SYNOPSIS

SYNOPSIS The last ten years has seen our classroom walls evolve into windows that look out into the world- our 21st Century World. As educators, our focus has been on providing students with an environment that promotes this ‘looking beyond’, as well as, ‘looking within’. The introduction of ICT, Digital Media, and Visible Thinking Routines into our classrooms have paved the way for development of a 'culture of thinking' and in turn a learning environment that encourages students to become independent, life-long learners. Taking into account the individual differences of the learners, these tools encourage students to think ‘outside the box’. We would like to offer our own experience of utilising these tools, how they have enhanced our teaching and learning, and made it possible for thinking to be open-ended and valued in its own right. When thinking is valued, nourished, and encouraged rather than judged according to one model, there will be no 'dead-end' to thinking.