The Arts and Passion-Driven Learning Institute

Professional development with purpose.
 

The Arts and Passion-Driven Learning Institute (APL), a collaboration between Silkroad and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, explores the importance of awakening and developing students’ personal passions, and how those passions are vital to deep and meaningful learning. In particular, APL will focus on fostering passion through the arts, as the arts hold a unique capacity to inspire and ignite passions, and in doing so, help connect students to one another, to their local community, and to the world as a whole.

Overview

In a rapidly evolving 21st century, educators need tools and resources to tap into students’ creativity and connect with them individually and in culturally competent ways. APL provides professional development for K-12 educators to connect students’ passions to meaningful learning by drawing upon the efficacy and power of arts experiences to engage students across academic subjects and in a variety of school settings.

APL features faculty from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, artists from the Silkroad Ensemble, and seasoned educators from the US and abroad. Participants come from a variety of educational settings, both from within the U.S. and internationally, and serve in many different roles within arts and educational programs. We remain committed to expanding opportunities for educators working in culturally vibrant urban, rural, and indigenous communities to attend.

The three-day immersive experience includes workshops, performances, plenaries, and small group discussions and a special appearance by renowned cellist and Silkroad founder, Yo-Yo Ma (‘76).

Program Details

Over the course of three days, APL faculty will present sessions designed to challenge and inspire participants to consider the role of passion in teaching and learning, and how to inspire and nurture it. Participants will learn to use the arts to create powerful learning experiences that build self-concept and deepen connection to others.

Join a community of curious and passionate educators from across the country and around the world and explore how the arts can inspire teaching that transforms learning into passion, connection, and joy.

Objectives

The program will help you reflect on the following themes:

• Curiosity: Connecting passion with inquiry while cultivating both in students.
• Cultural Competency: Confronting biases and opening up to a wide, representative range of art.
• Inspiration: Identifying ways passion is sparked in learners of all ages.
• Community: Considering how educators and artists can sustain and reinvigorate passion in their work over the long haul.
• Visibility: Seeing passion in learners and their work.

Who Should Attend

• K-12 classroom teachers, arts specialists, artists who teach, school administrators, and counselors.
• Teams of teachers/artists and administrators from the same school, district or organization.
• Teaching artists in youth development programs and after school programs.
• Educators working in culturally vibrant urban, rural, and indigenous communities.

Fluency in English is required.

Fees & Policies

The comprehensive tuition includes all instructional materials and refreshments. Participants receive a certificate of participation and a letter confirming clock hours of instruction. Payment or a purchase order must be received within 30 days of program acceptance, or upon receipt of the invoice if acceptance is within 30 days prior to the start of the program. Click here for more information on payment and financial aid.

Please click here for more information on our on-campus and online refund and withdrawal policies.

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.