IWT was founded in 1982 by Bard College president Leon Botstein. Since its inception, it has helped teachers develop writing practices that enliven classroom learning through writing. IWT's philosophy and practice center on the principle that writing is not merely a record of completed thought, but also an exploratory process that deepens learning across disciplines. IWT is also home to the Language & Thinking Program, the interdisciplinary intensive course that all first-year students at Bard participate in.