What is TeachThink?
Put simply, TeachThink is individualized, outside-of-school English-Language Arts instruction for college-bound students in grades 8-12.
TeachThink offers a selection of college-preparation courses, where students view course titles and syllabuses, and select courses they are interested in taking–just as they do at the university level. It’s that simple.
For a slightly more detailed explanation, consider that TeachThink focuses on both concepts–evaluating, analyzing, and using modern information and media, as well as traditional skills of reading and composition. In this way, the curriculum is authentic to students, and conducive towards success in a standards-based 8-12 classroom. One of the “big ideas” behind TeachThink is to take the rigor of “old-school” English-Language Arts instruction and teach it through a 21st century lens.
University-level coursework is a sort of hybrid between skill-based instruction, and “big idea” concept-based thematic instruction. Current university syllabuses are provided to students and used as planning/reference materials, and actual internet-based college resources are reviewed or applied, based on their relevance.
So, is it tutoring? Traditional skill-based “tutoring” services are also available, but TeachThink can be thought of as advanced tutoring. Both tutoring and TeachThink courses share similar goals, namely to improve student understanding, but TeachThink is designed to provide students with authentic learning experiences that very much mimic university-style coursework, including offering Writing Requirement (WR) courses, project-based learning, individualized units of instruction as necessary, and the ability to view and select from available courses.
What is taught at TeachThink?
Critical-thinking skills are taught through traditional (reading, composition, study skills) and 21st century-skills centered activities, lessons, and units. Think of TeachThink as a rigorous and supportive high school English classroom–but with modern materials, student-centered projects, and instruction focused specifically on your child, not on your child as 1-of-175 (a common number of total students many public school teachers are responsible for).
See also:
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm
