The teaching at St. Dominic’s RTC includes both Centre and group projects. These help the students to put the skills they are learning into practice in a realistic setting. They are similar to the group projects discussed in Unit 2.2, but the objective is to practice the skills already learnt rather than to learn new ones.

For this reason students have a large degree of control over the project. They should, therefore, realise the usefulness of what they are learning and how their learning may be put into practice.

a. Find out as much as you can about any one group project at St. Dominic’s. Interview the teachers and students and observe the project to find out the following:

1. The aims and objectives of the project.
2. How many people involved?
3. How the group was chosen.
4. How the project is organised.
5. How much responsibility the group has for the project.
6. How much guidance they receive.
7. What material benefits, if any, the groups receive from the project e.g. money or keeping what is produced.
8. What the students think they have learnt from the project.
9. What the students think are the problems in carrying out the project.
10. What the teacher thinks the problems are.

b. Describe the project to other members of the class and discuss the benefits of the projects.

c. Your tutor will arrange for a St. Dominic’s teacher to explain to you how they run their Centre’s farm. Discuss with him the advantages and problems of running such a farm.

Read summary sheet C1, Projects.

1. Find out as much as you can about self-sufficiency and income generation activities in St. Dominic’s. How do they work? To what extent is St. Dominic’s self-sufficient?

2. Try to find out similar information for any other RTC you know.

3. Make a plan for income generation and self-sufficiency for any RTC where you have taught or think you might teach.

As a practice before you finish at Vanga we would like you to carry out a personal project.

This should be one which

a. can be carried out with some concrete results in about 7 weeks.

b. can be done here at VTC, possibly with the help of St. Dominic’s.

c. has the necessary facilities and equipment here at Vanga.

d. will generate some income for you if possible.

Your tutors and the staff at St. Dominic’s will help you choose and plan your project. You will have time to carry it out between now and when you leave.