How We Work

Our unique approach to teaching and learning focuses on three C’s: Critical, Creative, and Collaborative.

C3 Thinking refers to a holistic approach where criticality, creativity, and collaboration are interdependent. For example, thinking critically requires creativity and imagination. It also requires individuals to engage with the ideas of others. Meanwhile, more collaboration with others gives way to new ideas being imagined and discussed and more opportunities to practice critical thinking unfold as the C3 triad gains momentum.

Read more about C3 Thinking

Educators find C3 helpful because it's not just about getting information or strategies in one session. It includes different activities, chances to practice, feedback, coaching, and access to helpful resources for educators and learners.

What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is the process of actively analyzing, interpreting, evaluating, and synthesizing information gathered from observation, experience, reasoning, or communication. It involves a disciplined approach to thinking clearly and rationally, understanding the logical connection between ideas, and questioning assumptions and biases.

Key components of critical thinking include:

• Analysis: Breaking down complex information into smaller, understandable parts
• Interpretation: Making sense of the information and explaining its meaning
• Evaluation: Assessing the credibility and validity of information and sources
• Inference: Drawing conclusions based on evidence and reasoning
• Explanation: Clearly and concisely communicating the reasoning behind conclusions
• Self-Regulation: Reflecting on one's own beliefs, values, and thinking processes to improve accuracy and fairness

Critical thinking is essential in decision-making, problem-solving, and effective communication, allowing individuals to make reasoned judgments that are logical and well-thought-out.

Outcomes of critical thinking

Inspiring, supporting, and advocating for the integration of critical thinking is our goal. Outcomes include:

• Enhanced abilities and inclinations to think critically
• Deeper understanding of the curriculum
• Increased engagement in the world
• Greater willingness to act in thoughtful, ethically responsible ways

Our framework

Our framework for learning and teaching critical thinking is founded on four underlying principles:

1. Shape the climate to support thinking
2. Create opportunities for thinking
3. Build capacity to think
4. Provide guidance to inform thinking

Shape the climate to support thinking

We support teachers with practical guidelines for promoting a classroom culture where thinking is nurtured and valued. Classrooms come alive with quality thinking when:

• The physical environment is conducive to thinking
• There are clear expectations for thinking
• Routines are established to support thinking
• Personal interactions consistently nurture thinking
• Teachers model traits of a quality thinker

By shaping the climate to support thinking, social aspects of learning are reinforced. Students contribute to—and benefit from—a vibrant community where thinking is a regular part of daily classroom life.

Create opportunities for thinking

We help educators frame critical challenges to engage learners in making reasoned decisions. For example, when puzzling or problematic situations are embedded in the curriculum content and learners are invited to think for themselves and consider plausible alternatives, they have an enhanced sense of purpose and renewed excitement.

Build capacity to think

Our approach increases thinking competence by giving learners the tools they need to think through the challenges they face every day. Some of these tools include:

• Recognizing the need to gather background information
• Using criteria for judgment
• Understanding thinking vocabulary
• Applying thinking strategies
• Embracing effective habits of mind

Provide guidance to inform thinking

We value the thinking behind student work as much as we value their final product. For this reason, we support teachers in providing powerful guidance about student performance and thinking using varied approaches:

• Helping students find significant value in assessment
• Creating timely teacher-student exchanges
• Broadening the use of self- and peer-assessment
• Helping students learn to benefit from feedback
• Ensuring teacher comments advance student learning

Students need to demonstrate their thinking in a variety of ways. With prepared rubrics and curriculum-embedded guidelines, we help teachers use assessment to enhance—not interrupt—student development of competencies and subject matter understanding.