Summer Institute for Middle and High School Educators

July 11 - 13, 2011 at Boston Latin School, Boston, MA

Feedback from the 2011 Boston Summer Institue:

"The CELF Summer Institute for Sustainability Education is a testament to the vision and leadership of students; and represents a valuable and timely educational collaboration between students and teachers, as well as non-profit and philanthropic partners. I am confident that these innovative educator trainings will inspire students and provide them with the complex understandings they need to participate effectively in the sustainable solutions we all need"

~Dr. Carol R. Johnson, Boston Public Schools Superintendent

 

"The 2011 CELF Summer Institute for sustainability education was an amazing
opportunity to learn about how to integrate lessons on sustainability into
any curriculum. I mentor teachers who are in their first year of teaching
in Boston Public Schools and see Education for Sustainability as an
important component to 21st Century teaching and learning. I think that all
children should be exposed to curriculum that encourages them to think
critically about their impact on our world’s resources. I would highly
recommend the CELF Institute to other educators who are looking for ideas on
how to engage their students in inquiry about real life issues."
~Patreka Wood, Boston Public Schools DOE, New Teacher Developer

At the CELF Summer Institute, teachers and administrators learn how to build students' knowledge and skills enabling them to develop and nurture an environmentally healthy, economically sound and socially just world. Participants focus on integrating sustainability content and pedagogical principles into standards-based curriculum.

At the Institute teachers explore strategies that make learning relevant and engaging. No added bells and whistles or extraneous technology necessary – just a remarkably different, dynamic and inspiring way of reinvigorating their coursework through a new lens.

 

2011 participants with Scott Beall and Katie Ginsberg (CELF), Carmen Fields, National Grid Foundation
and BLS Youth CAN students.

Connect Core Concepts with Your Curriculum

At the CELF Summer Institute, you will:

• Gain a greater understanding of the global issues affecting our planet, including social, environmental and economic factors.
• Learn about foundation concepts including systems thinking, interdependence and community.
• Use sustainability as a lens for developing critical thinking skills and engaging students by measuring environmental and social impacts individually and globally.
• Outline a curriculum makeover and develop a plan to integrate it within your scope and sequence. Redesign your curriculum lesson or unit independently or in grade-level groups. Get feedback from presenters, who will also share lessons, resources and curricular materials.
• Engage in carefully-crafted learning activities that enable teachers to experience key concepts as learners, and that model methods they can use with their students.

Be part of the Massachusetts Education for Sustainability (EfS) Curriculum Pilot*

Participants have been contributing content to the MA EfS Curriculum Pilot. Curriculum developed by educators at the CELF Boston Summer Institute will be piloted at Boston Latin School during the school year as the first step towards statewide adoption of a MA EfS Curriculum. The Campaign for EfS curriculum is being spearheaded by the teachers and students of BLS Youth CAN.

*Participants working on content for the MA EfS Curriculum Pilot may be eligible for scholarships. See registration page for more details.

After completing the Institute, participants will be able to:

• Understand Education for Sustainability (EfS) terminology and methodology
• Align curriculum projects with state learning standards and national EfS standards
• Understand product life cycle analysis, interdependence, equity and justice and how other related “big ideas” can be used as teaching tools.
• Apply systems thinking to pedagogy and curriculum
• Identify enduring understandings and access points for sustainability within existing curriculum
• Reframe curriculum through the lens of sustainability

2011 Program Highlights  2 Graduate credits or 45 PDPs available Continued expert support during school year with follow-up session in Spring 2012 Resources for student learning evaluation Free online curriculum library Free Parking Breakfast daily