Critical Skills Classroom

Learning experiences that inspire and engage.

The Critical Skills Classroom

Creating Classrooms that
Inspire and Engage

Teacher Training in Problem-Based Learning | Antioch University

Transform your classroom into a place where students do the real work —
and love it.

The Critical Skills Classroom is a community of practice dedicated to excellence, where teachers and students bridge the gap between academic standards and real-world skills together. Whether you pursue a single workshop or a Master’s degree, you’ll master a proven framework for designing immersive challenges. Gain the practical tools to empower student agency while modeling the very lifelong learning you seek to inspire.

Teacher helps a student with a robot

Ready to get started?

Learn about certificates, workshops, & degree programs

What do teachers say about the Critical Skills Classroom?

What we need in this world more than anything else is adults who know how to work together to solve problems, and Critical Skills help teachers transform their classrooms into places where students practice that all the time.

Nelia Rath

The Riverside School. Lyndonville, VT
I’m still amazed by the change I feel in myself – my traditional habits and methods of teaching are evolving into classroom strategies so quickly that it’s sometimes difficult to keep the ideas straight. I’m having fun teaching again! You can quote me to your future students – THIS WORKS!

Jim Morris

Franklin High School
Teachers sit in wooden chairs facing each other, talking passionately about their ideas. Chart pack lies on tables.

Choose the learning experience that works for you— online, face-to-face in Keene, NH, or in your school.
No matter which you choose, you’ll learn with practicing teachers building on 40 years of real PK-12 classroom experience.

Learn more about certificates, workshops, and degrees for the Critical Skills Classroom

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Celebrating 40 years

Come celebrate with us at the 
40th Annual Critical Skills Immersion!
July 13-17, 2026
Keene, NH

We’ve been working with teachers to create meaningful classroom experiences since 1985. This year, we’re taking a moment to celebrate with new books, webinars, and free resources!

So, what is the Critical Skills approach?

The Critical Skills Problem Solving Decisions Making Critical Thinking Creative Thinking Communication Organization Management Leadership The Fundamental Dispositions Ownership Self Direction Quality Character Collaboration Curiosity & Wonder Community

Research and educators agree: there’s a core set of skills and dispositions that students need most — and that are most often missing when they leave school. Collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creative problem-solving — these aren’t soft skills. They’re the foundation of a well-educated person.

The Critical Skills Classroom is built around developing exactly these capacities alongside academic content. And this list isn’t fixed — if your school has already identified its own set of process skills or learner qualities, those fit right in.