Creativity Labs
In studio-like settings and under the guidance of artists, participants will develop an artistic work.  Not only will the artists guide participants through art making experiences, they will foster dialogue and reflection related to Habits of Mind.  On the Seminar’s last day, participants will be invited to share the work they developed in their Creativity Labs.
 
College Credit
Teachers will be able to receive professional development credit through several mechanisms. Three hours of graduate credit are being offered through Brooklyn College’s School of Education. To receive this credit, participants must pay an additional fee (approximately $720), attend every day of Summer Seminar, and write a final paper.

Consultation Opportunities
These will be provided by faculty members and others throughout the week. In order for participants, especially first-timers, to get the most out of the consultation, a “consultation tip sheet” is provided with suggested strategies for choosing a consultant, identifying topics for discussion, as well as some sample questions.

Keynote Speakers
Keynote Speakers will provide inspiration to the Seminar participants and lend their authority to our curriculum. They will address issues of professional development and investigating core beliefs, and, hopefully, have time for a structured Q & A segment. If their schedules permit, keynote speakers might give workshops.

Morning Gatherings
These meetings will provide a chance to focus on the day’s activities, allow participants to share their learning with their peers, and group arts experiences (sing alongs, dance alongs, poetry alongs, etc.)

Networking
Peer to Peer Sharing Groups, RLLN meetings, job-alike discussions, and recreational events provide several opportunities for participants to network with their colleagues.

Orientation
The Orientation Plenary provides an overview of the NYSCA arts-in-education program and the ESP Professional Development Programs.  Additionally, First-timers meet their PALs to get some guidance on how to approach Summer Seminar.

PALs
In order for first-timers to get the most out of their Summer Seminar experience, they will be matched with a PAL (which can stand for several acronyms: Partner and Learner, Paired Active Listening, etc.).  The PAL’s responsibility is simply to provide a personal connection and resource to new attendees, and to explain some of the procedures and traditions of Summer Seminar. PALs will be recruited from Faculty, Fellows, and repeat Summer Seminar attendees. First-time attendees will automatically be assigned to a PAL upon enrollment. First-timers and their PALs will meet as part of the orientation day, and perhaps a few times during the week of Summer Seminar. PALs will receive training during the Faculty/Fellow training.

Peer to Peer Inquiry Groups
As for the past several years, Summer Seminar will include time each day for Peer to Peer Groups. Each group will consist of several ESP teams, and each day one team will share an aspect of their work that could benefit from peer feedback. These inquiry sessions will explore a question on which the team needs feedback. Each team will have their choice of several protocols (samples of which are available on the ESP website), and ESP faculty and fellows will serve as facilitators. If transportation is feasible, students might able to participate in these discussions.

When preparing for these groups, teams will be provided with several forms of assistance, including an expanded worksheet that details the team’s goals and inquiry questions. Teams attending Summer Seminar for the first time will not be required to present as part of Peer to Peer, but will be welcome to share if they feel motivated to do so, and if scheduling permits.

Plenaries
These all-Seminar gatherings provide information and create a context for the week. Faculty and Fellows may be invited to participate in the plenaries in assorted facilitator roles. At one of the initial plenaries, we will address the Seminar theme and provide a Team Activity worksheet for each team.

Principal’s Privilege Program
Principals of ESP Partnerships are invited to attend one day of their choosing at Summer Seminar, tuition free. This offer is made in recognition of the great contributions principals make to the success of partnerships in their schools. Though the ESP program may transfer this offer to other school district personnel, like a superintendent, we are not able to extend this to other school-based administrators, such as assistant principals or arts coordinators.

Recreation and Relaxation
Morning exercise may include such opportunities as swimming, running and meditation. An on-site masseuse will be available to participants, at cost. Evening events will include a variety of gatherings and performances, both on campus and off-site, and will feature ESP’s ever-popular talent show, “Strut Your Stuff!”

The Rule of Two Feet
The Summer Seminar schedule is booked with many, many learning opportunities.  Many participants find the selection overwhelming.  The programmers purposely provide a great variety, in order to meet the many different learning needs of the ESP community.  No participant is expected to attend every event, and roll call is never taken at workshops.  Every year, participants say some of the most valuable experience is just being with team members and planning for the coming school year.  All participants should feel empowered to use their time at Summer Seminar to meet their own professional development needs.  The Rule of Two Feet is: If you’re in a situation that’s not meeting your needs, let your two feet take you to someplace that will.

Share Fair
ESP teams will have opportunities to share accomplishments and best practices in an informal “science fair” structure. Each team that participates will be supplied with an exhibition table, on which they may display samples of student work, exemplary lesson plans, successful assessment tools, etc.

Student Arts Extravaganza
Student art representing ESP partnerships from across the state will be professionally exhibited as part of a special exhibition at the Hillwood Art Museum on the C.W. Post Campus. Artwork may include visual arts, as well as audio/ video recordings of student performances. All student exhibitors will be asked to provide a brief statement describing the core beliefs depicted in the art work (either a belief conveyed in the subject/content of the work, or through the format/style of the work).  One evening of Summer Seminar will also include performances by students from ESP schools.

Team Time
Different segments of the schedule are designated as Team Time.  Some of these times are during other offerings such as workshops or other discussions, so the teams will have to choose whether to spend their time together during those times.

Workshops
Workshops will be provided by faculty and fellows, according to their area of expertise, at “Introductory” and “Experienced” levels.   “Experienced” workshops will be designed for participants who have prior experience with some key elements of the topic (as specified in each workshop description).  Some workshops, called “Partnership in Practice Studios,” will employ a practicum structure, and allow participants to convert their understanding of educational theory into practical plans for the upcoming school year.   These workshops may include specific activities like writing lesson plans, creating a curriculum map, developing a documentation plan, preparing for a foundation building retreat, and many other forms of strategic planning.