The Collaborative Educator's Institute
Paradise Valley
Community College
2016-2019
•Examine and expand their views of children, themselves as professionals, and the teaching profession
•Engage in experiential learning activities that motivate them to promote similar types of experiences in their classroom settings
•Document and reflect on changes in their views and teaching approaches within a caring supportive community of colleagues.
Virtual Resources for Sharing, Studying, and Creating a Learning Community
google plus: Teachers share documentation from the classroom. The respond to each other's post with comments and suggestions for new ideas.
Materials as Languages
2018-2019
Encounters with Paint in
Early Childhood Settings
The fall 2018 CEI session will focus on encountering and interacting with a wide range of painting materials and environments. Inspired by children’s encounters with paint, participants will develop their own interpretations of the properties, functions, and possibilities of painting materials through hands on experiences. A particular focus will be on the important role documentation (photographs, video recordings, written observations, children’s works and words) plays in interpreting the encounters and interactions between paint and children. Participants will consider how these interactions can be used to develop plans for creating similar experiences for their work with children and families.
Researching, Problem Solving and Theory Building with the Many Languages:
The CEI 2019 spring session will focus on the many languages children use for theory building, expression of feelings, and communication of ideas. Children have the ability to express their thinking, theories, ideas, learning, and emotions in many ways. Through hands on experiences and dialogue, participants will think through and with a wide range of materials such as drawing, paint, natural and recycled materials, dramatic play, music, and dance as languages. A particular focus will be on the important role documentation (photographs, video recordings, written observations, children’s works and words) plays in interpreting children’s interactions with materials as languages.
Drawing on Inspiration from Spaces and Places
2017-2018
Teachers investigate the process of drawing as a way to research, analyze, and create new meaning of the world. Projects Include: the study of transformation of life using scientific inquiry, USB microscopes, the connection of the body to architecture, and the relationship of sound and image making.
Link to Evaluation by Patricia Goubeaux, Ph.D., & Sandie Rieck, LAMFT Indigo Cultural Center, Inc.:
Study of Artists Studios
2016-2017
The Study of Studios: Creating Spaces that Inspire Ideas: Studying art studios, the physical space of studios as well as the thought processes and experiences that are inspired within studios.
Taliesin Frank Lloyd Wright's Studio
Raku Pottery Studio
Dance Studio
Within the studio contexts, teachers explore and create with a wide range of art materials and techniques. The teachers reflect on how to relate the studio concepts
to the contexts of teaching and how to create spaces for the construction and expression of ideas and learning.
•Time to investigate different types of studios in our communities.
•Time to learn about different expressive languages with hands on experiences
•Time to Study as a community the role of aesthetics/studios in learning.
•Time to Research and make changes to your practice and classroom environment.
•Time to Share and study documentation on the research and changes in your practice
