In-Person Schedule Information

Safety Protocols

While we do not know what the Covid-19 pandemic has in store for us in 2023, we will follow safety guidelines set by the CDC and the DC Department of Health. At WIS, we have installed HEPA filters in every indoor meeting space. We will have some outdoor classroom space available, weather permitting. Because we are limiting attendance, social distancing will be possible. Wearing masks indoors might be required, depending on recommendations from health officials.

Structure of the Week

The five days making up WISSIT are full of a variety of ways of learning from and with others in attendance. Most of these are structured sessions, led by Project Zero researchers or educators steeped in Project Zero practices. We also offer generous breaks throughout each day, so that you can reflect individually or with others along the way.

Here are highlights of the week:

• Each day we will have a plenary session--when we all come together for a talk focused on one of the WISSIT themes.
• A variety of smaller sessions are then on offer, depending on the day. On most days, we hold learning group sessions, which are a kind of “homeroom” for participants–you meet with the same group and facilitators to reflect on, and process, ideas you are learning.
• Interactive courses will be held Monday-Thursday, which provide practical application of the institute’s big ideas. In addition to tried-and-true popular courses we’ve offered in the past, we are developing a number of new courses this year that address current issues in education and that include pedagogical tools recently developed at Project Zero, with a special emphasis on social justice, youth civic engagement, and health/wellbeing.
• On Wednesday, we hold our ever-popular Day at the Museums, when we gather on the National Mall for a deep dive into learning with and through museum resources.
• Art Happenings take place on Tuesday and Thursday midday, just before lunch. These are 45-minute sessions that give you a fun, immersive experience with hands-on making. They’ll take place all over campus.
• We will provide a light breakfast, a boxed lunch, and coffee/tea each day except Wednesday, the Day at the Museums.
• We’ll also provide time and space for groups to get together during the week to discuss how the institute ideas fit into particular contexts. Each year, participants coming in teams have gotten together, as well as folk from specific subject areas or from a specific interest group. You will be given opportunities to organize and announce such informal meetings.

We do expect full attendance and participation the entire week.

In-Person General Schedule

Monday, July 31

9:00-10:30am   Opening Plenary Session

10:45am-1:30pm   Learning Group/Orientation/Lunch (provided)

1:45-4:00pm   Interactive Course 1

Tuesday, August 1

9:00-10:00am  Plenary Session 2

10:15am-12:00pm Learning Group

12:15-1:00pm  Art Happenings

1:00-1:45pm  Lunch (provided)

1:45-4:00pm  Interactive Course 2

Wednesday, August 2

“Day at the Museums”

9:00-10:15am  Plenary Session 3

10:15-10:45am Travel time

10:45am-12:45pm Museum Course 1

12:45-2:00pm  Lunch (on your own)

2:00-4:00pm  Museum Course 2

Thursday, August 3

9:00-10:00am  Plenary Session 4

10:15am-12:00pm Learning Group

12:15-1:00pm  Art Happenings

1:00-1:45pm  Lunch (provided) & Community Partners Fair

1:45-4:00pm   Interactive Course 3

Friday, August 4

9:00-11:00am   Learning Group

11:15am-1:00pm   Closing Plenary Session

1:00-1:45pm   Lunch (provided)

For travel information, please click here.