Founded in 1999, the Smith College Summer Institute for Educators
is an intensive workshop program for elementary, middle, junior,
and senior high school teachers and administrators designed
to provide resources and strategies for addressing the specific
needs of girls. Over 300 educators representing schools in
30 U.S. states have participated in the institute. In post-program
evaluations, 95% of teachers who participated in 2003 rated
the institute as a valuable experience.
The
approach that the summer institute takes is two-pronged:
1)
providing workshops for teachers to learn about teaching techniques
that promote learning for all along with innovative curricula,
and
2) using the model of collaborative action research, to help
teachers to learn how to become researchers in their own classrooms
and to develop action plans for effective change.
