A passionate student is a learning student. As the world is becoming increasingly connected, the nature, use, ownership, and purpose of knowledge are changing in profound ways. Our goal as educators is to leverage these connections and changes as powerful means to improve teaching and learning in our schools.
In the Unleashing Student Passion eCourse, you’ll focus on shifting classroom practice toward more engaging approaches that bring out the passion within each learner. Through this 5-week eCourse you will explore:
- The theoretical basis of passion/interest-based learning
- A practical how-to: Selecting topics, incorporating standards, integrating technology, finding experts, developing authentic assessment, and more
- The process: Making a timeline, constructing learning centers, recruiting and working with partners, connecting with experts, and building prototypes
- Case studies: thorough investigation of powerful examples of passion, problem or project-based learning and why they were effective
Unleashing Student Passion lasts five weeks. Each week features:
- A 90-minute, live, interactive webinar. The session is lead by a seasoned expert in inquiry-driven approaches to learning.
- A Powerful Learning Practice facilitator to provide tech support and foster discussion and learning during the webinar
- Your participation in a virtual community will facilitate discussions, promote collaboration, and deepen understanding through practice
- Readings, tutorials, and practical examples that supplement the live discussion for the week
- Printable guides and templates to assist with creating technology-enabled lesson plans and units, how to plan culminating and initiating events, and more
- An archived recording of the session
This eCourse lasts five weeks. The five Webinars will be on Wednesday at 8pm EDT.
- February 6 – March 12, 2012
Weekly topics
Week 1 – Overview: What is passion-based learning?
- Theoretical underpinnings
- Essential questions
- Purpose and context
Week 2 – How to plan
- Selecting and researching a topic
- Concept & content mapping
- Incorporating Common Core standards
- Locating materials and resources
- Planning learning experiences
- Organizing the learning environment
Week 3 – Technology
- How to incorporate technology into the lessons
- Choosing tools
- Developing technology-enabled assessment
- Implementing the TPACK Model
Week 4 – Process
- Creating a timeline
- How to use learning contracts and centers
- Project development
- Connecting with experts
- Building prototypes
- Finding and working with partners
- Executing introductory and culminating events
Week 5 – Case Studies
- Investigating and deconstructing examples of powerful global learning projects
- What makes an effective inquiry-driven project?
- Creating a collaborative culture through passion-based learning
The five-week Unleashing Student Passion eCourse is $199 for PLPeeps (alumni who have been through the year-long community experience) and available to the public for $249.
Enrollments prior to January 12th will receive an automatic discount upon checking out.
Register for this eCourse
District pricing available. Contact us for details.
About the Instructor
Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach is co-founder of Powerful Learning Practice. She is a 20-year educator with experiences as a classroom teacher, technology coach, charter school principal, district administrator, and digital learning consultant. She is in the dissertation phase of completing her doctorate in Educational Planning, Policy and Leadership at the College of William and Mary and her first book on connected learning is due out in the fall from Solution Tree. Sheryl is a regular presenter internationally on topics of homelessness, teacher leadership, community building, educational leadership and 21st Century reform. She is on the New Media Consortium’s 2011 Horizon.K12 Advisory board and president of 21st Century Collaborative, LLC. You can find out more on her blog and on Twitter @snbeach.
