Thinking Lab
Two components are housed in the Thinking Lab at The Village School. The Thinking Lab classes are a series of teacher-directed lessons and associated activities in which each class and instructor grades K-8 participants. The program is designed to develop the sensitivity and inclination needed to engage in critical thinking. The second component, Open Lab, provides students who are ahead of the normal curriculum, an individualized enrichment program.
As stated in our philosophy, we recognize that our world is ever changing. Technological advances have given our faculty the unprecedented challenge of preparing our students for a world barely imaginable to us. To do this we continually strive to incorporate the most current research in learning and brain development into our existing curriculum. Thinking Lab classes are designed to give direct instruction in all three recognized components of good thinking - ability, sensitivity, and inclination - with special emphasis on the last two.
In weekly Thinking Lab lessons, the seven dispositions, as defined by David Perkins and Shari Tishman in Project Zero, a Harvard based research program, are directly taught and practiced. Research supporting Project Zero reveals that attitudes, values, and habits of the mind, rather than ability, are key to determining whether critical thinking will be used. Critical thinking skills are infused into all areas of our curriculum and practiced daily in the regular classroom. However, findings show that even when learners are adept at these skills they are unlikely to use them unless so directed. Programs that provide directed instruction in the dispositions as well as infusion in regular classes have been shown to be very successful in establishing internal habits of the mind deemed necessary to ensure use of critical thinking. Thinking Lab isolates, teaches, and hopefully ingrains this sensitivity and inclination into our faculty, students, and school community. Our goal is to create a culture of thinkers who use critical thinking actively and continuously in and out of the classroom.
Open Lab, the second component, is time that has been allotted for students who are working at a level above their regular class. Attended by students who are usually finished well ahead of time and do not need reteaching, review, or drill, this is an excellent enrichment source for our teachers and high-achievers. Recommended participants may attend at any "open" time to work on individualized projects following the Project Approach method. Strategy games, LEGOs, musical instruments, dramatics, and art materials are available to ensure whole-brain learning. Students often work in pairs or in across-grade level cooperative groups. The teacher works as a coach and resource guide giving individual attention when necessary. At the end of the project, the student presents a culminating activity for his or her entire class. The enthusiasm fostered by this special learning tool is amazing and a valuable part of meeting our stated mission.
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