Cultures of Thinking Summit

Join us as we create a community of educators committed to developing our students as powerful thinkers and learners. This goal sits side-by-side with the support of students’ deep learning, academic preparation, feelings of belonging, and sense of agency.  

The Cultures of Thinking Summit (CoT) is an opportunity to immerse yourself in meaningful conversation, rich exploration, and joyous engagements that will equip you to better guide, support, and nurture a culture of thinking amongst the learners you lead. At the CoT Summit you will build a network of support for your ongoing efforts and gather the tools, frameworks, practices, and understanding that will sustain your journey over the long haul. Just like the work of creating cultures of thinking in our school, the CoT Summit is a transformative experience, changing and challenging our assumptions about what constitutes a quality education.

During this two-day conference we will build community around the practices, ideas, and mission of fostering students as powerful thinkers and learner ready to take their place in the world. Extend your learning with optional days of explorations at local museums and through structured observations in classrooms immediately following the main Summit days.

If you have questions about the Summit program or registration, please email us at pzlearn@gse.harvard.edu.
 

Schedule

• Friday, January 30, 3:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
  • Opening Plenary with Ron Ritchhart
  • Deep Dive Session (approximately 2.5 hours) to explore CoT practices in a hands-on, minds-on immersive experience. These sessions will be lead by Ron Ritchhart, Mark Church, Jim Reese, and Tina Blythe.
  • Dinner and a chance to meet and mingle with educators from around the world
     
• Saturday, January 31, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
  • Opening Plenary with Mark Church
  • Select the two Breakout Sessions (approximately 75 minutes) that meet your needs and pique your interest.  Engage in hands-on learning in small groups. These sessions will be lead by educators from around the country with decades of experience working to develop cultures of thinking in their schools and classrooms.
  • Participate in the World Cafe to explore questions and problems of practice that are of interest to you or find a quiet space to meet and plan with colleagues.
  • Breakfast and lunch included
     
• Sunday, February 1 (Optional Day), Noon-2:00 p.m.
  • Those staying on in San Diego will have the option to choose from a curated collection of two-hour Guided Learning Sessions at one of San Diego’s cultural attractions to explore how we can promote deeper learning in non-school settings. These sessions are at no additional cost to participants aside from museum admission fees.
     
• Monday, February 2, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (this day requires an additional cost of $375)
  • Engage in a Photo Safari to explore how teachers at Pacific Sky School have made thinking visible and created an environment that supports thinking and encourages agency.
  • Use the Snapshot Observation Protocol to observe in real classrooms and use your observations to reflect on your own teaching and leadership.
  • Lunch included

For more detailed information about the Summit, please visit the Summit website at cot-summit.org.

Summit Leaders

Ron Ritchhart

Mark Church

Jim Reese

Tina Blythe