ThinkBlocks

Derek Cabrera

ThinkBlocks are a tactile manipulative educational tool invented by Derek Cabrera. Derek Cabrera, creator of ThinkBlocks, has said that his educational philosophy has been influenced by Jean Piaget's constructivism, and ThinkBlocks reflect this, particularly when used in conjunction with DSRP/Patterns of Thinking: a child becomes an active participant in "constructing" knowledge as he or she models ideas with the blocks.

He is also the inventor of MetaMaps and ThinkBlocks.

DSRP ThinkBlocks Instructional design Organizational structure Cornell University

Systems theory

systems thinkinginterdependencegeneral systems theory

Cabrera invented the blocks as a way to teach his graduate and doctoral students systems thinking at Cornell University.

Ludwig von Bertalanffy Systems engineering Anatol Rapoport Niklas Luhmann Fritjof Capra

DSRP

ThinkBlocks are designed to model concepts and build thinking skills based on the DSRP theory and method of thinking. Derek Cabrera, creator of ThinkBlocks, has said that his educational philosophy has been influenced by Jean Piaget's constructivism, and ThinkBlocks reflect this, particularly when used in conjunction with DSRP/Patterns of Thinking: a child becomes an active participant in "constructing" knowledge as he or she models ideas with the blocks.

Derek Cabrera Outline of thought Systems analysis ThinkBlocks Cognition

Dodecahedron

dodecahedral{5,3}dodecahedra

They were originally white, magnetic dodecahedra in three nested sizes, with one reflective side.

Stellation Trapezo-rhombic dodecahedron Elongated dodecahedron Kepler–Poinsot polyhedron Icosahedral symmetry

Facebook

Facebook LiveFacebook, Inc.Facebook page

In March, 2012, the "Thinking at Every Desk" Facebook page announced the launch of "ThinkBlocks 2.0".

Mark Zuckerberg Criticism of Facebook Dustin Moskovitz Social media Andrew McCollum

Jean Piaget

PiagetPiagetianPiaget, J.

Derek Cabrera, creator of ThinkBlocks, has said that his educational philosophy has been influenced by Jean Piaget's constructivism, and ThinkBlocks reflect this, particularly when used in conjunction with DSRP/Patterns of Thinking: a child becomes an active participant in "constructing" knowledge as he or she models ideas with the blocks.

Genetic epistemology Piaget's theory of cognitive development Constructivism (philosophy of education)Object permanence Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development

Constructivism (philosophy of education)

constructivismconstructivistconstructivist learning theory

Derek Cabrera, creator of ThinkBlocks, has said that his educational philosophy has been influenced by Jean Piaget's constructivism, and ThinkBlocks reflect this, particularly when used in conjunction with DSRP/Patterns of Thinking: a child becomes an active participant in "constructing" knowledge as he or she models ideas with the blocks.

Jean Piaget Learning theory (education)Discovery learning Active learning Seymour Papert

Montessori education

MontessoriMontessori schoolMontessori method

Tactile manipulatives are popular in math subjects (especially in the elementary grades) and in Montessori education.

Maria Montessori American Montessori Society Sapienza University of Rome Montessori in India Leopoldo Franchetti

Ithaca City School District

Ithaca Central Elementary School

ThinkBlocks have been used extensively in pre-school, elementary, secondary, and post-secondary classroom settings, including by the Ithaca City School District in Ithaca, NY, and Fairfax County School District in Fairfax, VA.

Ithaca High School (Ithaca, New York)Ithaca, New York Lehman Alternative Community School Caroline, New York Sciencenter

Fairfax County Public Schools

Fairfax County School BoardFairfax CountyJackson Middle School

ThinkBlocks have been used extensively in pre-school, elementary, secondary, and post-secondary classroom settings, including by the Ithaca City School District in Ithaca, NY, and Fairfax County School District in Fairfax, VA.

Fairfax County, Virginia West Springfield High School (Virginia)Luther Jackson High School James Madison High School (Fairfax County, Virginia)Mount Vernon High School (Virginia)

YouTube

youtube.comYouTube channelYoutuber

Thinking at Every Desk YouTube channel, which includes numerous video tutorials for using ThinkBlocks, as well as teacher case studies from teachers who use the blocks in their classrooms