About Us
Our consulting group brings a wide range of experiences and unique talents to the implementation of Thinking Maps® and Software as a team or individually.
Who We Are
Designs for Thinking is a group of educational consultants implementing Thinking Maps® and Software in whole learning communities, from pre-kindergarten through high school including a focus on leadership. Watch the video overview online.
People
Larry Alper, M.S. is Co-Director for Designs for Thinking, leading implementations of Thinking Maps in whole schools while also supporting schools and school systems in developing long term plans for implementing these tools. In the last fours years of an 18 year career as an elementary school principal in Brattleboro, Vermont Larry facilitated the successful implementation of Thinking Maps and Software and Write From the Beginning. He also investigated how he and his colleagues could use Thinking Maps as collaborative tools for building leadership capacity. This process led him to co-author the new guide and training, Thinking Maps: Leading with a New Language.
More about Larry
Thinking Maps®: A Language for Leadership
A Language for Leadership is designed to meet the needs of multiple audiences. It can be used by leaders and leadership teams who want to strengthen and deepen their current Thinking Maps implementation, and assist those who want to expand their use of these tools into leadership practices. This guide and associated professional development can also serve as an entry point for schools to begin the process of implementing Thinking Maps.
Dr. David Hyerle is Co-Director of Designs for Thinking, developer of the Thinking Maps model, and an international leader in the areas of thinking and learning. Thinking Maps have raised the quality of teaching, students' thinking, and test scores in the areas of reading, writing, and math in over 3000 schools. He is a frrequent keynote speaker, author of two A.S.C.D. books focused on visual tools, and developer of a new online course: Visual Tools for Literacy. David is also co-author with Larry Alper of the new leadership guide and training ... Thinking Maps: Leading with a New Language.
More about David
Visual Tools for Transforming Information into Knowledge
This is the most comprehensive book on graphic organizers, Thinking Maps®, and graphic software programs. Find out why visual tools and mapping are the key tools for 21st century learning. Look at student and teacher work and review test results from around the country. In a rich and provocative writing style, David Hyerle, Ed.D. draws together examples from teachers, administrators, brain researchers, and parents to make a very exciting read.
More information on the book
Student Successes with Thinking Maps®
Neuroscientists tell us that the brain organizes information in networks and maps. What better way to teach students to think about ideas and organize and express their ideas than to use the very same method that the brain uses. This book provides an invaluable way to help our students truly understand and retain the concepts behind the facts, and to do this in an exciting and motivating way.
More information on the book including excerpts and accompanying video clips
- Thinking Maps ®
T
hinking Maps® were developed as a language for learning in 1988 by Dr. David Hyerle. Each of the eight Thinking Maps® is based on a fundamental cognitive skill such as comparing and contrasting, sequencing, classifying, and cause-effect reasoning. Much like carpenters using a set of tools, multiple Thinking Maps are used as a eight maps icon toolkit by students for constructing knowledge: for improving the basics of reading, writing, and mathematics as well as for problem-solving and the development of higher-order thinking abilities. A wealth of research and published articles supports the use of different types of Visual Tools generally, and Thinking Maps specifically.
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Robert Price is an Organizational Consultant with Designs for Thinking. He is a professional consultant who coaches people and organizations to improve communications, management, and planning. In education he collaborates on coaching, literacy, visual arts, video, and technology. In all projects he brings experience, organization, and energy. A current project in Ethiopia embodies his passion and systems approach.
More about Robert
Video Overview
The following video (excerpt from Visual Tools for Literacy Online Course) provides an overview of Thinking Maps®. Hear David Hyerle on a Quicktime Movie. If you don't have Quicktime, download the free Quicktime Player.
