This summer, we invite educators from all grade levels—preschool through high school—to join us for a transformative, hands-on professional development experience grounded in constructivist theory, place-based learning, and transdisciplinary approaches. While set in the beautiful coastal environment of California, the learning is designed to transcend location, allowing teachers to bring these powerful principles back to their classrooms no matter where they teach.
On Friday, you’ll choose from one of three immersive workshops, located at Doheny State Beach, each rooted in the idea that students learn best by doing, reflecting, and connecting their learning to the world around them. Each workshop is designed to foster active, inquiry-based, and student-centered learning that aligns with constructivist theory—where knowledge is built through experiences and active engagement.
Into the Blue: Embracing Challenge and Self-Discovery Through Ocean-Based Learning: In this immersive workshop, you'll explore the transformative power of risk, challenge, and reflection, using the ocean as a dynamic classroom. Together we will engage in hands-on activities like wave science and reflection through journaling and photography. You will read memoirs blending surfing, struggle, and self-discovery, deepening your understanding of how personal narrative and place-based learning intersect. This workshop models a student-centered approach that connects heart, mind, and body.
Oceans of Wonder: Perception, Place, and the Natural World: Explore the natural world through both scientific inquiry and artistic expression. By immersing yourself in the local ecosystem, you'll discover how to help your students develop a deep connection to their environment and encourage them to observe, question, and reflect on the world around them. This workshop blends scientific inquiry (biology, ecology, environmental science) and art (sketching, journaling, photography) to promote holistic, hands-on learning—an essential component of constructivism.
Waves of Belonging: Surfing, Subjectivity, and Stories: This workshop will take you into the heart of California's surf culture, where you'll explore how identity, community, and personal stories shape our understanding of a place. Through storytelling, history, and the cultural significance of surf culture, you’ll learn how to help students reflect on their own identities while connecting to the broader world through place-based learning. This is an example of how constructivist learning helps students create personal meaning and understanding through experience and reflection.
On Saturday, we’ll gather for a keynote, a day of reflection and application with fellow educators to discuss your experiences and explore how to bring these constructivist, place-based, and transdisciplinary learning strategies into your own classroom and end the day with a panel session. You’ll leave with practical tools, strategies, and a fresh perspective on how to create meaningful, student-centered learning environments that encourage inquiry, reflection, and connection to the world. Whether you’re teaching in California or anywhere else, you’ll be ready to inspire your students with new approaches to learning that nurture curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.
