Partnership for 21st Century Skills

2015-2016 Exemplar Program Applications - NOW AVAILABLE!

The 21st Century Learning Exemplar Program is designed to be a cornerstone for the next stage of the 21st century skills movement. For the past 10 years, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) has advocated for 21st century readiness for every student. Thousands of schools, communities, and thought leaders across the country have helped to define 21st century skills and promote their adoption. Now, they are ready to lead a coalition of educators and partners in identifying what 21st century educational practices look like and where they are being implemented successfully.

 Through the Exemplar Program, P21 seeks to identify, document, promote, and celebrate examples of successful 21st century learning. This program provides educators and communities with a variety of examples to draw from, and offers policymakers and P21 State Partners local examples to help encourage their support.

All schools and districts based in the U.S. are eligible to apply. Selected applicants will be chosen for evaluative visits, which will be conducted before the end of the 2014-2015 school year. Following the visits, the evaluation team will make a determination regarding 21st Century Learning Exemplar status.

The deadline to apply is January 31, 2015.

More information and an application form can be found at

http://www.p21.org/exemplar-program-case-studies/about-the-program.

 

Partial Scholarships Available!

The July 1-11, 2015 Educator Academy in the Amazon Rainforest of Peru is a cross-curricular professional development workshop for K-12 formal and informal educators to learn and use:

• 21st Century Instruction: 5E Lesson Design ~ Inquiry-Based Exploration ~ STEM

• Inquiry Protocols & Resources: Project Learning Tree ~ Cornell Lab of Ornithology ~ & More!

• Global and Cultural Perspectives: Service Learning ~ Sustainability ~ Global Education

Join Al Stenstrup (Project Learning Tree), Lilly Briggs (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), Christa Dillabaugh (Amazon Rainforest Workshops), and Dr. David Pearson (Wildlife Travellers' Guide to Peru), and work side-by-side with scientists Dr. Steve Madigosky (Widener University), and Randy Morgan (Curator/Entomologist, Cincinnati Zoo) as you:  

• Participate in citizen science projects and inquiry-based field studies on a 1/4-mile Rainforest Canopy Walkway in one of the most biologically diverse environments on the planet.

• Spend a day in an Amazon village as you explore the complexities of sustainability and the role of education in creating a sustainable future for Amazon children.

• Work with fellow educators to explore strategies for using the Amazon as a vehicle for incorporating STEM education, inquiry-based learning, and sustainability science education into your classroom.

Project Learning Tree Certification, BirdSleuth resources, and 50 ASU PD hours are included. Academic credit and Machu Picchu extension are optional. Space is limited, so register early to secure your spot!

 

Deadline to apply for one of three $1,000 scholarships is March 1, 2015. Get all the details and download a syllabus and scholarship application at: http://www.amazonworkshops.com/educator-academy.html.

 

Grant Opportunity

American Friends of Russian Folklore invites middle and high school teachers to apply for the 2015 season of the Russian/American Educators' Exchange.

 

Participants travel to rural Russia to collect Russian folklore by filming holiday celebrations, recording local singers, interviewing villagers about traditional lore, and photographing local handicrafts. They experience Russian village life firsthand, living in a village house and eating the local food.

 

They also visit rural schools, where they make presentations about American folklore and meet with Russian teachers to discuss matters of mutual professional interest. Upon return, the American teachers create and share curriculum materials incorporating some elements of the Russian folklore they collected.

 

The three folklore expeditions are timed to coincide with important holidays of the Russian traditional calendar:

• Expedition 1: Easter in Volgograd province, Danilov district. April 8-April 21, 2015

• Expedition 2: Pentecost/Trinity Week in Smolensk province, Sevsk district.

May 21-June 3, 2015

• Expedition 3: Dormition Day traditions and first day of school traditions in Bryansk province. August 22 - September 4, 2015

Knowledge of Russian is useful, but not required. Translators will be provided. All educators who work with middle or high school students or curriculum are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to teachers whose schools are in rural areas.

 

For details and application instructions, visit russianfolklorefriends.org or email info@russianfolklorefriends.org. Registration for each trip will close 60 days before the trip start date.