you are learning throughout the course.
   

Schedule

Each weekly session opens on a Monday and ends on a Sunday. Participants decide when to work on the course material and when to schedule their team meetings within each session.

• Session 1: April 5-April 11, 2027
• Session 2: April 12-April 18, 2027
• Session 3: April 19-April 25, 2027
• Session 4: April 26-May 2, 2027
   

Tuition, Discounts, and Financial Aid

For mini courses (four sessions, four weeks), the tuition is: 

• $355 for educators joining as part of a team (three to six members from the same organization) 
• $385 for educators joining as part of a team of two (from the same organization) who will be placed on a virtual team with other teams of two (as attendance allows) 
• $399 for educators joining as individuals to be placed on a virtual team

Financial aid is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and typically covers 50-70% of a course's tuition for eligible educators. Applications must be submitted and accepted prior to registration. Review our financial aid criteria.
 

Questions?

Visit the FAQs page for more information on PZ online courses, or email pzlearn@gse.harvard.edu.