Visioning Workshop

University of Massachusetts > STEM > 2008- Visioning Workshop

Teaching Future Generations Sustainable Design: Building an Integrated Curriculum as a Lasting Legacy

In 2008, some of the greatest minds in the design and environmental fields will meet in Boston for two national conferences: the American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Convention in May, and the US Green Building Council (USGBC)"Greenbuild" Conference in November. To take advantage of this unique opportunity, the Boston Society of Architects (BSA) is hosting a Visioning Workshop to mark the beginning of a three-year legacy project to craft a sustainable architecture and design curriculum for K-12 students.

Program Agenda and Goals:

This exciting kick-off workshop will open with an inspirational presentation from a national sustainability advocate, followed by brainstorming sessions to define our vision and the steps needed to begin the curriculum development initiative. The goal of this initiative is to develop a flexible, interdisciplinary, standards-based curriculum to teach sustainable architecture and design/environmental appropriateness, first in grades 5-8, then in grades K-12. In this holistic, "systems thinking" approach, students will start with the interconnectivity between the natural environment, buildings and people.
Students will define sustainability on a personal level, then become active designers, engaging in hands-on activities concerning natural systems, building systems and community context.

You are invited:

To be part of a select group of fifty educators, architects, designers, scientists, engineers and community leaders who will participate in this visioning process. Beyond this workshop, you may choose to be a part of the core group that develops and pilots this curriculum. Educators will be invited to participate in a brainstorming/curriculum development session this summer,and all will be invited to the follow-up workshop that coincides with Greenbuild in November 2008.

Fees and Credits:

There is no fee for this workshop. Architects will receive CEUs and educators will receive certificates of attendance. Educators who participate in the workshop will be paid stipends, receive PDPs and will be eligible to pilot activities in their classrooms. Your hosts for this workshop are the BSA's Committee on the Environment and the BSA's Learning By Design in Massachusetts program.

These workshops are being generously funded by the BSA and the USGBC.  For more information contact Jan Ham, 508-528-4517 or LBD@architects.org.

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