Thinking Schools South Africa (TSSA) exists to partner with schools in cultivating thinking cultures where curiosity, questioning, creativity and critical thinking are valued and visible. We believe that education in the 21st century must move beyond the transmission of knowledge to developing independent, self-directed learners who can think deeply, solve complex problems and contribute meaningfully to an ever-changing world.
'From Mindset to Practice' workshop with Trevor MacKenzie at Pridwin Preparatory, May 2026
Through high-quality professional development, TSSA supports educators and leaders in embedding inquiry-based pedagogical approaches that foster learner agency, visible thinking and deeper understanding. Our offerings include in-school professional learning, workshops, online courses, Roadshows, Professional Learning Communities, a book club, international webinars, and world-class international conferences featuring leading educational thinkers.
TSSA works in partnership with both public and independent schools across South Africa, building sustainable, whole-school approaches to transforming teaching and learning.
All TSSA workshops, in-school training and professional learning events are SACE-registered for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points, and TSSA is a proud ISASA Corporate Member.
Herschel Girls Preparatory students working on questioning.
LATEST NEWS
From Mindset to Practice: Deepening Inquiry Across Classrooms and Grade Levels
In May and June 2026, Thinking Schools South Africa (TSSA) had the privilege of hosting internationally renowned inquiry educator and author Trevor MacKenzie for eight workshops held across South Africa. The workshops, titled From Mindset to Practice: Deepening Inquiry Across Classrooms and Grade Levels, brought together more than 1 000 educators and school leaders from public and independent schools.
More than simply exploring the theory of inquiry, Trevor invited participants to experience inquiry in action. Through practical strategies, classroom examples, Learning Labs and collaborative conversations, educators explored how to shift from being dispensers of knowledge to developing curiosity by creating classrooms where student agency, wonder, questioning and deep thinking can flourish.
The workshops represented another important step in TSSA’s ongoing commitment to supporting schools in developing sustainable cultures of inquiry. We are deeply grateful to our host schools, partner organisations and the many educators who engaged with such openness, enthusiasm and a willingness to rethink the possibilities of teaching and learning.
The impact of these sessions will continue beyond the workshops themselves as schools take small, intentional steps towards creating classrooms where every learner is empowered to think, question and take ownership of their learning.
All teachers at Durban Girls' College attended a 6 hour workshop on Thinking Maps on 11th January. The Thinking Maps provide a shared visual language for learning. There are eight Thinking Maps that correlate to eight cognitive processes and can be applied across all content areas and all grades.
The feedback from teachers was in the form of one of the Visual Thinking Routines: I used to think .... Now I think ....
Here is what some teachers wrote using the "I used to think... and now I think ...":
I used to think Thinking Maps® are: Now I think Thinking Maps® are:
- like mind maps - linked to 8 cognitive processes
- used for summaries only - used for different applications
- going to change my thinking - a useful tool to enhance learning
- not going to be useful in high school math - will aid my teaching
- very cumbersome and complicated - attainable, user-friendly, agile, adaptable, useful, illuminating
- too much for me to fathom - perfectly doable
- a creative way to engage students
- provide us with opportunities to enhance teaching and learning
- abstract - a collaborative instrument that helps teachers and learners engage with content on a different level
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