"Expanding the Classroom Walls" registration opens Tuesday 3/17!

Happy Spring Break everyone! We're going to hit 63 degrees today in Minnesota. Time to put on shorts and get the deck furniture out :) 

While I may be on break from my "day job", I'm also hard at work on my summer job; coordinating a pair of 3-credit summer onsite courses for Learner's Edge entitled "Expanding the Classroom Walls". Each course is an action-packed week of hands-on learning experiences at 15+ unique Twin Cities venues.

If you've never taken a course from Learner's Edge before, you are truly missing out! For only $450 per course, you receive 3 semester credits to apply toward district lane changes. Or sign up for both courses! OS-651 runs 6/15-6/19. OS-890 runs 6/22-6/26. 

The first ten teachers to sign up and tweet me @MandyBellm with hashtags #TCWallsI and/or #TCWallsIII will receive a prize on the first day of class!

What are the courses all about? 

Think back to your childhood. What are your most cherished and vivid memories from your school days? Many are probably from FIELD TRIPS! With tight budgets and constant pressure to meet state and federal standards, students are being exposed to fewer hands-on arts and enrichment experiences outside the classroom than ever before. Sadly, these very same field trips provide much more intense memory development and curriculum retention than ordinary classroom lectures. 

Fortunately, this trend does not need to continue! There are many low-cost options right in your own back yard. You may not even have to physically go to the sites; many locations will now bring their exhibits to you, either as traveling shows or as a virtual field trip. This course aims to open your eyes to new curricular opportunities, allowing teachers to examine their content for real-world learning applications, and to return with a field trip action plan that can be implemented immediately.

Tech-savvy teachers (and those brave enough to learn!) will get to try out QR codes, Google Forms, learn about geocaching, and research virtual field trips related to your content area. You can tweet and/or follow along on Twitter and Remind.com! 

Questions? 

Email me: mandy_bellm@yahoo.com 

Email Learner's Edge: info@LearnersEdgeInc.com 

Here is some more detailed information, for my visual learner friends :)

OL-651 Itinerary (current as of today, 3/12): 

Monday 6/15: (9-4)

Meet & Greet @ Terrace Cafe, SPSC

Gabbert Raptor Center

Lunch break in Dinkytown

Bell Museum of Natural History

Como Zoo Tour & Wildlife Demonstration

Tuesday 6/16: (9-4)

Historic Murphy's Landing

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Lunch break at Oswald Visitor Center Restaurant

Wood Lake Nature Center

Wednesday 6/17: (9-4)

Basecamp BSA Rock Climbing & Ropes Course

MN Air National Guard Museum 

Lunch break & Geocaching @ Fort Snelling State Park

Historic Fort Snelling

Thursday 6/18: (9-4)

Ride the Light Rail Green Line! (optional)

Minneapolis Riverfront Walking Tour

Mill City Museum

Lunch break @ D'Amico & Sons

St. Paul Landmark Center tour & Exhibits

Friday 6/19: (9-1)

Dakota County Jail

St. Croix Valley Nature Center

Waste-Free Bag Lunch & Farewell @ Nature Center

OS-890 Itinerary (current as of today, 3/12): 

Monday 6/22: (9-4)

Meet & Greet @ Caribou Coffee in Ridgedale Mall

Westwood Hills Nature Center

Lunch & Scavenger Hunt @ Midtown Global Market

In the Heart of the Beast - Puppet & Mask Theater

Tuesday 6/23: (9-4)

Children's Theater Co. & MIA Tour

Lunch @ Eat Street Restaurants

Minnehaha Lock & Dam #1 Tour

Stevens House & Gardens Tour

Minnehaha Falls & Geocaching

Wednesday 6/24: (9-4)

Lyndale Park Rose Gardens

Thomas Sadler Roberts Birding Sanctuary

Pavek Museum of Broadcasting

Lunch & Tour @ St. Louis Park Rec Center & Wolf Park

MN Transportation Museum & Street Car Ride

Lake Harriet Bandstand & Geocaching

Thursday 6/25: (9-4)

Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary @ Phalen Creek

Minnesota History Center

Lunch @ Cosetta's

James J. Hill House Tour & Art Exhibit

Summit Ave Walking Tour ending at St. Paul Cathedral

Friday 6/26: (9-1)

WHCPA Pioneer Museum Tour with Bob Gasch

Long Lake tour of "The Big Woods" 

Gale Woods Farm Tour

Lunch & Farewell @ Peg's Countryside Cafe

Frequently Asked Questions:

Are entrance fees included in the course registration?

Yes, all facility fees are paid.

How is transportation arranged?

Teachers can drive one their own, or arrange car pools and split gas/parking fees if desired. I am coming from the west metro and can transport ~4 people each day.

Is lunch included?

No, all lunch activities are optional. Feel free to bring bagged lunches, water and snacks to eat whenever desired. 

What do we do if it rains?

Alternate rain-out activities such as virtual field trips will be provided as needed. 

What should we wear?

We will be walking around a LOT. Bring your teacher badge, dress appropriately in layers and wear comfortable close-toed shoes. Bring sunscreen, smart phones, chargers, notebook/paper, etc. as needed. 

Do I need to be a practicing teacher to take this course?

Some of the sites would prefer attendees to bring a teacher badge, but it is by no means required. Any teachers, subs, paraprofessionals, social workers, or other education professionals who are seeking graduate work or relicensure credits are welcome to enroll.

Do I need to be "techie" to take this course?

No, but teachers with smart phones will be learning how to use the QR Reader app and Remind.com. Teachers will be filling out Google Form surveys for each site we visit. Teachers are also encouraged to post pictures, info and videos to each site's Twitter and/or Facebook page as desired. 

What if I have other questions?

Email me at mandy_bellm@yahoo.com 

I look forward to seeing you there! Space is limited, so sign up right away on 3/17!

-Mandy