Train-the-trainer workshop in Prague launches Teacher Training Pilot
EFI’s Teacher Training Pilot is a project with limitless ambition: our goal is nothing less than to expand and improve the quality of economics teaching and to offer a pathfinder for countries seeking to raise their national standards of economic and financial literacy.
The pilot is being run in 3 very different countries: Georgia, Kosovo and Ukraine. A train-the-trainer approach is key to enabling this project to grow rapidly, both in these countries and beyond. Each country has recruited a pool of trainers, all experienced high school and university teachers, who will lead teacher training courses, starting this summer. Our trainers have now completed an intensive train-the-trainer workshop, in which English was the language of delivery. They return to their home countries to deliver this training in their native languages. By September, the first 210 teachers will have been trained. Our goal is to triple this number in the project’s second year.
The design team is made up of academic economists and pedagogical experts with decades of experience: EFI President, Prof. Randall Filer, Florida State University professors Joe Calhoun and Tawni Hunt Ferrarini, and Prof. Gina Riley, educational psychologist and program director at Hunter College, New York. All have generously donated their time and expertise, as have our first trainers. All are inspired by the potential of this groundbreaking project. Reflecting on the workshop a couple of days after its close, Joe mused: “That was one of my most rewarding professional development experiences”.
Natela Mshvidobadze, a member of the Georgian team, summed up the group’s feelings at the end of the week: “This training was not just professional development, it was personal awakening! I saw economics education in a new light. The content was top-notch, delivered seamlessly with outstanding organization. And the trainers? They were phenomenal! I feel excited to share this newfound economic knowledge with other teachers. I can't wait to start revolutionizing the way economics is taught in Georgia!”
The Economics Pedagogy Training Course isn’t just about teaching economics. It’s about giving teachers the tools and techniques they need to teach high school students in a classroom environment which encourages them to think critically and to apply their learnings to their everyday lives. Modules include: Importance of Effective Economics Instruction, Creating Classroom Culture and Lesson Planning, Leveraging Ed Tech/AI in Lessons, innovative assessment methods and Integration of Essential Concepts and Project-Based Learning.
Our approach to training is far from “one and done”. Trainers and teachers alike join an online multinational community where they will have access to a growing collection of teaching materials provided in English and local languages. Webinars and open office hours will be offered by the design team and additional experts. Mentors will be available to both teachers and trainers.
As the project evolves, we’ll be providing regular updates. If you’d like to learn more in the meantime, reach out to us at gergana.sazlaykova@econfun.org. EFI is immensely grateful to the Rising Tide Foundation for their support for this project.
