Award-winning educator to speak at Middlebury College April 11

MIDDLEBURY, Vt.-Award-winning teacher Steven Levy will give a talk titled “Authentic Learning” at Middlebury College at 4:15 p.m. on Monday, April 11. As a consultant for Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound, Levy works with teachers to design curriculum and improve instructional practice, and conducts workshops in project-based learning throughout the country. He has taught every grade level from kindergarten through college during his 27-year career. The talk, which will be accompanied by clips from his award-winning video “The Voyage of Pilgrims ‘92,” will take place in Twilight Hall Auditorium. It is free and open to the public.

Levy is the recipient of a number of awards. Named the 1992-1993 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year, he was also honored as the national Outstanding General Elementary Teacher in 1994-1995 by the Disney American Teacher Awards. In 2001, Levy was the recipient of the Joe Oakey Award for his national impact on project-based learning.

Levy’s talk will focus on the year that he challenged his fourth graders to design their “ideal classroom” as they walked into an empty room on the first day of school. A videographer followed the progress of Levy and his students throughout the year. During his lecture, Levy will show clips of his students designing and making their desks and chairs, one of the strategies which he used to meet all of the expected curriculum goals through project-based learning. One student from this classroom, Katrina Uhl, who is now a senior and teacher education minor at Middlebury College, will be in attendance to help Levy with the presentation.

Levy will also speak at a 12 p.m. lunch gathering in Kenyon Arena Lounge at Middlebury College on Tuesday, April 12. He will discuss Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound, a national model for school reform based in Garrison, N.Y., that emphasizes project-based learning, active pedagogy and literacy integrated across the curriculum. According to Levy, character growth, teamwork, respect, a passion for quality work, and dedication are emphasized as well. The event is free but reservations are necessary.

To make a reservation for the lunchtime lecture, or for further information about the April 11 talk, contact Trish Dougherty, Middlebury College teacher education program coordinator, at 802-443-5013.

The Middlebury College Teacher Education Program and Partners In Education, a Middlebury College Teacher Education Program and Addison Central Supervisory Union collaborative, are the sponsors of these events.

To follow are two events calendar listings:

Events Calendar Listings:

Monday, April 11

4:15 p.m.

Lecture: “Authentic Learning” by award-winning teacher Steven Levy, a consultant for Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound, who will intersperse his talk with clips from his award-winning video “The Voyage of Pilgrims ‘92,” which documented his fourth grade class designing and making their own chairs and desks as part of their teacher’s request to design their own “ideal classroom.” Levy conducts workshops in project-based learning throughout the country and has taught every grade level from kindergarten through college during his 27-year career.

Free

For further information, contact Trish Dougherty, Middlebury College teacher education program coordinator, at 802-443-5013.

Auditorium, Twilight Hall, College Street (Route 125)

Tuesday, April 12

12 p.m.

Lecture and Lunch: “Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound” by award-winning teacher Steven Levy, a consultant for this organization. Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound is a national model for school reform that emphasizes project-based learning, active pedagogy and literacy integrated across the curriculum.

Free but reservations are required. To make a reservation, contact Trish Dougherty, Middlebury College teacher education program coordinator, at 802-443-5013.

Kenyon Arena Lounge, South Main Street (Route 30)

— end —