Project Zero Classroom 2024

The weeklong Project Zero Classroom institute (PZC) features research-based tools, frameworks, and approaches to instruction and assessment that deepen learning and understanding for all students. As a participant, you will explore ways to enhance student engagement, encourage learners to think critically and creatively, and make learning and thinking visible. Through a combination of presentations, interactive workshops, and small learning groups, you will have the opportunity to explore ideas and practices with PZ researchers, educators experienced in applying PZ ideas in their contexts, and fellow participants from around the world.

• Overview
• Program Details
• Who Should Attend
• Schedule
• Registration
• Tuition
• Scholarships
• Payment
• Participation
• Cancellations/Refunds
• Substitutions
• Completion Certificates
• Questions?

Overview

How can the classroom become a place where today’s learners become the citizens and leaders of tomorrow? For more than 55 years, Project Zero has pioneered research that examines key facets of human potential such as intelligence and creativity, asking how educators and schools can design learning experiences that are engaging and exciting for all learners.

From June 24 - 28, 2024, Project Zero will host the Project Zero Classroom institute (PZC) in-person in Cambridge, MA on the campus of the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE). (We are sorry that we cannot provide a hybrid online participation option.) In the company of PZ researchers and experienced educators from around the world, participants open up the questions at the heart of teaching and learning: What kinds of learning experiences and assessment practices will best prepare students for the demands of an unpredictable, ever-shifting future? How does understanding develop? How do educators nurture critical and creative thinking? How do educators ensure that all students are learning?

Program Details

During this five-day, in-person institute, you will take part in a variety of learning activities that invite you to explore and practice Project Zero principles and strategies for teaching and learning. Whether you are a teacher or in the role of supporting and leading teachers and teaching, you will reflect on your current teaching, instructional leadership, and assessment practices and develop new approaches to learning, planning, and instructional strategies that respond to the diverse ways in which your students engage and learn.

The program explores fundamental educational questions including:

• What does it mean to understand? How does understanding develop?
• What are the roles of reflection and assessment in learning?
• How can we nurture critical thinking and creativity?
• How can we design learning experiences for and with diverse learners and contexts?

Who Should Attend

• Early childhood, elementary, middle, and secondary school educators
• School administrators and teacher educators
• Those in other educator roles, including (but not limited to) artists, teaching artists, museum educators, after-school educators, nonprofit staff members

Participants may apply as individuals or as groups. Due to limited building capacity and anticipated high demand, schools/organizations may not initially register groups of more than 10 participants. PZ encourages schools and organizations of all means to register, and attendance preference will be given to educators working in schools/organizations that have regular, direct access to students.

Schedule

The PZC program begins on Monday, June 24 and ends Friday, June 28, 2024. All five days, the program will begin at 8:30 am with continental breakfast available at 8:00 am. Tuesday through Thursday, the program will end at 5:00 pm. On Friday, the program will end at 1:00 pm.

Monday, June 24

• 8:30 - 10:15 am welcome and opening plenary
• 10:15 - 10:45 am break
• 10:45 am - 12:45 pm study group (lunch provided at 12:00)
• 12:45 - 1:00 pm brief break
• 1:00 - 3:30 pm mini course
• 3:30 - 3:45 pm brief break
• 3:45 - 5:45 pm study group

Tuesday - Thursday, June 25 - 27

• 8:30 - 10:00 am plenary session
• 10:00 - 10:30 am break
• 10:30 am - 1:00 pm mini course
• 1:00 - 2:30 pm lunch (on your own)
• 2:30 - 5:00 pm study group

Friday, June 28

• 8:30 - 11:00 am study group
• 11:00 - 11:30 am break
• 11:30 am - 1:00 pm closing plenary

Registration

The PZC registration is rolling and attendance has reached capacity. However, it is possible that the institute will fill before the registration deadline. Registration is rolling; on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants may apply as individuals or as groups.

Due to limited building capacity and anticipated high demand, organizations may not initially register more than 10 participants. Groups wishing to send more than 10 participants may write to pzlearn@gse.harvard.edu to discuss the options for additional participants.

A brief Pre-Registration Form must be completed to access the PZC registration site and scholarship application (if applicable). Within 2 business days after your Pre-Registration Form is submitted, we will send you an email from pzlearn@gse.harvard.edu with links to access the PZC registration site and scholarship application. Please note: Project Zero and the Harvard Graduate School of Education are closed for holidays during the following dates: Wednesday, November 22 - Sunday, November 26, 2023 and Friday, December 22, 2023 - Tuesday, January 2, 2024. If you complete a Pre-Registration Form during those periods, you can expect a response by Tuesday, November 28, 2023 and Thursday, January 4, 2024, respectively.

The registration process fully supports and accommodates those schools and organizations that go through an internal payment request process (e.g. purchase orders) to complete the application and select the payment option for that process.

Tuition

The tuition for the five-day 2024 PZC program is $3,995 per participant. Tuition includes the five days of programming, all instructional materials required for participation in the program and lunch on the opening day. Also included are continental breakfast and morning and afternoon snacks throughout the program.

We do not reserve participant hotel room blocks or have discount partnerships through the PZC, but the area offers many accommodations within walking distance or located on a nearby bus or subway route. We would recommend using travel and vacation rental websites to find nearby accommodations. Once on these travel sites, use the Harvard Graduate School of Education address where the PZC will take place: 13 Appian Way, Cambridge, MA 02138.

Scholarships

With generous support from the Saul Zaentz Foundation and many individual donations honoring Project Zero’s 50th anniversary, PZ is able to offer professional learning scholarships to support a range of schools, districts, and organizations, as well as a diverse group of educators. These scholarships aim to support educators working in under-resourced contexts and/or with historically marginalized students. The 2024 PZC scholarship deadline has passed and all scholarships have been awarded.

Participation

The PZC program is highly interactive. Therefore, fluency in English is essential and required.

Participants are encouraged to attend in teams so they can reflect together during the program and, having had a common set of experiences, continue their learning after the program. Individual participants are also welcome.

Cancellations/Refunds

To cancel your participation and request a refund, please email pzlearn@gse.harvard.edu by April 1, 2024. We cannot issue refunds after this date. A 5% credit card processing fee will be subtracted from the original amount paid.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education reserves the right to change faculty or cancel programs at its discretion and is not responsible for any planning expenses incurred.

Substitutions

Substitutions for registered participants, including those registered as part of a group, will be made only on a limited basis, and for significant, qualifying events (e.g. death in the family, serious illness, etc.). In the case of a significant, qualifying event, please email pzlearn@gse.harvard.edu to request substitutions. We will not be able to make substitutions after May 31, 2024.

Completion Certificates

If you participate in the PZC and meet the completion requirements, you will receive a Certificate of Completion documenting 30 hours of professional learning. Certificates will be emailed approximately 6-8 weeks after the institute ends.

Questions?

If you have questions about the 2024 PZC, please email pzlearn@gse.harvard.edu.