This session explores how Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC) principles can be adapted for physics classrooms and laboratories to promote deeper conceptual understanding, scientific reasoning, and student engagement. Participants will examine examples from both theory-based lessons and experimental investigations, learn how BTC practices support the development of physics thinking, and discuss successes, challenges, and practical strategies for implementation. Attendees will leave with concrete ideas for creating more collaborative, student centred physics learning environments.
Participants will leave the session with practical strategies to integrate data science into Thinking Classrooms. They will understand how Building Thinking Classrooms practices and a data mindset work together to foster critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving. Attendees will gain other ways to incorporate Toolkit #1 and #2 in their classroom.
Experience BTC from the inside! Originally tested in high school, this immersive session is open to all grades and subjects. We’ll dive into a non-curriculum task—it's a concept that puts everyone on equal footing as pure learners. Step into students' shoes! Working in collaborative groups on vertical surfaces, you’ll tackle progressive, "thin-sliced" tasks requiring zero prior knowledge. You will: Discover how thin-slicing sustains engagement in any subject or grade level. Feel how BTC pedagogical flow builds confidence when facing unfamiliar content. Leave with concrete, actionable ideas to use in your classroom tomorrow.
What happens when a compelling phenomenon meets a Thinking Classroom? In this interactive session, participants will experience a sea turtle phenomenon as learners while exploring how BTC practices support scientific thinking and sensemaking. Participants will work at VNPS to notice patterns, ask questions, analyze evidence, develop explanations, and revise their thinking. We will examine how the phenomenon creates a reason to learn science content and how intentional task sequencing, questioning, and consolidation move students toward deeper understanding. Participants will leave with a practical process for transforming phenomena into rich thinking tasks that can be adapted to any science curriculum.
