YORC 102 - Rocket to Creativity Teacher Registration
Course Description
Rocket to Creativity is a professional development opportunity for teachers seeking CEUs or Graduate credit that applies to licensure in gifted education and the MAED in Gifted Creative and Innovative Education. Teachers will learn to nurture critical and creative thinking through problem and project-based learning, STEAM and literacy activities, apply creative thinking strategies, and use Maker Space to design, experiment, and invent. The graduate course SPED 500, Critical and Creative thinking starts online June 3, 2024. For teachers earning CEUs, materials will be available online on June 3 that will allow participants to explore strategies for nurturing creative and critical thinking and for applying problem-based learning, and developing maker space activities.
Then, from June 24 – 28 on the WCU campus, teachers and children will be immersed in creative and critical thinking, problem-based learning and maker space. Teachers will partner to work with small groups of children and youth. We group children by age and interest and try to do the same with the teachers. Children and youth are in attendance from 10-3 pm. Also, during the week, Teachers will have the opportunity to explore their own areas of interest.
We start the morning with teachers at 9 and end at 4, giving teachers time to prepare, de-brief, and engage in other PD. Teachers will also have a period each day where they can see what other teams are doing, explore available resources, and/or talk to experts. Teachers might also make arrangements with their partner for short breaks. But other than maker space, teachers and their partners are responsible for supervising all youth participants.
Optional evening activities allow teachers to either rest and relax in the mountains or explore and network.
We aim to make it a fun and valuable week for all. We often have teachers who return from previous years. While the age of the youth involved is only up to 14, the strategies etc, apply to all age groups. Housing and meals are provided at no cost. For those taking enrolling for college credit, WCU tuition rates apply. For teachers earning CEU’s registration is $25.
Notes
WCU Students: Use the WCU Students option. A 100% off discount will automatically be added at checkout.