Frequently
Asked Questions
Q: What is RWCT?
Q: What kind of teachers can benefit
from RWCT?
Q: What do educators learn in RWCT?
Q: Why use active learning?
Q: Why use cooperative learning
techniques?
Q: Why use strategies that develop
critical thinking?
Q: Who delivers the training?
Q: In what language will the training be
conducted?
Q: What supporting materials are
available?
Q: What is the advantage of this program
over other, similar programs?
Q: What changes have occurred in the
teaching of former beneficiaries of the program?
Q: Whom can we ask for reference?
Q: Who are RWCT clients?
Q: Can the training institutes who train community based organisations' leaders and staff be benefitted through RWCT?
Q:
What is RWCT?
A:
RWCT stands for the Reading and Writing for Critical
Thinking Program, which started in the spring of 1997 to help
teachers in the former Ccommunist block learn and try out methods of
teaching for active learning and critical thinking. With support from
the Open Society Institute, New York (www.sorosny.org), and the
International Development Division of the International Reading
Association, as of the summer of 2004, RWCT has reached more thanover
40,000 educators in more than over 30 countries around the world (see
map below: Green = RWCT projects; Purple = Related
projects; Yellow = Projects in the making).
Q:
What kind of teachers can benefit from RWCT?
A: Teachers of all grades and disciplines from the elementary schools to
universities.
Q:
What do educators learn in RWCT?
A: Teaching strategies that involve prediction and hypothesis testing,
eliciting prior knowledge, encouraging debate among students, writing
to learn, response techniques, and cooperative learning.
Q:
Why use active learning?
A: When active learning methods are used, students:
-
learn
more deeply,
-
retain
ideas longer,
-
are
better able to use the content of their courses,
-
are
more highly motivated and enjoy school more,
-
can
relate what they learn to life, and use their learning to solve real
problems.
Q:
Why use cooperative learning techniques?
A:
When cooperative learning techniques are used, students
-
learn
to take initiative in the learning process,
-
develop
better relations with others, and enhance their social skills,
-
learn
skills of cooperation, useful in society and in the workplace.
Q:
Why use strategies that develop critical thinking?
A: When critical thinking methods are used, students
-
become
more insightful,
-
are
better able to think for themselves,
-
earn
to form their own opinions, and support them with facts,
-
learn
to listen and read respectfully but critically.
Q:
Who delivers the training?
A:
The workshops are offered by experienced, internationally well-known
trainers, mid-career professionals who offer their services on a
volunteer or near-volunteer basis. They are joined by teachers from
many countries in Europe, Central Asia, Latina America, and Africa
who have extensive experience in the project’s teaching
methods. AmongBetween themselves, the trainers have experience
working in dozens of countries for many internationally agencies,
including the Open Society Institute, USAID, Canadian CIDA, the World
Bank, UNESCO, and the European Union. Most are university professors
with experience as classroom teachers and school administrators, and
most have extensive publishing records.
Q:
In what language will the training be conducted?
A:
In English, Russian, or Spanish. For workshops in other languages,
translators must be provided.
Q:
What supporting materials are available?
A:
A 300-page guidebook, laid out with pleasing graphics for easy
reading and later referral. There is also a leader’s guide
that gives the workshop leaders detailed ideas for conducting
workshops and supervising the progress of the participants as they
try out new methods in their classrooms. CD- ROMs and a web-site are
available to give follow-up support to participants and trainers.
Q:
What is the advantage of this program over other, similar programs?
A:
It is adaptable to local needs and budgets. The proportion of
face-to-face training to other kinds of support (CD-ROMs, Internet,
e-mail, written guides) may vary from project to project. The staff
of the project can provide assistance and documentation to help those
seeking financial support from third parties.
Q:
What changes have occurred in the teaching of former beneficiaries of
the program?
A:
Teachers who have benefited from training say:
-
They
think of ways for students to “"mine”" their own knowledge, instead of
thinking of students only as places to “"deposit”" more knowledge;
-
Before
teaching the material, they examine it for opportunities to promote
critical thinking;
-
They
allow students more opportunities to work alone and in groups;
-
They
look for additional materials to help students become independent
learners;
-
They
wait longer to listen to what students are going to say;
-
They
ask more open_ended questions;
-
They
encourage more (varied) responses to their questions;
-
They
look for ways for the students to relate what they are learning to
their own experiences and prior knowledge;
-
They
spend more time planning their lessons;
-
They
have become more like what they want their students to become: patient,
flexible, takers of risks, analytic.
Q:
Whom can we ask for reference?
A:
See international board of trustees.
Q:
Who are RWCT clients?
A: RWCT
present and past clients have included the following: ministries of
education; private foundations; international governmental agencies,
such as UNESCO and the World Bank; national governmental agencies,
such as USAID; public and private universities, public and
private schools and school systems; non-governmental organizations
(NGOs); and regional educational authorities. Future clients
could also include businesses.
Q: Can the training institutes who train community based organisations' leaders and staff be benefitted through RWCT?
A: Our answer is yes, community based organization (CBO) leaders would find the discussion techniques promoted in the RWCT program useful for organizing discussions and workshops within community meetings.
FAQ