Climate Initiative Education Campaign Workshop
Monday, April 8, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
The AZA community is committed to helping accredited zoos and aquariums engage their visitors and local communities in personal and civic actions that yield measurable reductions on climate impacts. As such, members of the AZA community have drafted specific climate education objectives. During this workshop, participants will identify the tasks, responsible parties, and timelines needed to accomplish these objectives.
Building Expertise in Education through Professional Learning: A Workshop from Reflecting on Practice
Thursday, April 11, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Reflecting on ones practice is critical to continued learning that professionals engage in throughout their career, but it is more than just thinking and talking about what one does or does not do. It is part of professionals being active learners of their practice, and requires that they think, talk, and observe practice critically, systematically, and purposefully in order to understand their practice and that of others from a variety of viewpoints to make informed decisions.
This workshop introduces participants to “Reflecting on Practice,” a professional learning program for informal science educators. The program focuses on engaging educators as active learners of their practice, and does so as a part of building a professional learning community within an institution. The workshop offers three ways for attendees to be active learners and develop habits of reflective practice. (1) Participants will have firsthand experience with selected activities and tasks from the program to think about how learning happens. (2) Participants will be immersed in reflections and research discussions on learning and how to support learning. (3) Developers of the program will share the research underlying the design of the program and evaluation findings thus far.
Playful Pedagogy: Connecting Children with Nature through Play
Thursday, April 11, 1:15 pm - 5:15 pm
The N.C. Zoo’s Play In Nature workshop considers the importance of the adult in a child’s play process. It looks at ways playful, inspired, engaged adults can expand children’s potential to explore and experience through play.
We will examine ways children engage in and benefit from outdoor play and how adults working in Zoos, Aquariums, and Museums can enrich those experiences. Participants will explore open-ended creative ways to work with children outdoors, using approaches employed in the playwork profession. Hands-on activities and informal discussions will take place both indoors and out.
The workshop’s goal is to inspire adults working with children to provide, encourage and enrich play opportunities in nature, creating a greater sense of connection to the natural world. Come play with us!