Program Coordinator: Bahar Kerimova

Goals

The RWCT project presents to teachers the educational methods based on the principle of analysis. These methods have been worked out to help pupils to possess analytical thinking, to approach education with responsibility, to comprehend the logic during discussions, to listen carefully, to discuss with confidence and to be an independent person aspiring to knowledge every time.

• Since the beginning of the program 480 secondary and high school teachers have had trainings in the seminars and sessions held by the local RWCT instructors and international volunteers.
• Additionally, 180 teachers and students had trainings by the end of 2001-2002 educational years.
• Along with 24 seminar instructors, at present most of the approved RWCT specialists of the program are conducting work within the program frames in secondary and high schools.
• The accounts of the trained teachers show that they have passed the RWCT principles and methods to their colleagues and thus have contributed to the distribution of the program.
• The program has started to be applied at high schools.
• Cooperation has been established with "Step by Step" program and the general activity strategies have been worked out.
• Trainings have been held for textbook authors.
• The role of the RWCT program in the educational system of Azerbaijan has been mentioned by Baku Head Educational Department.

• Institutions
• Preparation of seminar instructors for the program
• All-school movement
• Higher Education
• Researches
• Writings of country importance
• National Conference
• Modern Didactics Denter

The RWCT program in Azerbaijan is carried out in 3 Teachers` Advanced Training Institutes, 3 universities, 3 colleges and in tens of high schools.
The RWCT employees intend to carry out several training courses in Azerbaijan Teachers` Institute, Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, Azerbaijan State Pedagogical College, Lankaran State University, Nakhichenvan Teachers` Institute, Shaki Podagogical College.

The seminar instructors get the certificates of the teacher, instructor or confirmer of RWCT passing through the certification procedures. This certificate gives them the status of teacher, instructor or confirmer known on the international level.

In order to get the certificate of training instructor the RWCT instructor must:
• Be an active member of the groups holding RWDCY trainings, prepare and present training plans, accounts of the students` opinions and on the assessment of their knowledge, account of the assessment of the teacher's work, the list of the utilized resources, the working samples (for instance, educational plans) or the teacher's opinion on the program application, students` working samples.
• Undergo a 6 or 8 days training course
• Organize the meetings of groups for the discussion of general problems, the exchange of views and the preparation of future plans every month.

To increase the number of the RWCT teachers able to improve the educational atmosphere of the school where they work.

• To play the role of the model RWCT school for involving more teachers to the program.
• To prepare the account on the program assessment to be presented to the approval of the Ministry of Education.
• To work as a demonstrative center for the teachers and investigators of other schools.

• 3 schools of Baku and Shamakhi have been involved to the movement in order to apply the RWCT principles in the atmosphere of school.
• The ASM schools with priority will be selected out of the number of the schools where "Step by Step" program has been applied.

To apply the RWCT methods at higher schools in order to enlarge the participation of the organization in the project and to offer the facilities for long-term stability..

• Holding trainings for teachers at Azerbaijan Teachers` Institute, Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, Azerbaijan State Pedagogical College, Lankaran State University, Nakhichevan Teachers` Institute, Shaki Pedagogical College
• Holding monitorings at the same higher schools

The usage of the RWCT principles for the development of research activities efficient for the future and present teachers and scientists.

Two RWCT teachers are preparing thesis on the topic of critical thinking:
• A methodologist of Baku Teachers` Advanced Training Institute is preparing research paper on "The Study of Geography using the principles of critical thinking"
• A teacher of Sumqait Pedagogical Institute in working on the thesis on the topic of "New Educational Methods based on RWCT program.

To meet the requirements of the country on mediums of information related to education - "The Thinking Class "journal was highly appreciated by the circles working in the field of education.

• 70 % of the materials included to the future issues are the articles used in the international version and 30 % are local articles.
• The second, third and fourth issues of the journal are planned to be published in 2004.

RWCT is going to hold a conference for discussing the program achievements, the acquired statistic information and the plans related to institutionalizing.

The program is planning to organize the national conference in may, 2004. The program agenda and information about the invited quests will be disclosed later.

The "Modern Didactics Center" established in 2002 is functioning as a resource center for RWCT teachers. Here they can get the opportunity of utilizing computers connected to Internet and informational materials of the library, to exchange views by electron forum, etc. Teachers also gather here for planning their trainings and monthly meetings and for working on the information.

• To apply the RWCT program at high schools (Azerbaijan Teachers` Institute, Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, Azerbaijan State Pedagogical College, Lankaran State University, Nakhichevan Teachers` Institute, Shaki Pedagogical College)
• To apply the RWCT educational program at high schools.
• To hold meetings with high school teachers once in two months for student exchange
• To prepare the criteria to assess the functioning of resource centers at high schools, the organization of the monitoring group and holding monitorings.
• To start the "All-School Movement" at the schools where "Step by Step" program is carried out.
• To hold meetings for teachers in the first, second and third stages of the RWCT program.
• To continue the certification process with the teachers of the first, second and third stages of the RWCT program.
• To establish relations between kindergartens, high schools and higher schools and the net of "Step by Step" RWCT program. (To achieve the holding of trainings by students at the kindergartens and high schools where "Step by Step" program is carried out, to hold regular meetings with the employees of the training centers and resource centers, etc.)
• To publish local journals on the RWCT program
• To hols trainings for textbook authors.
• The official mission of the representatives of the RWCT program in other countries with the purpose of student exchange.

Baku:
• The Ministry of Education
• Baku Head Educational Department
• The Problems Institute on Education
• World Bank
• Azerbaijan Teachers` Institute
• Baku Pedagogical Institute on Improvement of Professional Skills and Retraining of Specialists
• UNICEF
• Azerbaijan State University of Languages
• Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University
• Slavian University
Sumgayit:
• Sumgayit Pedagogic Seminary
Lankaran:
• Lankaran State University

Baku: - 24 high schools (Two "All-School Movement" schools)
Sumgayit: - 15 schools
Shemakha: - 1 school (The "All-School Movement" school)
Mingechevir: - 2 schools

"My one-year participation in the RWCT program was more efficient for me than my 15-year expertise".
"I am a specialist with higher education and 30-year expertise. The participation in the program was like the second higher education for me".
"Pupils really meet the program very well. They talk about RWCT with all teachers of school and require to utilize the RWCT methods during lessons".