The CAMBRIDGE PROJECT is by design a Internet portal created to help young minds ages 5 through 13 develop critical thinking, writing, and reading skills. This is done by utilizing traditional and non-traditional methods to engage higher order thinking as it relates to math/logic, literature, and writing in an academic setting.
The CAMBRIDGE PROJECT serves as a tutorial system were students meet with their tutor online daily or weekly basis in order to promote higher order thinking on three levels: THINKING, READING, and WRITING.
THE CAMBRIDGE PROJECT is based on the tutorial system a method of teaching where the main focus is on regular, individual or very small group teaching sessions. It was established and is still practiced by the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. While THE CAMBRIDGE PROJECT does not conduct live lecture per se, it does conduct sessions virtually. Students are taught by faculty fellows in groups of one to three on a weekly basis. The pedologicial model of teaching used are called “TUTORIALS” or “SUPERVISIONS.” Ideally, they serve one direct benefit – the student or students receive direct feedback on their weekly assignments or work in a small discussion setting.
By design, another direct benefit of “student tutorials” or “supervisions” is that they are generally more academically challenging and rigorous than standard lecture and test format courses, because during each session students are expected to orally communicate, defend, analyze, and critique their ideas in real time. These efforts also include CONVERSATIONS with the tutor and fellow students. More importantly, these sessions have great value because it creates learning and assessment opportunities which are HIGHLY AUTHENTIC and ORIGINAL. In other words, the student or students will not be able fake their way through.
All told, the development of critical thinking skills as they relate to math/logic, reading, and writing serve as the heart and soul of this program . THE CAMBRIDGE PROJECT is dedicated to help engage, cultivate, and enrich the “young minds” of the twentieth century from start to finish.
Dr. John P. Williams / Denton, Texas