Collaborations

Thinking Foundation focuses on research and support of cognitive and critical thinking development in schools toward the goal of creating Thinking Schools nationally and internationally.  As part of our mission we have a range of collaborations with different organizations and people from universities, professional development consultancy companies, and non-profit educational groups.  These people and their organizations together inform and drive our work and research.  Read about these people and organizations below, and link to further information on our partners’ websites.

The Centre for Cognitive Education at Exeter University
Creating a “Thinking School” is a program of school development including the award of "Thinking School” by the Center for Cognitive Education at Exeter University in England. Many schools teach “thinking skills” in some form or another. However, now more than 25 schools in England are taking a more coherent whole-school approach through The Centre and recognizing that a change in culture will bring far greater rewards. The Centre for Cognitive Education at Exeter University is led by Dr. Bob Burden, and in collaboration with Kestrel Consulting, works closely with whole schools to develop a coherent program of training and evaluation.  Thinking Foundation and The Centre for Cognitive Education have a unique relationship as we share ideas and resources for creating Thinking Schools.
Read more about The Centre for Cognition at www.thinking.co.uk

Thinking Maps, Inc.
Thinking Maps
® was developed as a language for learning in 1988 by Dr. David Hyerle, founder of Thinking Foundation.  The language of Thinking Maps is an integration of eight dynamic visual tools and “the frame” of reference-- based on fundamental cognitive skills --that has proven successful for students across whole schools, K-12 and at the college level.  This language is used for communication in classrooms and specifically for reading comprehension, writing processes, problem solving, and thinking skills improvement for lifetime learning. In 1990, David co-founded Innovative Learning Group with Sherwin Suddreth, which later became Thinking Maps, Inc., an educational consultancy group focused on the training of students, teachers, and administrators across whole schools and systems.   Thinking Foundation uses this language as a process for generating and communicating ideas and directly supports research on these tools one foundation for creating Thinking Schools.
Read more about Thinking Maps, Inc. at www.thinkingmaps.com


Thinking Foundation and Teaching Financial Education Group
Thinking Foundation works in collaboration with the Teaching Financial Education Group to utilize and support the use of visual tools and other approaches to the development of students’ cognitive and critical thinking abilites and thus to deliver financial literacy instruction into the classroom at all grade levels. Learning in K-16 classrooms needs to advance the understanding of finances through relative lessons with brain-based tools to help formulate a behavior for well-being. 

Learning financial literacy is strongly associated with our abilities to think through complex and often emotional issues and problems and this can be facilitated through developing students’ cognitive abilities. 
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National Urban Alliance
The mission of the National Urban Alliance for Effective Education (NUA) is to substantiate in the public schools of u
Thinking Maps, Inc.
Thinking Maps® was developed as a language for learning in 1988 by Dr. David Hyerle, founder of Thinking Foundation.  The language of Thinking Maps is an integration of eight dynamic visual tools and “the frame” of reference-- based on fundamental cognitive skills --that has proven successful for students across whole schools, K-12 and at the college level.  This language is used for communication in classrooms and specifically for reading comprehension, writing processes, problem solving, and thinking skills improvement for lifetime learning. In 1990, David co-founded Innovative Learning Group with Sherwin Suddreth, which later became Thinking Maps, Inc., an educational consultancy group focused on the training of students, teachers, and administrators across whole schools and systems.   Thinking Foundation uses this language as a process for generating and communicating ideas and directly supports research on these tools one foundation for creating Thinking Schools.
Read more about Thinking Maps, Inc. at www.thinkingmaps.com