Cascading New Knowledge: An Introduction

From this module until the end of the course, every week we will spend some time discussing how you
can share your knowledge and experiences with colleagues who are not taking the course. We will also
explore ways in which you can collaborate with other professionals in the field, both face-to-face and
virtually.

In this introductory video, we will:

• Explain the term “cascading”

• Discuss why cascading activities have been included in the course
• Consider how you may benefit from cascading
• Describe how you can get engaged in cascading

Let’s start!

W H A T I S C A S C A D IN G?
You have certainly seen a ‘cascade’ before - “a waterfall descending over a steep, rocky surface”
(dictionary.com). You may have also encountered this word in other contexts - “a cascade of sounds” or
“a cascade of events” - where this words is used metaphorically to refer to something falling or rushing
forward in large quantities. In education, “cascading” is often used to describe a way of sharing
knowledge and experience among professionals. For example, after attending a professional
development event and learning new approaches, some teachers may teach other teachers what they
have learned. In other words, they ‘cascade’ new knowledge.

Why cascading in this course?

There are two main reasons. You may have guessed the first one:

• Increasing the course impact

When you were accepted to this course and the OPEN program, you were given a fantastic opportunity
to learn and grow professionally with peers from all over the world. Once you complete the coursework,
we are certain you’ll become a fountain of knowledge. It’s only fair that you share some of your
knowledge with those who have not had the chance to join the program.

The second reason is perhaps less obvious

• Double your learning

© 2021 by World Learning. Cascading New Knowledge for the Online Professional English Network
(OPEN), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. government
and administered by FHI 360. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 1
License, except where noted. To view a copy of this license, visit
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
A Roman proverb says “When we teach, we learn”. You know that from your own experience –
explaining something new to students pushes you to think deeper and harder about that concept, you
reorganize your knowledge, and that improves your own understanding. Also, it helps you identify ideas
you need to clarify, or things you need to improve.

We are sure you have many questions about cascading:

What does cascading look like in practice? Will I have to organize lectures or classes for my colleagues? I
don’t have time for this!

‘Cascading’ can take many shapes and forms. In many ways, it mirrors teacher learning, which can take
place in formal to informal contexts. In the weeks to come, we’ll take a closer look at various cascading
options and help you select the most suitable ones for your teaching environment.

We hope this video has helped you understand why we have included the cascading thread in this
course: we want you to become a fountain of knowledge not only for your students, but also for your
colleagues. We know you can do it!