THE HEASLY THINKING SKILLS SYSTEM: COMMUNITY OF INQUIRY AND EDU-TENSEGRITY

Abstract

Having been fully involved in the Philosophy for Children pedagogy (devised by Professor Matthew Lipman five decades ago), I have integrated fully his Community of Inquiry classroom strategies to teach understanding about virtues, values and ethics to promote democratic procedures, higher-order thinking skills and authentic response to student questions. This paper details four pedagogical steps in the Heasly Thinking Skills System:a. The art and skill of asking questions.b. The ‘ME’ diagram.c. The Six Steps of Decision-making.d. The Heasly Uncertainty Grid – known by my students as the HUG/BUG. The objectives and purposes of my refreshed theory of education, called EDU-TENSEGRITY, include the Heasly Thinking Skills System.