Course dates:

20 -26 Oct 2024, Riga, Latvia (Levels 1, in En)

flexible, Riga, Latvia (Levels 1 or 2, in En or in Ru)

autumn or spring, Cantalupa, Piedmont, Italy (Level 1, in En or in Ru)

August-September, near Strasbourg, France (Level 1, in En or in Ru)

The course can also be organised on demand, either as a residential or in-house. Dates and locations of the courses can be changed upon request. Contact us for details.

(deadline for grant applications in your National Agency is 20 February 2024, accreditation deadline is 1 October 2024)

 

Objective:

• Provide the participants with tools for the development of creativity and thinking skills of learners.

Who should attend:

• Teachers and teacher trainers of various subjects and age groups of learners.
• Policy makers and educational administrators.
• Professionals interested in the development of creativity and thinking skills.

Course contents (see detailed programme below):

• Practical tools for the development of creativity and thinking skills across curriculum.
• Problem solving and research with learners of various subjects and age groups.
• Examples of lessons and their analysis together with the participants.

Learning outcomes:

• Participants know practical tasks and technologies for the development of thinking skills in the learning process.
• Participants understand the difference between thinking and non-thinking tasks in the learning process.
• Participants are willing to join professional community working towards better integration of creativity & thinking in any learning activity.

Facilitators:

Dr Alla Nesterenko

A teacher, teacher trainer and researcher in the field of key competences in school education. A certified TRIZ specialist.

Natalia Kovilina

A teacher and teacher trainer specialising in the development of thinking skills in teaching Russian. Deputy head of Daugavpils Russian Lyceum.

 

 

Dr. Alexander Sokol

A teacher, teacher trainer, researcher in the field of thinking skills in language education. Principal developer of the Thinking Approach to language teaching and learning.

 

Preliminary programme:

DAY 1
10:00-16:00 Arrival
16:30-18:00 Introduction & getting to know each other
18:00-19:00 Course aims and finalisation of the programme
19:30 Welcome dinner

DAY 2
09:00-10:30 What is happening in a thinking lesson? A system of tasks for adults. Part 1
10:30-11:00 Coffee break & country presentations
11:00-12:30 What is happening in a thinking lesson? A system of tasks for adults. Part 2
12:30-14:00 Lunch
14:00-16:00 What are my possible choices for a series of thinking lessons?
16:00-19:00 Individual tutorials (optional) / social programme
19:30- Dinner

DAY 3
09:00-10:30 So, what does it mean to develop thinking skills of learners?
10:30-11:00 Coffee break & country presentations
11:00-12:30 What do teachers and students do in a thinking lesson?
12:30-14:00 Lunch
14:00-16:00 How will my lessons look like? Towards students accepting the learning problem.
16:00- Cultural activity followed by dinner

DAY 4
09:00-10:30 What are the questions we've come across so far?
10:30-11:00 Coffee break & country presentations
11:00-12:30 How will my lessons look like? Students developing "passports"
12:30-14:00 Lunch
14:00-16:00 What can we learn from each other? What are important conclusions at this stage?
16:00-19:30 Individual tutorials (optional) / social programme
19:30 - Dinner

DAY 5
09:00-10:30 How do learners develop rules / find effects?
10:30-11:00 Coffee break & country presentations
11:00-12:30 How do learners test their rules in different subjects?
12:30-14:00 Lunch
14:00-16:00 What are typical mistakes? Learning from the experience of others.
16:00 -19:30 Individual tutorials (optional) / social programme
19:30 - Dinner

DAY 6
09:00-10:30 Am I ready yet? Finalisation of own lesson plans
10:30-11:00 Coffee break & country presentation
11:00-12:30 How will my thinking lessons look like? Presentation & discussion
12:30-14:00 Lunch
14:00-16:00 What resources can we use for ruther work?
16:00-20:00 Social activity / free time 
20:00 Gala dinner

DAY 7
09:00-10:00 What have we learned and what are further steps?
10:00-11:00 How will my action plan look like?
11:00-12:00 What's my evaluation of this course?
Departure

The programme for each course is tailor-made and is finalised based on the composition of the group. Please also note that slight changes are possible depending on course location and season to let all the participants benefit most from what each course venue offers at a specific period of time. Feel free to contact us for more info.

 

Course Price

We offer a flexible approach to course fees to ensure that you are able to choose the most appropriate option for your needs. If a participant would like to bring their partner along, they are welcome to do so provided that he/she is ready to spend time with the group during social activities, thus benefiting to intercultural exchange. Please contact us for details.

OPTION 1. ERASMUS+ PACKAGE
(best option for partners receiving an Erasmus+ grant and planning long-term collaboration with TA Group)

• Total price per package per participant – EUR 1400

The price includes 7 days tuition and seminar materials, 6 nights accommodation in a twin room, all meals and coffee breaks during the course, social programme during the course, distant support of each participant during a year + organisation support during a year.

 

OPTION 2. CUSTOMIZED PAYMENT
(The option is for partners interested in a particular course or one of the additional services we offer. You can select any of the services or their combination)

• Course fee – EUR 1250

The price includes 7 days tuition and seminar materials, 6 nights accommodation in a twin room, all meals and coffee breaks during the course, and the social programme during the course.

• Distant support – EUR 250 per year per person (optional)

The price includes online support (answers to questions, comments on reflection, participation in webinars and other online events) during the year following the course.

• Organisation support – EUR 250 per year per person (optional)

The price includes online support for the organisation at the stage of application and reporting, as well as the possibility to have consultation on administrative issues during the project implementation.

 

OPTION 3. COURSE ONLY

We recommend that all the participants stay in one place and spend most of their time with the group as we believe in the idea of informal learning. We have been organising residential courses since 2009 and our experience shows that participants benefit more when they choose to be together with the group for a week of the course. However, if this option is not possible, it may be possible to stay elsewhere and not take part in social activities and joined group dinners.

• Course fee - EUR 800

The price includes 7 days tuition and seminar materials, as well as lunch coffee breaks.

 

DISCOUNTS

Each partner organisation participating in the courses is eligible to one of the following discounts:

• 10% discount for each participant that attends Level 1 and Level 2 courses during one year;
• 10% discount for each participant if the total number of participant from one organisation that attend the courses during the year is 10 and more.

Information about previous courses:

Photos from some of the previous courses: June 2013, Feb 2015, Feb 2015, April 2015, Sept 2015, Nov 2015, July 2016, July 2018, July 2019

Participants' feedback from some of the previous courses: June 2013, Feb 2015, Sept 2015, Nov 2015, July 2016, July 2018, July 2019

Video feedback from former participants (various courses 2014 - 2016)

Video feedback from former participants (various courses 2009 - 2016)

The number of places on each course is limited, therefore we are asking you to contact us as soon as possible if you would like to book a place.