WAB Learns: Creating Cultures of Thinking: Opportunities

OPPORTUNITIES: Crafting the Vehicles for Learning

A set of conditions or circumstances that make it possible to do or achieve something. As a culture shaper, the opportunities present will serve either to constrain or enhance the activity of both individuals and the group as a whole.

Although it is possible for opportunities to lie hidden, remain untapped, or to languish; in strong cultures rich opportunities for growth, advancement, and creativity are prominent. In a culture of thinking, these types of opportunities dominate the landscape, guiding and shaping the activity of the group and engaging all individuals.

[Source: Project Zero]

The teacher ensures that rich thinking opportunities are woven into the fabric of his/her teaching and students aren't just engaged in work or activity.
Students' attention is focused on big subject matter issues, important ideas in the world, and in meaningful connections within the discipline and beyond.
Opportunities are provided for students to direct their own thinking and become independent learners.
Time is spent to select content and stimuli for class consideration in order to provoke thinking.
The teacher provides opportunities to reflect on how one's thinking about a topic has changed and developed over time.

from Ron Ritchhart's The Development of a Culture of Thinking in My Classroom: Self-Assessment

Simple GRASPS Template (Google Drive)
A simple GRASPS Template to help structure a learning experience, based on Wiggins/McTighe's GRASPS format. Simplified to GRASP, with the 'S' representing "Success Criteria". This could be used for identifying MYP criteria/strands and/or task-specific clarifications. Link opens a GoogleDoc in Stephen's Drive. Includes a timeline box for key stages/dates, space for a blurb and icons by Freepik on Flaticon.