on-site consulting |
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what is an on-site workshop?
Institute faculty associates travel to schools and colleges to offer Institute writing and thinking workshops on-site for teachers in all academic disciplines. Curriculum supervisors, teachers, department heads, or principals, usually initiate on-site workshops, but always with the consent of the participating teachers.
why do it? Not all schools or colleges can afford to send more than a few teachers to workshops at Bard and find it cost effective to plan an on-site workshop for groups of teachers. But on-site workshops are not just about cost effectiveness or efficient use of college resources. To make significant changes in the writing curriculum—in how writing is taught and how teachers in all subjects make writing an important part of their teaching—requires the collaboration of many teachers in a department, program, or school. One teacher returning from an Institute at workshop may be able to change how students write in her or his classroom, but alone she cannot bring about significant change in a colleague's classrooms and in the school curriculum. Teachers from the same school who have attended Institute workshops together, however, can support each other's efforts to apply new writing practices in their classrooms and become change agents in their school. who leads the workshops? Faculty associates of the Bard Institute for Writing & Thinking lead the workshops. Associates teach at diverse colleges, universities, and high schools. They teach poetry, composition, literature, history, literacy, anthropology, American studies, mathematics, biology, and drama. All associates are trained in Institute practices, which draw on contemporary theories of knowledge and language to develop the best techniques for teaching writing. what do associates say about teaching on-site workshops? "I am interested in how teachers and administrators read texts together, write together, and plan together. I am also interested in providing strategies for teachers to reflect more, listen better, and think about their own writing as well as that of their students." -Carley Moore
-Elena Rivera
recent on-site worshopsThe Institute has consulted at more than 200 colleges and 300 schools, presenting one-day through weeklong workshops for more than 6,500 teachers. On-site workshops in 2007 include those at: Bard High School Early College (NYC) Queens College/CUNY Gettysburg College (PA) Front Range Community College (CO) Friends Seminary (NYC) Irvington UFSD (NY) Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools (NY) The Chapin School (NYC) The College of New Jersey Susquehanna University (PA) United Nations International School (NYC) Suffolk County Community College (NY) Finger Lakes Community College (NY) Darien Public Schools (CT) Katharine Gibbs School (NYC)
frequently asked questions
• what workshops are offered on-site? The Institute usually offers on-site workshops in Writing and Thinking, Writing to Learn, or Writing to Read, but will work with schools and departments to tailor workshops to meet teachers' needs and the curriculum goals of the school or school district. • how many people can participate in a workshop offered on-site? Each workshop session is limited to 15 participants; for larger groups, we may be able to arrange for more than one session. • how long does an on-site workshop last? The Institute does not offer workshops of less than one day (8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) and prefers a two-day format. Weeklong workshop/retreats are also possible, depending upon the location of the school and the kind of workshop requested. • how much does an on-site workshop cost? The fees that follow are based on a one-day workshop for up to 15 teachers (the number of teachers we can accommodate in one section). The entire cost of the workshop is $1250, which includes a stipend for the Institute faculty associate and an Institute administrative fee for materials and planning time. Travel expenses and accommodations (if necessary) are separate and are the responsibility of host school or district. • does the Institute offer follow-up workshops? We suggest and encourage follow-up workshops! Although all Institute workshops are guided by similar principles, with Writing & Thinking and Writing to Learn most broadly addressing issues of teaching & learning, subsequent workshops can apply the principles of writing instruction to particular disciplines and classroom goals. • what is the most important factor in assuring a successful on-site workshop? The support of both the administration and the teachers. Ideally, workshops should be initiated through teacher interest with the support of curriculum supervisors, principals, and the school administration. For the workshops to be most effective, teachers need to be fully engaged in the process-teachers should not be coerced into participating in Institute workshops. The Institute will gladly send brochures and guidelines on "what to expect" to all teachers at a school registering for an Institute workshop. • how is an Institute workshop different from other writing workshops? Participating teachers are seen as writers, students, and teachers. The workshops are experiential. Although workshop leaders will explain the theory and context for each writing practice, participants learn by doing. Nevertheless, with few exceptions (during the July weeklong workshops or the writing retreat) Institute workshops differ from traditional creative writing workshops by their focus on practices for teaching writing or teaching through writing. • I'm interested, our teachers are interested, now what? The workshop coordinator (e.g., department chair, curriculum supervisor, assistant principal) should first contact the Institute director to explore possible workshop dates,the particular needs of the teachers at her or his school, and the focus of the on-site workshop. Before an Institute faculty associate begins to plan the workshop, the Institute needs a written confirmation (e-mail is acceptable) of the school or district's intention to offer the workshop, the date and location of the workshop, the number of teachers participating, and an agreement to pay the fees for the workshop.
how do I get more information?To arrange an onsite workshop for teachers at your school, contact Teresa Vilardi:
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