So Far...
Thinking Schools
Project:

 The initial Thinking Schools trainings were held in Ethiopia during the weeks of 24-28 Aug 2009 and 17-23 Jan 2010 with over 70 participants in August and 150+ participants in January. The hands-on sessions focused on the Thinking Schools approach with Ethiopian educators, governement representatives, and NGO participants.
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Visual Tools:
During the Training
In the Classroom
Watch the quicktime video slideshow of students, teachers, administrators and NGO leaders using visual tools (Thinking Maps) during professional development sessions and in the classrooms.
see the slideshow in a large format

Action Research Grants
A key component of the Ethiopia Thinking Schools Professional Develoment model is action research grants for Ethiopian educators.

Case Study

Research
Student Successes with Thinking Maps®
The Thinking Maps® program takes full advantage of the natural proclivity of the brain to see and think visually. The authors describe Thinking Maps as a language of visual tools grounded in the thinking process, a most neurally apt description. This book provides an invaluable way to help our students truly understand and retain the concepts behind the facts, and to do this in an exciting and motivating way.
Pat Wolfe, Author, Building the Reading Brain
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Visual Tools for Transforming Information Into Knowledge
This is the most comprehensive book on graphic organizers, Thinking Maps®, and graphic software programs. Find out why visual tools and mapping are the key tools for 21st century learning. Look at student and teacher work and review test results from around the country.
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What are Thinking Maps®?
Thinking Maps are eight fundamental thinking skills defined and animated by maps, and introduced as a common visual language for thinking and learning across whole learning communities. From the beginning, the focus of the work using Thinking Maps has been on all teachers immediately training all of their students across their whole school to become fluent with the tools.
read Thinking Maps as a Transformational Language for Learning (PDF file)
learn more about Thinking Maps on the Thinking Maps website

Collegial Coaching

Collaborative Learning

Inquiry

Systems Thinking
Video clip of Student demonstration lesson with 60 students in Hossana including community; think-pair-share; think-quartet-share; Thinking Maps; reflections (January 2010)
Go to the Ethiopia Video Clip page for more video.
Not playing—download free Quicktime Player (Win & Mac)
Next Steps...
Thinking
Schools
Project:

 The next steps include developing a group of Ethiopian Trainer of Trainers, providing grants (modeled on the mini economic grants) to build a body of action research by and for Ethiopian educators. The Trainers will develop materials for their trainings including print and video to support educators professional practice. There will be more focus on writing, reading, and specific curriculum needs to build upon the Thinking Schools foundations.
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Sustaining...
Thinking
Schools
Project:

 To develop and support a sustaining model the project includes: documentation; development of training materials by Trainer of Trainers in collaboration with CHSFS Ethiopia's Audio Visual Department; a network of Ethiopian educators; case studies of outstanding education practices in by Ethiopian educators; regular professional development led by Ethiopian educators; leadership professional development for school leaders and NGO leaders.
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Life Long Thinking Skills
Listen to a UNESCO program director and Ethiopian educators on video share their insights about life long thinking skills using Thinking Maps to organize students' thinking, inquiry, community, collabortive learning and more.
see and hear more...

The Ethiopian Flag
The green recalls the land and hope for the future, yellow stands for peace and love, and red is symbolic of strength...
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Global Networks
Communication between participants and support is a key part of the Thinking Schools professional development.

Thinking Maps®
Thinking Maps®, Inc. has kindly supplied use of Thinking Maps® with the Ethiopia Thinking Schools Professional Develoment.
www.thinkingmaps.com

The Trainer
Robert Price is a professional consultant who coaches people and organizations to improve communications, management, and planning. In education he collaborates on coaching, literacy, visual arts, video, and technology. In all projects he brings experience, organization, and energy.
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Support...
Thinking
Schools
Project:

 Robert Price in collaboration with Children's Home Society and Family Services (USA and Ethiopia) and initial support from Thinking Foundation along with in-kind use of visual tools from Thinking Maps, Inc. has provided a solid platform to develop the Thinking Schools project. Further growth will benefit from additional funders and in-kind support.
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Ethiopia Thinking Schools Project: Details
video clips | photos | documents + links | thinking schools | next steps | sustaining | support | case study
Minds of Ethiopia Thinking Schools Project
The Ethiopia Thinking Schools project is a collaboration of Robert Price and Children's Home Society & Family Services (CHSFS) with support from Thinking Foundation to support a Thinking Schools approach in Ethiopian public (government) schools, private schools, and NGOs. The Thinking Schools approach includes:
  • visual tools (Thinking Maps)
  • collaborative learning
  • inquiry
  • community building
  • collegial coaching
  • school & classroom environment
  • ongoing assessment and documentation

The student centered Thinking Schools appoaches provide a foundation for the writing, reading, math, science, arts, and other disciplines curriculums. They provide a common language to explore, discover and learn in a collaborative environment that supports and sustains the creativity of the educational community. Action research grants for Ethiopian educators is an important component for developing a network of practice and research within the Ethiopian education community.
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People...
Thinking Schools
Project:
People and organizations involved with the Thinking Schools Project
  • Robert Price
  • Children's Home Academy
    • Addis Ababa
    • Hossana
  • Children's Home and Family Services
    • USA
    • Ethiopia
  • Thinking Foundation
  • Thinking Maps, Inc.
  • UNESCO
  • Government Schools
  • British School
  • Bright Futures Schools
  • Fregenet Foundation
  • Children of Ethiopia Education Fund
  • Elizabeth Kesling
  • Andrea Schorr