July Institute

Goddard College’s Education and Licensure Program will hold its fourth annual July Institute for Progressive Educators July 18th - July 22nd, 2008.

Download the 2008 July Institute Registration Form

In these challenging times for educators, all too often the voice and vision of progressive educators are silenced and invisible. We offer the July Institute to bring progressive educators together for renewal and connection with like-minded educators. Our goal for the July Institute is the renewal of our basic values, which include honoring the learner, trusting professional wisdom, engaging in meaningful inquiry and assuring safe, inclusive learning communities.

We invite you to join us for an exciting and engaging five-day retreat on the Goddard College campus, located on a 175-acre woodland setting in central Vermont.  Both current matriculated Goddard students and educators seeking professional development opportunities attend the Institute. The program is planned for teachers, administrators, counselors, community organizers and activists as well as graduate and undergraduate students interested in education.  The Institute format creates an open space that participants plan together to meet the professional aim of each participant. There is time for individual work and reflection as well as whole group and small group learning sessions.  In addition to receiving a certificate indicating earned Professional Development Hours, participants may choose to earn BA or MA college credit.

Over the five days of the Institute, from Noon on Friday, July 18th through 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22, we will use a variety of interactive learning sessions that include:

• Participant-Directed Learning: We encourage you to bring an issue or project that you’re dealing with in your practice. Our aim is to facilitate your learning by building upon your knowledge, experience and special areas of interest.
• Collaboration: By looking at topics through a variety of lenses, including gender, race, and class, you’ll participate in full-group sessions and discussions, small group meetings and personal reflection time. During the Institute, participants will form working groups based on similar interests and projects. We encourage district or school-based teams to work on a shared project.
• Shared Critical Inquiry: Participants will study those challenging dilemmas that we encounter as K-12 teachers, counselors, administrators, and community educators. Inquiry, action and reflection will embody Goddard’s progressive education practices during our time together. The learning format is primarily of active participation rather than faculty presentation. The Institute facilitator, a Goddard Education faculty member, employs a retreat format intended to develop the voice and vision of each participate. Through shared inquiry, the institute fosters our collective wisdom. Participants are encouraged to come ready to share their expertise, interests and questions about the integration of theory and practice.

For more information about the July Institute for Progressive Educators, contact Susan Fleming, Education Program Director and July Institute Co-Chair at susan.fleming@goddard.edu or 802-322-1647, or mail to Goddard College, 123 Pitkin Road, Plainfield, VT 05667.