The Walt Disney Hometown Museum, as part of its Educational Outreach Program, invites a select group of educators to join the 2024 cohort. We have limited opportunity to build leadership and interest around the topic of place-based learning. While the model is especially suited for school teams of 2-4 teachers, we hope you will apply even if you are the sole participant from your school.
Place-based learning believes in the authenticity of experience and interest to drive academic growth. The immersive nature draws upon students' strengths and background. Inquiry driven, place-based learning builds from students' immediate surroundings to spiral toward broader connections and understandings. The workshop agenda includes short foundational readings, immersive on-site learning experiences, and planning time and tools to transfer the workshop topics to local contexts of participants. You will leave the experience with a deeper understanding of place-based learning, disciplinary literacy, team collaboration and inquiry-based lesson design. Throughout the June workshop days, you'll adopt the stance of both teacher and learner as you participate in the lessons and then step back to analyze the work with colleagues. Aligned with both the Missouri Learning Standards and Missouri Assessment Program, this program simplifies the job teachers face in planning standards-based learning activities.
To carry out this project, the WDHM has partnered with the Missouri Writing Project at the University of Missouri-Columbia. A National Writing Project affiliate, MWP has been in place since 1977 to deliver sustained, quality professional development to educators of pre-K through graduate-level students. As with other summer workshops, the WDHM Here & Now! Place-Based Learning Summer Workshop seeks to build a community of teachers and learners to support place-based learning across subject areas and grade levels. We look forward to building this team of leaders on a topic that supports Missouri students, particularly those in rural areas.
Please complete all questions on the application to be considered for the 2024 WDHM Here & Now! Summer Workshop. During this challenging time in education, we look forward to this experience as restorative as well as invigorating. We will focus on three related activities: (1) teaching demonstrations to showcase the value of place-based learning, including its tie to disciplinary literacy strategies; (2) foundational readings that frame the rationale behind the work and provide support for educators strengthening their understanding of place-based learning, and (3) building professional community.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact the lead facilitator, Julie Sheerman, via email at
sheerman@marcelineschools.org/
sheermanj@missouri.edu or phone (660) 413-2248. I look forward to learning and teaching with you!
Application Deadline: May 1, 2024
Monday, June 10 and Tuesday, June 11 - In-Person Workshop based at the Walt Disney Hometown Museum Sharon D. Lund Education Center
Registration Options and Fees:
Single Registration: $300
Two-Person Team: $500
If you choose to participate for optional graduate credit, please indicate this on the application form and we will be in touch about the process and price of graduate tuition and fees.
The nature of the outdoor learning activities make it necessary for participants to withstand typical Missouri weather and terrain. We will be doing a fair amount of walking. Participants will be asked to use a laptop or tablet during classroom portions of the work.
