News

Educational Leaders Gather to Learn about Laws of Knowledge and Patterns of Thinking Method

March 6th, 2010

San Antonio, TX -- ThinkWorks President and Founder Dr. Derek Cabrera shared the Patterns of Thinking Method with a packed room of educators today at the ASCD Annual Conference.  His talk, entitled "Building Thinking Skills in 21st Century Learners," came on the opening day of the conference and described the need for teaching thinking skills and content knowledge in parallel.    Cabrera was joined by Mary Ann Ryan, former director of the Office of Elementary Education in Fairfax County Public Schools, and Dr. Laura Colosi of Cornell University.  

"For years, educators have said that today's students will live and work in a Knowledge Age," Cabrera said.  "But our practices haven't consistently reflected that belief.  Educators must have a deep understanding of the three Laws of Knowledge and what it means for their classrooms."

Ryan described the impact she saw as her teachers began using the Patterns of Thinking Method.  Teacher effectiveness and morale increased, she said, and students were meeting learning goals such as literacy ahead of expectations.

The audience found the session extremely relevant.  "We need this to be how we teach our future students," one superintendent said afterward.  "This is by far one of the best concepts I've heard and presentations I've attended in all my years of education."

ASCD advocates for best practices in education.  With over 170,000 members world-wide, educators of all grade levels and subject areas look to the non-profit for cutting-edge research.  Formerly known as the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, ASCD is headquartered in Alexandria, VA.