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Project

Design Lab 2025

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June 23-27

University of Vermont, Burlington

PDL Class of 2024

Creativity at the Center of Learning

At the Project Design Lab you will collaborate with master teaching artists to design a project plan that leverages the power of creative engagement  making things we care about   to inspire deeper learning and a classroom culture of creativity and collaboration. ​

What to Expect
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  • DESIGN a project plan that aims for deeper and more joyful learning in your classroom.
     

  • EXPLORE how to invigorate your teaching with innovative approaches to placing creativity at the center of learning.
     

  • STRENGTHEN your skills at using exhibitions and performances as learning catalysts in pedagogy, assessment, and portfolio building.
     

  • REFUEL your creativity and strengthen your teaching practice.
     

  • LEARN alongside colleagues and master teaching artists.
     

  • REJUVENATE and have fun – guaranteed!

​Who Should Attend?
 

  • PreK-12 educators in humanities, STEM, physical education, visual art, and music.
     

  • ​Attend solo or with a team.

 

Earn three graduate credits 

or 40 hours of relicensing credits. 

PDL Courses
2025 Courses

A Culture of Creative & Deeper Learning

Arts-Infused Project-Based Learning


For Educators in all Grades & Content Areas
 

Explore how arts-infused PBL can strengthen student voice and agency, inspire deeper learning, and build a classroom culture of creativity and collaboration. â€‹Through hands-on workshops with expert PBL educators and master teaching artists you will leave with a project ready to launch. 

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LEARN MORE

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The Art of Installations
Celebrating Student Creativity in your School & Community

 

For K-12 Visual Art Teachers
 

Refuel your passion for art-making, collaborate with fellow art teachers, capitalize on and strengthen the ways the art room can be an oasis for regulation and well-being, delve into the power of large scale art installations to share and celebrate your students' creative voice, and build a project plan for creating an art installation in your school or community. 

 

LEARN MORE

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Theatre Tools for the Inspired Classroom

Animating Questions & Bringing Answers to Life


For Middle and High School Educators

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As a child, our very understanding of the world is accelerated by theatre tools within our grasp – playful inquiry, imaginative discovery, and creative collaboration. â€‹In this class of learning-by-doing, you’ll remember the pleasure of these tools and advance your use of them in shaping an engaged community of learners and building a dynamic project ready to launch. 

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LEARN MORE

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Circus For Everyone!

What Kid Doesn't Want to Run Away to the Circus?


For PE Educators in Grades K-6
 

This course is for K-6 physical education teachers who want to design and lead a circus arts unit that is accessible at any degree of ableness, creates a culture of physical literacy, and most especially is super fun! 

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LEARN MORE

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Nurturing Artists & Innovators

in the Music Ensemble

Where Does Re-creation End and Creation Begin?


For Music Educators Who Lead Ensembles
 

This course is for music educators looking to strengthen and diversify their musical skills and learn collaborative practices for their ensembles that nurture student creativity and agency. â€‹No prior experience in jazz, improvisation, composition, or songwriting is required. 

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LEARN MORE

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Activating the Art in Language Arts

with River Gallery School


For K-6 Educators
 

Collaborate with River Gallery School teaching artists in hands-on workshops that use creative engagement – making things we care about  – to deepen student engagement and learning in your Language Arts curriculum.

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LEARN MORE

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Creativity, Circuits, and Stories

Bringing Stories to Life With Creativity, Circuits, and Code


For Librarians, English Language Arts, and STEM Educators in Grades 3-12
 

Discover the magic of combining literature with technology and leave with the confidence to guide students in designing creative projects that deepen their engagement with literature using circuits and codes. 

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LEARN MORE

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From Field to Classroom:

Poetry, Illustration, and Deep Observation
How Can Studying the Natural World Spark Poetry That Cultivates Care, Wonder, and Action?


For 6-12 Educators

Of particular interest to English, Social Studies, STEM, and Art teachers.

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Through practicing and strengthening our powers of observation, through drawing, research, and experimentation with language, we will write our own poems—and build a customized project plan for your students to write poetry that amplifies their voice and climate activism.

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LEARN MORE

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What Educators Say
This is energizing my curriculum for next year, and into the years to come!
  – Dorcey Hogg, Georgia Elementary School
"

The Details
2025 Project Design Lab

June 23-27 / 9:00am - 4:00pm

University of Vermont / Burlington

Tuition

  • $2,000 - Three graduate credits

  • $1,790 - Certificate of Participation for 40 hours relicensing credits

 

$100 later registration fee after May 1. 

​

Tuition includes a private air-conditioned dorm room with centrally located private bath at the University of Vermont, plus breakfast and lunch. Everyone is on their own for dinner in Burlington. Lodging is optional.​

​

Attend Solo or as a Team

You can attend solo or with a team from your schoolTeams can be composed of any combination of educators (classroom teachers, councilors, paras, special educators, staff, administrators) and can be from the same grades and content areas, or mixed.   

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Teaching Artist Residency - OPTIONAL

Teaching artist residencies are optional. If you would like information on selecting and scheduling a teaching artist to co-lead with you the implementation of your project, please complete the PDL Questions Form and we'll be in touch.​
 

FAQ

Visit the PDL FAQ page for answers to questions about team participation, tuition & fees, lodging & meals, daily schedule, teaching artist selection (optional), and more.

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Project Snapshots 

See examples of previous projects created at the Project Design Lab here

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Questions?  

Complete the PDL Questions Form and we'll be back in touch soon.

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We invite you to let us know about specific accommodations you may need to participate in the Project Design Lab when completing your Registration Form, and we will make every effort to honor your request. 

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CONTACT US

 

41 Summer Street

Montpelier, VT 05601

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email

802-595-0087​

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© 2025 by Community Engagement Lab

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