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Teaching the Wisdom of Mind and Heart
About the Program
Teaching the Wisdom of Mind and Heart program (also known as THM = Thought Heart Mind) is a large-scale research-intervention project and a joint initiative of the University of Haifa (Range Center and the Center for the Study of Human Spirit) together with Bar-Ilan University, supported by the Ministry of Education and the Israel Science Foundation.
The program offers a holistic integrative model that combines the emotional part (the heart) and the cognitive part (the mind). The research develops ways to implement 21st-century skills—such as creative thinking, emotional regulation, empathy, and teamwork—within elementary schools, based on the perception of the person as a “whole.”
Project Goal
The goal of the project has a dual purpose: First, to build a research-based integrative model and implement a holistic perception for meaningful learning of 21st-century skills in elementary schools. Second, to provide in-depth training for educational staff in elementary schools. The research focuses on an in-depth understanding of the change processes related to teaching and learning these skills, and tests the effect of the integrative model on a large sample.
Applied Intervention
The applied intervention focuses on developing cognitive, emotional, and social skills, with special emphasis on teacher training. The guiding concept is that “a teacher teaches who they are,” and therefore, the training also focuses on developing the teacher’s inner world, reflection, and empathy. The project aims to create a model that can be expanded and implemented on a large scale in the education system.
Program Uniqueness
- Focus on the “whole person” – connecting emotion to cognition.
\(\space\) - “Teachers First” approach – training teachers to live the skills themselves.
\(\space\) - The school as a holistic organizational intervention unit.
\(\space\) - A research-based, groundbreaking, and large-scale model in Israel.
Core Values
21st-century skills that are at the center of the activity:
- Critical thinking and creativity
\(\space\) - Emotional regulation, empathy, and sensitivity
\(\space\) - Teamwork, sharing, and conflict management
Program Team
Prof. Ofra Mayseless
Co-Researcher, University of Haifa
Prof. Roza Leikin
Co-Researcher, University of Haifa
Dr. Shiri Lavy
Co-Researcher, University of Haifa
Prof. Zemira Mevarech
Co-Researcher, Bar-Ilan University
Prof. Michal Zion
Co-Researcher, Bar-Ilan University
Dr. Shelly Rota
Project Coordinator and Cognitive Intervention Team
Mr. Guy Groves
Cognitive Intervention Team
Ms. Savion Or
Emotional/Social Intervention Team
Mr. Shay Hanin
Emotional/Social Intervention Team
Dr. Galit Kliger
Emotional/Social Intervention Team
Mr. Ran Katz
Organizational Support Team
Ms. Yael Rubinstein
Organizational Support Team
Ms. Galit Hanin
Emotional/Social Intervention Team
Dr. Nurit Paz
Measurement and Evaluation Team
Ms. Iman Naama
Measurement and Evaluation Team