8am: Arrive at Otto Miller Hall and get everything ready for class.
8:30am: Class begins. You spend the morning either observing class, or doing research development related to the data that you collected earlier.
There are two courses going on at the same time: Course 1, for teachers who are new to the Energy Project, and Course 2, for teachers who took Course 1 last summer. You will be assigned to one of the two courses and will stay with that course the whole time.
In each course, two Scholars will observe class at the same time, and two other Scholars will develop research on that class at the same time. In this way of operating, you have two different kinds of partners: one who is in the room with you, and one who is observing the same group as you but for the other half of the day. Meanwhile, another foursome is conducting research on the course that runs in parallel with yours, so another pair of scholars will be doing research development at the same time as you. This arrangement provides a strong framework for collaboration.
Lunch: Take lunch at the same time as the teachers do, unless you have a better idea. You may bring your lunch or you may walk to Fremont and buy lunch. There is usually a big group that walks to Fremont and back for lunch. There is barely time to do this during the lunch period - you may wind up walking while you eat - but it's a really nice walk.
Afternoon, until 3:30pm: Spend the afternoon either observing class or doing research development related to the data that you collected earlier, whichever one you didn't do in the morning.
3:30-4:30pm: Scholars and instructors meet to discuss the events of the day. We meet in the same room, but at different tables (Course 1 Instructors, Course 1 Scholars, Course 2 Instructors, and Course 2 Scholars), so that people can either have focused discussions amongst themselves or get information or insight from other groups.
Weekends are all yours.
You mention that Course 1 is for teachers new to the Energy Project and Course 2 is for teachers who took the course last year. Will this be true for the Scholars as well? I think this is a round about way of asking if the 8 Scholars this year are all new to the project, or if certain members were part of the project last year. For instance, will I be observing Course 1 since I am new to the Project (and therefore returning Scholars will view Course 2), or am I just as likely to observe Course 2?
ReplyDeleteMost are new - with the exception of a pre-I-RISE scholar (Kara) and a visiting graduate student (Carolina) who will have been here for 5 months in August. You are just as likely to observe Course 2.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned that people bring their lunch. Are there places to refrigerate or reheat food where the training is held?
ReplyDeleteYes, there is a kitchen with a refrigerator and a microwave. There is also an excellent grocery store within walking distance, so if you prefer to prepare your own food in the dorms, you'll have the ingredients for it. Kitchen supplies are a little hard to come by, however. Past I-RISE scholars have pooled the pans and utensils that appeared in their various dorm rooms and made it work. We also have some supplies to lend.
DeleteAre the course assignments already determined or will we be deciding this Monday morning?
ReplyDeleteWe will decide them in advance - do you have a preference?
DeleteVery elegant. Are all the teachers local to your area?
ReplyDeleteMost of the teachers are local, but some come from around the country, and some are even international visitors.
DeleteThis looks like it's going to be busy and really productive days!
ReplyDeleteIt seems like a well-thought-out process of recording what happens and analysing previous sessions in parallel.
ReplyDeleteThe schedule looks exciting! Will we do this daily for the entire time we are there, or just the first two weeks, with something different on the last two days (Mon/Tues)? (Sorry if this question is answered elsewhere.)
ReplyDeleteThis is the schedule while the class is in session. For the Congress, we meet all day as described here (but it will be Monday and Tuesday, not Thursday and Friday): http://scherrenergyproject.blogspot.com/2012/06/i-rise-congress-preparation.html
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