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 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
- Priority Application Deadline: June 1, 2024
- Final Deadline: July 31, 2024
Program StartSeptember 10, 2024
Length & Time Commitment~40 hours over 4 months
Certificate OfferedPenn GSE Certificate of Participation
Credits4 Continuing Education (CE) Credits
40 Pennsylvania ACT 48 Credits
Cost
- Free - Certificate only - the $750 fee for this certificate program has been waived thanks to generous funding from the Penn Environmental Innovations Initiative.
- $750 - Certificate plus CE Credits* – This reduced program fee is possible thanks to generous funding from the Penn Environmental Innovations Initiative
*Participants must complete additional assignments to earn CE credits.
Ideal CandidatesAnyone interested in designing climate change projects for students. This may include:
- K-12 educators in all subject areas
- Instructional leaders
- NGO educators and leaders
- Out of school educators
Modality
- Online
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.
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 |
| September 10, 2024 | 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 28 & October 5, 2024 | Virtual synchronous | 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. |
| October - December | Four synchronous sessions - dates and times will be scheduled after July 31st | 2-4 hours per session | Part III: Enact – Participants will implement their project and attend 4 live virtual small group meetings to debrief. Small group meetings will take place from mid-October to mid-December. Learners will be organized into groups based on their time zones and availability. |
Continuing Education Credits - FAQs & Policy
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of obtaining Continuing Education (CE) credits?
CE credits are issued on an official University of Pennsylvania transcript. Having an official record of your participation in this program can add credibility to the work that you invest in completing it. In some school districts, CE credits can be used to help educators advance along their pay scale.
What style of grading does this program follow?
Programs that offer CE credits award "Pass/Fail" grading.
Can I add CE credits after I get started in the program?
You must decide before you start the program if you will be participating as a learner who is completing the program for CE credentialing. You will not be able to opt in after the program starts.
Can I receive partial credit or opt out of receiving CE credits after I start the program?
No, this program can not offer partial credit if a learner can not complete the program. However, a learner can unenroll from the program by the drop deadline and will be responsible for 100% of the program fee.
Why might you not want CE credits?
If you choose to receive CE credits but do not successfully complete this program, you risk receiving an F on your permanent Penn transcript.
Can participating educators receive Pennsylvania Act 48 credits if they don't register for CE credits?
Yes! All Pennsylvania educators are eligible to receive the total amount of ACT 48 credits regardless of their preference for CE credits.
Continuing Education Credits Policy
Please read the policy below carefully to understand the important consequences that choosing to receive CE credits may have for your University of Pennsylvania transcript.
As a participant in this Penn GSE Certificate program, you are eligible to receive Continuing Education (CE) credits for successful completion of the program requirements. Whether or not you choose to receive CE credits for your participation in this program, all program expectations and requirements are the same.
If you choose to receive CE credits, this course will appear on your permanent Penn transcript.
If you decide to unenroll from this program, you will have until the Add/Drop Deadline to do so without consequence for your transcript. This course will no longer appear on your Penn transcript.
If you decide to unenroll from this program after the Add/Drop Deadline, then this course will appear on your Penn transcript. Courses dropped after the Add/Drop Deadline requires instructor approval, and a 'W' will appear on your transcript in place of a grade.
If you decide to unenroll from this program after the Withdrawal Deadline, then this course will appear on your Penn transcript, and you may earn an F.
If you choose to receive CE credits for your participation in this program but do not successfully complete it, then you may earn an F on your Penn transcript.
Please indicate whether or not you would like to receive CE credits for your participation in this program on your application.
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