Investigating the Forces that Shape Cultures of Thinking

Often, when we think of effective teaching, we focus on good planning and instructional design. Yet effective teaching involves more—including attention to the culture of the classroom in which those plans and designs are carried out. 

The Cultures of Thinking framework identifies eight forces that we can use as levers for transforming the cultures of our classrooms and schools. In this mini course, learn about the eight cultural forces, with a special focus on four of those forces—modeling, opportunities, interactions, and environment—and how to leverage them to create cultures that support students in deep learning and thinking. 
 

Overview

Reflect critically on your own work as an educator while acquiring new tools, practices, and principles that will help you promote your students' deep learning. In this course, you will:

• Explore the eight forces that contribute to the culture of a classroom, school, or other learning context;
• Delve into four of those forces: modeling, opportunities, interactions, and environment;
• Consider aspects of those forces in your own classroom or learning context;
• Try out some of the tools, practices, and principles designed to support use of the cultural forces.

Although this course builds off of the introductory course, it is not a prerequisite. The weekly investigations and discussions with your team provide a supportive platform for educators of all levels of experience.
 

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: February 22-February 28, 2027
• Session 2: March 1-March 7, 2027
• Session 3: March 8-March 14, 2027
• Session 4: March 15-March 21, 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.