We are excited to share that our friends Julie Dunstan and Susannah Cole have recently released their book, Flexible Mindsets in Schools: Channelling Brain Power for Critical Thinking, Complex Problem-Solving & Creativity.
Developing Flexible Mindsets
Today’s students will face complex challenges and uncertainty in their futures. How can we prepare our students to become self-directed learners who know how to ask questions, solve problems, and unleash their creativity?
The key lies in helping students develop flexible mindsets, which arise from periods of trial and error over searching for one “right answer.” Drawing from research and practice, Flexible Mindsets in Schools offers educators a roadmap for creating educational environments that promote deep learning and resilience.
Tools for the Classroom
Dunstan and Cole’s book is a how-to guide for teachers to help students develop the three C’s: critical thinking, complex problem solving, and creativity. By developing adaptive strategy use, students will be more prepared to shift flexibly as they navigate our ever-changing world. Flexible Mindsets in Schools offers practical tools for creating equitable learning environments and realizing that small, manageable changes can lead to an educational revolution.
Books about executive function and cognitive flexibility make a great holiday gift for teachers. Consider giving Flexible Mindsets in Schools or a selection from ResearchILD’s publications to your favorite teacher.
About the Authors
Julie Dunstan is a developmental psychologist and founding director of reFLEXions®, an initiative designed to develop Flexible Mindsets for self-directed learning. Susannah Cole is an executive function coach and managing director of reFLEXions®.
- Caitlin Vanderberg, M.Ed., SMARTS Associate
Build Your Executive Function Toolkit
Are you interested in building your Executive Function Toolkit? Join us in February and March to hear from EF experts on topics such as metacognition and motivation, strategies to support students with long-term projects and project-based learning, embedding EF in the general education curriculum, and the intersection of EF and social-emotional learning. Learn more and register today.
SMARTS Executive Function Curriculum: smarts-ef.org
Research Institute for Learning and Development: researchild.org
The Institute for Learning and Development: ildlex.org