Since 1998, NASA's strategic direction has changed, and to address these changes they have invested in breakthrough technology and quantum improvements in productivity. As part of this effort, NASA created a Critical Thinking Skills Project and identified only one training course, Designs for Strong Minds™, to deliver this skill to NASA employees.

NASA chose Designs for Strong Minds™ because it is the only Critical Thinking Course specifically designed on brain function for high-functioning adults. They asked Dr. Markus to design a program for them because, while other programs cover only structured and semi-structured problem solving, Designs for Strong Minds™ also includes unstructured problem solving, which teaches individuals to effectively analyze and define problems and issues.

This a screen shot of a Progressions Exercise


The NASA professional program involves advanced exercises including: