The Private Eye Project is a research-based educational program created by Kerry Ruef in 1988.
Some of the main themes are "close observation", "thinking by analogy", "hands-on investigation", "changing scale", and "theorizing".
The first three and one-half years were grant-funded by the Discuren Charitable Foundation and piloted in the Seattle Public Schools.
[1] As of October 2010, The Private Eye Project has been used by thousands of teachers and over 3 million students.
[5] The methodology of The Private Eye Project is sometimes referenced in discussions of creativity and critical thinking.