Contact Us
For more information about this program, contact us at ProfessionalLearning@gse.upenn.edu
Learn about Project-based Learning (PBL) for Global Climate Justice and how to engage your students in authentic, action-oriented, and meaningful learning experiences.
The time to take action on global climate change is now. This program equips educators with the knowledge and skills they need to design projects that engage students in this important environmental justice work.
What Sets Us Apart
Learn from leading climate and education experts
Create PBL experiences for your students
Receive ongoing support from coaches and fellow educators
About the Program
The PBL for Global Climate Justice program brings together secondary school educators from across the country and around the world to design project-based learning curricula focused on the problems and questions of global climate change. This interdisciplinary program combines Penn GSE’s expertise in project-based learning with the expertise of leading scholars in climate change research from the broader Penn community.
Application deadline
- Application Deadline: August 31, 2023
CostNo Cost! Thanks to the generosity of a grant, all learners qualify for a full scholarship that covers the $600 registration fee.
ScholarshipsApplicants must complete the scholarship section of the application in order to receive funding.
Ideal CandidatesAnyone interested in designing climate change projects for secondary school students. This may include:
- K-12 educators in all subject areas
- Instructional leaders
- NGO educators and leaders
- Out of school educators
Overview
This professional development program includes 3 parts:
Part I: Explore
During part I, you will deepen your own understanding of global climate change issues and learn about how scholars and practitioners working in different disciplines authentically engage with such issues by exploring resources, materials, and videos on our online learning platform.
Part II: Envision
In part II, you will learn about the principles of project-based learning and sketch out potential project ideas. To accommodate different schedules and learners from across the globe, we offer more than one option to attend, including virtual design sprints on September 23 and 30 at 10:00 a.m. (ET) and an in-person option on Penn’s campus on October 13-14, 2023.
Part III: Enact
During part III, you will implement your project with your students in your local context. You will also participate in multiple live virtual sessions with small teams of colleagues to connect, collaborate, reflect, and learn from each other's experiences.
Program Format
| Dates | Modality | Duration | Topic |
| Early September | Virtual asynchronous | ~10 hours | Part I: Explore - Learners will deepen their understanding of global climate change issues and learn about how scholars and practitioners working in different disciplines authentically engage with such issues by exploring resources, materials, and videos on our online learning platform. |
September 23 & 30 October 13-14 | Virtual synchronous In-person at the University of Pennsylvania | 10 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. (ET)
| Part II: Envision - Attend a project design sprint. Participants will learn about the principles of project-based learning and sketch out potential project ideas. To accommodate different schedules and learners from across the globe, we offer a virtual and in-person options. You only have to select one option. |
| October - December | Four virtual synchronous sessions | 2-4 hours per session | Part III: Enact – Learners will implement their project in their local context. They will also participate in multiple live virtual sessions with small teams of colleagues to connect, collaborate, reflect, and learn from each other's experiences. |
| January 2024 | One virtual synchronous session | Final showcase and celebration |
Our Faculty
We are excited to announce this year’s program collaborators:
- Urban Teaching Assistantship Program
- Penn GSE Collaboratory for Teacher Education
- South Asia Center
- Melissa Brown Goodall – Penn Environmental Innovations Initiative
- Zachary Herrmann – Negotiations, Management Department – Wharton
- Andrea Kane – Teaching, Learning, and Leadership – Penn GSE
- Sarah Schneider Kavanagh – Teaching, Learning, and Leadership – Penn GSE
- Michael Mann – Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences – Penn SAS
- Philip Mulder – Business Economics and Public Policy Department – Wharton
- Howard Neukrug – Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences – Penn SAS
- Christopher Pupik Dean – Teaching, Learning, and Leadership – Penn GSE
- Abby Reisman – Teaching, Learning, and Leadership – Penn GSE
- Simon Richter – Department of Germanic Languages and Literature – Penn SAS
- Sonia Rosen – Teaching, Learning, and Leadership – Penn GSE
- Bethany Wiggin – Penn Program in Environmental Humanities
- Susan Yoon – Teaching, Learning, and Leadership – Penn GSE