What You Will Learn

Understand how societal changes and technological advancements in the early 21st century affect educational practice and the way students learn.

Program Overview

All educators need to understand how changes in our societies are transforming the lives of young people around the world. Globalization, the digital revolution and advancements in our understanding of human biology all present new opportunities and challenges. How can schools prepare students for increasingly diverse and global futures? What is worth teaching, with unprecedented amounts of online information? How can educators best integrate emerging research on learning and biology?
 
Future of Learning invites educators to examine what, where and how children and adults should learn in order to thrive in a dynamic world. When teachers embrace learning for the future, they nurture expert thinking, collaboration and entrepreneurship. They foster intercultural understanding, environmental stewardship and global citizenship. They invite students to understand complex problems, create quality work and express themselves through traditional and new media—ultimately preparing students to live ethical and reflective lives in rapidly changing environments.

Program Objectives

In this institute you will interact with leading scholars and practitioners to enrich your understanding of four fundamental questions:

• What do we know about globalization, the digital revolution and mind/brain research? What is their influence on learning and education?
• How should we rethink the "what," "who" and "how" of learning as a result of these changes or forces?
• What should be done differently to meet the demands of the future of learning in practice?
• What consequences do these educational changes have for learners and societies? What is our role as responsible 21st century educators? 

Who Should Attend

• Practicing teachers, curriculum designers, administrators, and educators developing instructional materials and technologies, and previous Project Zero Classroom attendees
• Post-secondary educators and teacher educators, and professionals working in informal education settings such as museums, NGOs and foundations

Fluency in English is mandatory for participation. Click here for details about this requirement.

Faculty Chair

Veronica Boix Mansilla is Principal Investigator for Project Zero at HGSE. Mansilla’s research research examines the conditions that enable experts and young learners to produce quality interdisciplinary work addressing problems of contemporary significance—globalization, climate change and migration. She is the author of Educating for Global Competence; Preparing our youth to engage the world and Teaching for Interdisciplinary Understanding in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme.

Faculty

Howard Gardner is the John H. and Elisabeth A. Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education and Senior Co-Director of Project Zero at HGSE. For the last 13 years in collaboration with psychologists Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, William Damon, and other researchers at Project Zero, Gardner has been engaged in a study of Good Work; work that is at once excellent in quality and also responsive to the needs of broader society. The project is now working with young people in secondary schools and colleges in an effort to nurture good work. Gardner's most recent books are: Multiple Intelligences: New Horizons and Five Minds for the Future. With several colleagues, he recently published Responsibility at Work.

David Perkins, Professor of Education and Senior Co-Director of Project Zero at HGSE. His newest book is King Arthur's Round Table: How Collaborative Conversations Create Smart Organizations. He is also the author of The Eureka Effect, Smart Schools, Outsmarting IQ, Knowledge as Design and several other books and many articles. He has helped develop instructional programs and approaches for teaching understanding and thinking, including initiatives in Sweden, South Africa, Israel, and Latin America. He is a former Guggenheim Fellow.

Enrollment Instructions

Future of Learning is a registration program. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Payment is due within 30 days of acceptance into the program. If acceptance into the program falls less than 30 days prior to program start date, payment is due upon acceptance.

Fees

The comprehensive program fee includes tuition, all instructional materials and a social event. Participants receive a certificate of participation and a letter confirming clock hours of instruction.

Payment or a purchase order must be received within thirty days of registration and prior to the program start. Participants are responsible for their own travel expenses.

Accommodations

Hotel accommodations are made available to participants at a reduced rate. Rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Detailed program information and accommodation options will be provided to all admitted participants. The Harvard Graduate School of Education is not responsible for non-refundable travel arrangements or other planning expenses incurred. We recommend that you not make lodging and travel arrangements until you are admitted to the program.

Harvard Square Hotel
110 Mount Auburn Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Reservations: 617-491-2222
Rate: $219 per night, plus applicable taxes
Group Reference Code: GSE Future of Learning or 416766
Rate valid until July 8, 2013
Visit hotel website 

Charles Hotel
1 Bennett Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Reservations: 617-864-1200 or 800-882-1818
Rate: $219 per night, plus applicable taxes
Group Reference Code: HGSE, Future of Learning or HGSEFOL2013
Rate valid until July 8, 2013
Visit hotel website

Doubletree Guest Suites
400 Soldiers Field Road
Boston, MA 02134
800-222-8733
Rate: $199 per night, plus applicable taxes
Group Reference Code: HGSE FOL
Rate valid until July 6, 2013
Visit hotel website

Sheraton Commander Hotel
16 Garden Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Reservations: 1-888-627-7121
Rate: $219  per night, plus applicable taxes
Group Reference Code: FoL (Future of Learning) Participants
Rate valid until July 6, 2013
Visit hotel website

English Fluency Requirement

Fluent knowledge of spoken and written English is essential for successful participation in Future of Learning.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education requires all students whose native language is not English, or whose bachelor’s degree is not from a college or university where English is the language of instruction, to have scores of at least 100 TOEFL IBT (250 TOEFL CBT). Since Future of Learning requires an English proficiency level equivalent to the graduate level, we expect all participants to meet this standard.

Participants deemed to have insufficient English fluency to successfully participate in the program may not be awarded a certificate of completion or clock hour letter. We also reserve the right to limit your participation to language appropriate activities. Refunds will not be available in these cases.

Required English Proficiency Guidelines >>

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be submitted via fax or email. Full refunds will be given up to 30 days prior to the start of the program. Due to program demand and pre-institute preparations, cancellations received 29–14 days prior to the start of the program are subject to a fee of 10% of the program tuition. Cancellations received within 13 days prior to the start of the program and no-shows are subject to the full program tuition. Please note: cancellation fees are based upon the date the written request is received.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education reserves the right to change faculty or cancel programs at its discretion. In the unlikely event of program changes, the school is not responsible for non-refundable travel arrangements or other planning expenses incurred.

Non-Discrimination Policy

The Harvard Graduate School of Education affirms the right of all individuals to equal treatment in education without regard to age, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, handicap, national origin, or any other factors that are extraneous to effective performance. The Harvard Graduate School of Education will accommodate anyone with disabilities.