St. Margaret’s welcomed educators, academic leaders and curriculum specialists for the 2nd annual St. Margaret’s Summer Institute, an engaging professional development experience grounded in constructivist theory, place-based learning and transdisciplinary approaches. 

 

Over two days, attendees immersed in experiential education and the foundations for bringing this approach to learning into the classroom. 

 

The first day included a deep-dive into experiential education, featuring two engaging activities that took place at nearby Doheny State Beach. The workshops included:

 

Oceans of Wonder: Perception, Place, and the Natural World - An immersive workshop that explored the sometimes complementary and sometimes contradictory ways humans come to know the natural world—by observation and engagement, inquiry and imagination, through labor and leisure, science and study. 

 

Waves of Belonging: Surfing, Subjectivity, and Stories - The experiential workshop explored the intersection of identity and collective memory through the lens of Southern California surf culture. Participants examined how the ocean—and the stories told around it—shapes who we are, who we imagine ourselves to be, and what we choose to forget. Participants also explore how innovation, entrepreneurship, and consumerism have driven surf culture, from aerospace-influenced board design to the rise of a billion-dollar industry built on the image of freedom and rebellion.

 

While set in the beautiful coastal environment of Southern California, the learning was designed to transcend location, allowing attendees to take powerful principles back to their classrooms no matter where they teach.

 

The second day featured a workshop led by Dr. Jackie Grennon-Brooks, Professor Emerita at Hofstra University and co-founder of the Long Island Explorium in Port Jefferson, N.Y. Dr. Grennon Brooks led a workshop exploring  sand and water play, exploring natural materials and tackling challenges that mirror the dynamic learning environments of each student.

 

Thank you to everyone who took part in this extraordinary weekend of professional development!