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DoDEA Educators Embrace the Power of Thinking Classrooms

By Michael ODayOctober 15, 2024

Creative Use of Windows as Learning Tools at Dahlgren Unit School
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A student from Dahlgren Unit School, a Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school, creatively uses windows as Vertical Non-Permanent Surfaces (VNPS). This strategy, which encourages standing and active participation, has proven highly effective in promoting deeper thinking and real-time collaboration among students. DoDEA operates as a field activity of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. It is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and managing pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade educational programs for the Department of Defense. DoDEA operates 160 accredited schools in 8 districts in 11 foreign countries, seven states, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA Americas operates 50 accredited schools across two districts, located on 16 military installations, including Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard bases in seven states, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Committed to excellence in education, DoDEA fosters well-rounded, lifelong learners, equipping them to succeed in a dynamic world. (Photo Credit: Courtesy) VIEW ORIGINAL
Sixth-Graders Collaborate Using VNPS at Quantico MHS
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sixth-grade math students at Quantico Middle High School, a Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school, creatively utilize a whiteboard as a Vertical Non-Permanent Surface (VNPS). This approach, which promotes standing and active participation, has been highly effective in fostering deeper thinking and real-time collaboration among students. DoDEA operates as a field activity of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. It is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and managing pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade educational programs for the Department of Defense. DoDEA operates 160 accredited schools in 8 districts in 11 foreign countries, seven states, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA Americas operates 50 accredited schools across two districts, located on 16 military installations, including Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard bases in seven states, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Committed to excellence in education, DoDEA fosters well-rounded, lifelong learners, equipping them to succeed in a dynamic world. (Photo Credit: Courtesy) VIEW ORIGINAL

DoDEA Americas Secondary Math ISS Team recently concluded a groundbreaking professional development course, Building Thinking Classrooms, that brought together 114 pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade educators across all three DoDEA regions. Designed to foster deeper student engagement and critical thinking, the course introduced educators to a set of strategies developed by Peter Liljedahl in his book Building Thinking Classrooms. The 14-week course aimed to shift learning environments from teacher-centered to student-centered, inspiring a wave of change in classrooms across DoDEA.

The course drew teachers from multiple disciplines, each eager to explore innovative ways of encouraging students to think more deeply and independently. Through a combination of book study and live discussions, participants analyzed Liljedahl's 14 strategies, which emphasize active student participation, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Teachers were encouraged to try new classroom strategies and share their experiences throughout the course. This collective learning experience was a powerful tool, with educators sharing their successes and challenges. Key to this transformation was the emphasis on moving from teacher-driven instruction to fostering environments where students take ownership of their learning.

Educators like Jennifer Castiglione, an 8th-grade teacher from Brewster Middle School, quickly saw the course's value. "Thank you for a fantastic, collaborative, and educationally-altering class! I cannot wait to hear how others are using these strategies and how the students respond in years to come!" she remarked.

Krista Husman and Christina Nevitt, Quantico Middle High School co-teachers, echoed this sentiment. "This class has taught us invaluable strategies to promote thinking in our classrooms. Week by week, dissecting each chapter allowed us to implement the strategies, provide feedback, and learn how to start our classroom off on the right foot for the new year."

One hallmark of the Building Thinking Classrooms approach is Vertical Non-Permanent Surfaces (VNPS)—tools such as whiteboards, windows, or any writable surface that students can use to work through problems visually. These strategies encourage standing and active participation and have proven highly effective in getting students to think more deeply and collaborate in real-time.

Students have also been quick to embrace these changes. A 6th grader from Shughart Middle School at Fort Liberty, Brooklyn Decker, noted the benefit of using VNPS: "Working on the vertical boards is easier because you can see the work and can help each other." Her classmate, Jeremiah Spillman, agreed, "It is a lot better than working by yourself because we discuss the work and find solutions to difficult problems."

For example, at Ft. Knox Middle High School, students in Julie Brubaker's class engaged in problem-solving using VNPS, leading to more dynamic and spontaneous collaboration. Similarly, Paul McDonald's students at Dahlgren Unit School used classroom windows as creative VNPS, fostering excitement and critical thinking.

The success of this course underscores a broader trend within DoDEA toward student-centered learning. Teachers like Susan Fitzpatrick, Assistant Principal at Lucas Elementary, marveled at how quickly the strategies took hold. "During the course when my heart said, 'No way this will work, but I'm going to try it,' and it did work, extraordinarily well."

Kimberly Sandy, a teacher at Heroes Elementary School, Camp Lejeune, shared that her students were so engaged with the VNPS strategies that they "want to continuously use them in random groups" for various thinking activities.

With such enthusiastic feedback, the Americas Secondary Math ISS Team is committed to offering more opportunities for educators to continue learning about and implementing these strategies. "The 14 practices have invigorated learning in my classroom!" Sandy said.

As educators across the DoDEA system continue to embrace this approach, the ripple effect on students is expected to grow. "We are challenging learning as we move through 'The Learning Pit,'" said Dannette Jackson from Bitz Intermediate School. "Truly building great thinkers. This course brings back the power of students learning as they lead."

With more teachers eager to take Building Thinking Classrooms Part 2 and further embed these practices in their classrooms, the future looks bright for student-driven learning within DoDEA. The power of collaborative, reflective learning has opened new doors, allowing educators and students to think more, think longer, and think together.

DoDEA operates as a field activity of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. It is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and managing pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade educational programs for the Department of Defense. DoDEA operates 160 accredited schools in 8 districts in 11 foreign countries, seven states, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA Americas operates 50 accredited schools across two districts, located on 16 military installations, including Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard bases in seven states, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Committed to excellence in education, DoDEA fosters well-rounded, lifelong learners, equipping them to succeed in a dynamic world.