Thinking Classrooms: How to Design Environments That Get People Thinking | Peter Liljedahl

With decades of experience in education, Dr. Peter Liljedahl realized that classrooms and workspaces have long been failing to engage those within them. He began a push to shift the paradigm of learning by challenging every classroom norm he could find - and it worked. Dr. Liljedahl was able to increase student thinking and engagement, and his revolutionary ideas are now able to be applied to work around the world.

Dr. Peter Liljedahl is an author, researcher, and Professor of Faculty Education at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. He has authored or co-authored 38 journal articles, over 50 conference papers, and 12 books including Building Thinking Classrooms. Working within education for decades, Peter consults regularly with schools, school districts, and ministries of education on issues of teaching and learning, assessment, and numeracy.

In this episode, Dart and Peter discuss:
- Peter’s redesign of the classroom and how it can be applied to work
- How to create an environment that cultivates thinking
- Transforming norms to achieve better results
- The importance of collaboration in work and learning
- The best ways to evaluate employee performance
- Deconstructing ideas into actionable points
- What creates “Aha!” moments
- The structure of a good task
- And other topics…

Dr. Peter Liljedahl is an author, researcher, and Professor of Faculty Education at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. He has authored or co-authored over 38 book chapters, 38 journal articles, over 50 conference papers, and 12 books including Building Thinking Classrooms. Working within education for decades, Peter consults regularly with schools, school districts, and ministries of education on issues of teaching and learning, assessment, and numeracy.

Peter is the current president of the Canadian Mathematics Education Study Group (CMESG) and the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME). He also serves on various editorial boards and is a senior editor of IJSME. Dr. Liljedahl recently received the Cmolik Prize for the enhancement of public education in BC as well as the Margaret Sinclair Memorial Award for innovation and excellence in mathematics education.

Resourced mentioned:
Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Grades K-12, by Peter Liljedahl: https://www.amazon.com/Building-Thinking-Classrooms-Mathematics-Grades/dp/1544374836
Weapons of the Weak, by James Scott: https://www.amazon.com/Weapons-Weak-Everyday-Peasant-Resistance/dp/0300036418
A Pattern Language, by Christopher Alexander: https://www.amazon.com/Pattern-Language-Buildings-Construction-Environmental/dp/0195019199

Connect with Peter:
https://buildingthinkingclassrooms.com/
Facebook Groups: Thinking Classrooms

Work with Dart:
Dart is the CEO and co-founder of the work design firm 11fold. Build work that makes employees feel alive, connected to their work, and focused on what’s most important to the business. Book a call at 11fold.com.