In the Teaching Institute, which takes place each summer, K–12 teachers gain skills in helping students to develop learning dispositions and disciplinary understanding in the arts that promote deep and flexible thinking across subject areas.

Our approach draws on contemporary art and progressive education practices and supports a culture of thinking where teachers and students are actively engaged in co-constructing knowledge in the classroom.

Enrollment

We are able to enroll up to 100 teachers each summer. Registration priority is given to teachers from public schools in Alameda County.

Background

The Teaching Institute is part of a long-term research and professional development collaboration between the Center, the Alameda County Office of Education's Alliance for Arts Learning Leadership, and Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

We are investigating ways to expand and deepen arts teaching and learning and are involved with over 100 educators from 20 public schools and 5 college/university teacher education programs.

Activities include seminars and workshops, online and classroom coaching, planning, and technical assistance in art and art integrated education.

Projects

VALUES Project: The Center is codirecting this three-year project with the Alameda County Office of Education and Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. We are working with generalist teachers from three small public schools in Oakland's Fruitvale District: ASCEND, Urban Promise Academy, and the International Community School. The project provides professional development workshops, seminars, and individual and online coaching in art and art integration.

LAVA Project: The Center codirected a one-year research project with ACOE and Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Working with five art teachers from Berkeley High, Emery High, ASCEND, and the East Bay Conservation Corps Charter School, we test piloted and refined Project Zero's Studio Thinking Framework and assessment tools in K–12 studio art classrooms.

Art and Humanities Academy (AHA): Working with the Alameda County Office of Education and AHA teachers and staff, we are involved in planning an art education curriculum for this new small school, set to open in fall 2006 in Berkeley. We are also providing professional development in art and art integrated instruction.

Mills College - Art Integrated Course Development: The Center is co-developing and teaching a new curriculum and instruction class—Social Studies, Language Arts and Art Teachers—at Mills.