Learning in Places
Learning in Places (LiP) is a project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The project is a collaboration between educational researchers at Northwestern University and University of Washington (Bothell Campus), community leaders, and educators in Washington, Colorado, Michigan, Louisiana, Oregon, Illinois, and New Mexico. Project researchers and collaborators are designing, implementing, and studying a model of field-based science education for PreK-5+ students that centers equity and families’ cultural ways of knowing, is NGSS aligned, and asks questions that involve ethical deliberation and decision-making in the form of “should we” questions (what should we do?). More information about Learning in Places is available at http://learninginplaces.org/
The Principal Investigator of Learning in Places is Dr. Megan Bang, a Professor of the Learning Sciences and Psychology at Northwestern University. Dr. Carrie Tzou, an associate professor in science education in the School of Educational Studies at University of Washington Bothell is the Co-Principal Investigator. More information about the Learning in Places team is available at http://learninginplaces.org/our-team/
Learning in Places is funded by NSF grant #2201253 and built on grant #1720578. (Some costs for the Oregon cohort will be covered by the OSU Extension Service Outdoor School program.)
Which grade levels are included in Learning in Places?
Learning in Places initially focused on preK-5 educators but now welcomes middle and high school educators as well.
Who should I contact with questions about Learning in Places?
General questions about Learning in Places can be directed to Breigh Rhodes at learninginplaces@northwestern.edu
If you have questions about the Oregon cohort, contact Kristi Backe, the OSU Extension Service Outdoor School program’s Curriculum and Professional Development Coordinator, at kristi.backe@oregonstate.edu or 541-737-5587.
Oregon Cohort
What is the Learning in Places Oregon cohort?
The Learning in Places Oregon cohort is a group of Oregon educators who will engage in a yearlong professional learning opportunity focused on a model of field-based science education that centers equity and families’ cultural ways of knowing, is NGSS aligned, and asks questions that involve ethical deliberation and decision-making in the form of “should we” questions (what should we do?). Educators in the cohort will come together for virtual and in-person co-design sessions and will implement elements of the Learning in Places framework with their students (or in another context, if they don’t work directly with students). Throughout, educators will engage with researchers to study the Learning in Places framework.
Registration for the 2024-2025 cohort is closed.
What are the expectations of those who join the Oregon cohort?
Educators meet several times throughout the academic year to engage in co-design: collaboratively and iteratively revising, refining, and expanding the existing Learning in Places model, storyline, and resources as well as their own practice. The primary expectations are:
- Pilot Learning in Places classroom storyline with a group of students between August 2024-May 2025 (If you do not work with students/children, this does not mean you cannot participate! We look forward to collaborating with you to build an implementation plan for your context.)
- Contribute to Learning Places Research by participating in a total of two one-on-one virtual interviews (approximately 1 hour per interview) across the project year with a member of the Learning in Places team.
- Attend and actively participate in all professional learning opportunities:
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Summer 2024 Co-Design Summits (2.5 days in person + 2 virtual zoom sessions)
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A 2.5-day in-person co-design summit + two sessions held by zoom in the summer. We will gather together in our respective states to learn together, get to know each other and the land that we’re on, and develop specific tools and plans for your context. |
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Quarterly Co-Design Summits (1.5 days virtually, Friday evening/Saturday format, dates specified below)
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During the school year, you’ll try out aspects of the Learning in Places model in your learning environments (school or community-based settings) with students. Then, we will gather quarterly (3 times during the academic year) to reflect on what we’ve learned during implementation, look at data from our students’ learning, re-design lessons, and plan for the upcoming implementation. These sessions will occur in the afternoon on a Friday and half day on Saturday. We do this to ensure that teachers can participate without having to get a sub and to avoid any labor union challenges. |
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Professional Learning Community Sessions Dates TBD, to be scheduled with consideration for cohort members’ availability and time zones |
These professional learning sessions are typically 1.5 hours long. This is where we will offer educators choices of different learning communities to reflect on local problems of practice, walk and design with the land that our schools are on, and plan for next steps in implementation. |
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End-of-year cross-state Co-Design Summit (1 day, virtual) June 7, 2025 |
We will come together for a final co-design at the end of this year and before the next summer summit to reflect on our work and make revisions for the coming year. |
Educators joining the Oregon cohort will be given a detailed list of expectations as part of the registration process.
Are stipends available for participating in the Oregon cohort?
Yes. An annual stipend is available for educators who work with students attending state-funded outdoor school programs AND who successfully fulfill the commitments of participating in the Learning in Places cohort.
Educators who do not work with students attending outdoor school are not eligible for stipends. Additionally, OSU employees, even those who work directly with students attending outdoor school, are not eligible for stipends.
Stipends will be paid in two installments, one after the Fall 2024 online Summit, and one at the end of the program year. All stipends will be paid through the OSU online vendor system (registration required; instructions will be provided).
Are Professional Development Units (PDU) available for participating in the Oregon cohort?
Yes, we can provide Oregon educators with a PDU certificate for participation in the cohort. We will provide a single PDU certificate at the end of the school year, unless an educator requests otherwise.
Are graduate credits available for participating in the Oregon cohort?
Yes, we are offering optional graduate credit through Eastern Oregon University. The graduate course (ED 510) will officially be listed as a single 5-credit course in Spring 2025, though it requires participation throughout the cohort starting in Summer 2024. For educators who work with students attending state-funded outdoor school programs, we are subsidizing the cost of the credit. A participating educator will be responsible for paying $250 ($50/credit) for the 5-credit course. Educators eligible for subsidized credit are also eligible for the annual stipend and will receive their first stipend payment of $500 prior to the fee due date for the Spring 2025 EOU course.
Who should I contact with questions about the Oregon cohort?
Please contact our Curriculum and Professional Development Coordinator, Kristi Backe, at kristi.backe@oregonstate.edu or 541-737-5587.
In-person Summer Summit
When is the Summer 2024 Summit?
The Summer 2024 Summit for the Oregon cohort is scheduled for Tuesday, August 13 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Wednesday, August 14 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), and Thursday, August 15 (8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.).
Where is the Summer 2024 Summit?
Tentatively, the Summer 2024 Summit will be held at Central Oregon Community College in Bend, OR.
What costs are included in the Summer 2024 Summit?
Participation in the Summer Summit includes all materials, as well as breakfast and lunch each day. Additionally, for educators who support students attending state-funded outdoor school, funds are available for ground transportation (including personal vehicle mileage reimbursement) and housing while attending the Summer Summit.
Is attendance at the Summer 2024 Summit required for participation in the Oregon cohort?
Yes. Participation in the Summer 2024 Oregon Summit is required to join the cohort. If you are an educator who wants to join the cohort but you aren’t available for the Summer Summit, we are sorry to say that this is not the cohort for you. The Summer Summit is just too crucial to the program to miss. We hope to continue this project for multiple years, so perhaps there will be another chance for you to join in a future year.
Contact
General questions about Learning in Places can be directed to Breigh Rhodes at breigh.rhodes@northwestern.edu. If you have questions about the Oregon cohort, contact Kristi Backe, the OSU Extension Service Outdoor School program’s Curriculum and Professional Development Coordinator, at kristi.backe@oregonstate.edu or 541-737-5587.
Learning in Places is funded by NSF grant #2201253 and built on grant #1720578. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.