Oregon Humanities

Idea Lab 2013

Idea Lab is a three-day residential institute where twenty-four Oregon high school teachers and over 150 rising seniors from across the state explore the pursuit of happiness through workshops, lectures, films, and discussions.

2013 Oregon Humanities Idea Lab Summer Institute will be held July 26-28, 2013, in Portland.

What is Idea Lab?

Since 2006, Idea Lab has offered outstanding Oregon teachers a unique and relevant professional development opportunity. For creative, ambitious teens, Idea Lab provides a profound, college-like experience between their junior and senior year. Teachers and teens learning together make Idea Lab unique among teacher continuing education and college readiness programs in Oregon and nationwide.

Who participates in Idea Lab?

Idea Lab is for high school teachers who are interested in interdisciplinary learning and teaching and want to work with a diverse group of colleagues and students to explore the pursuit of happiness. Teachers earn 45 hours of continuing education credits.

Idea Lab is for high school juniors. The program is not just for high-achieving students. It is also for high-curiosity students who have the most to gain from a weekend on a college campus, want to wrestle with big ideas, and want to think critically about their own pursuit of happiness. Idea Lab welcomes teens who may not have support or financial resources for college but for whom Idea Lab will inspire a new determination to pursue higher education.

How do Oregon schools get involved with Idea Lab?

In order to sustain the program while engaging as many teachers and students as possible, we offer several different kinds of cost-sharing partnerships for schools and districts, as well as a limited number of OH sponsorships when schools are unable to fund their teachers’ and students’ participation.

Which options work best for my school or district?

In order to encourage broad participation statewide, Oregon Humanities (OH) offers several options for Oregon schools and families. Oregon Humanities covers room and board costs for all teachers and students, and offers travel stipends for those who qualify.

Sponsorship and Cost-Share Options	Who pays teacher honorarium?	Who pays $150 student fee? (five to ten students = $750-$1,500)
A. School Sponsorship	School	School
B. OH Sponsorship	OH	OH
C. School and Family Cost-Share	School	Families
D. School and OH Cost-Share	School	OH

A. School Sponsorship
A school (or school district) nominates a Teaching Fellow and pays that Fellow directly for participating. The teacher honorarium is determined by the individual school or district. The school or district nominates five to ten students, and contributes a $150 fee per student participant.

B. Oregon Humanities Sponsorship
A limited number of Teaching Fellows whose schools or districts are unable to pay them for their participation will be selected and paid directly by Oregon Humanities. These Fellows receive an honorarium from Oregon Humanities. Oregon Humanities also provides full scholarships for five to ten students nominated by these Teaching Fellows’ schools and districts.

C. School & Family Cost-Share
A school or district nominates a Teaching Fellow and pays that Fellow directly for participating. The teacher honorarium is determined by the individual school or district. The school or district nominates five to ten students, and the nominated students’ parents contribute a $150 fee for their child’s participation. In cases where families cannot afford the fee, we recommend that the school or district offer financial assistance or support the students in raising funds within the community.

D. School & Oregon Humanities Cost-Share
A school or district nominates a Teaching Fellow and pays that Fellow directly for participating. The teacher honorarium is determined by the individual school or district. Oregon Humanities provides full scholarships for five to ten students nominated by the school or district.

How many Fellowships and Scholarships will Oregon Humanities award for summer 2013?

OH will award eleven Teaching Fellowships and seventy student scholarships for summer 2013.

How are Idea Lab Teaching Fellows selected?

Applicants must have a minimum of five years full-time high school teaching experience and be employed full-time in an accredited Oregon high school. Teachers must first contact their school principal or district administrator regarding the Sponsorship and Cost-Share options available (see above). After determining which option best suits their school or district, teachers complete the online application. Oregon Humanities selects Teaching Fellows based on strength of application and accompanying letter of support.

Are Idea Lab Teaching Fellows paid?

Yes. Teaching Fellows are compensated either by their school or district or by Oregon Humanities. If paid by Oregon Humanities, Fellows earn a $1,000 honorarium. If paid by their individual school or district, the honorarium is determined by that school or district. Oregon Humanities covers material costs, room, and board for all Fellows. Travel stipends are available for those who qualify.

How many CEU hours do Idea Lab Teaching Fellows earn?

Teaching Fellows earn 45 CEU hours and are required to participate in the following:

3 hours of virtual meetings (three one-hour conference calls in spring/summer 2013)
8 hours at one day long planning meeting in Portland
6 hours of independent work and collaboration with teaching partners
28 hours on-site (pending final schedule):

Friday July 26, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. (6 hours)
Saturday July 27, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (12 hours)
Sunday July 28, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (10 hours)

How are Idea Lab students selected to participate?

If selected as a Teaching Fellow, a teacher commits to recruiting five to ten student participants from his or her school or district. Generally, teachers and counselors recommend students to participate and, once their recommendation is final and parental approval is confirmed, students complete an online registration form. If more students are interested than can be accommodated from one school or district, please contact Oregon Humanities staff for suggestions on how best to select your Summer Scholars.

What is required of Idea Lab student participants?

Upon being selected by a teacher, principal or counselor, the student completes an online application. Once registered, the Summer Scholar will receive a reading packet along with inspiring assignments to be completed prior to arrival at Idea Lab. If you are a student and would like to find out if your school is participating in Idea Lab 2013, contact Oregon Humanities by email or at (503) 241-0543 ext. 118.

How is Idea Lab funded?

Idea Lab is supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, foundations, and individuals, as well as through our cost-share partnerships. We use foundation and individual support for Fellowships and Scholarships, and to underwrite our program costs. As a result, while Oregon Humanities’ actual cost per student is $700, we ask only $150 per student from cost-sharing schools, districts, and families.

Timeline and deadlines

Teaching Fellow application process opens	November 1, 2012
Teaching Fellow application deadline	December 31, 2012
2013 Teaching Fellows announced	January 15, 2013
2013 Teaching Fellows orientation (virtual)	January 19, 2013
Summer Scholar registration opens	February 1, 2013
One-hour training workshops (virtual)	February through June 2013
Teaching Fellows and Summer Scholars attend Idea Lab in Portland	July 26–28, 2013

Downloads

• 2013 Idea Lab Teacher Brochure
• 2013 Idea Lab Student Brochure

16 October 2012 | Permalink |

Congratulations, 2013 Idea Lab Fellows

Oregon Humanities is proud to announce the twenty-four Oregon secondary school teachers who have been chosen as teaching fellows for the 2013 Idea Lab Summer Institute, a three-day residential program that takes place at the University of Portland July 26–28.

Fellows work with Oregon Humanities staff to recruit high school students and plan and teach at the summer institute, which explores the pursuit of happiness. Fellows receive a stipend, earn continuing education credits, and enhance their teaching skills. To learn more, visit the Idea Lab page.

A record number of teachers applied for Idea Lab Teaching Fellowships this year, and a record number of students are expected to attend the institute. The teachers selected include fifteen who have participated in Idea Lab in the past and nine who are new to the program.

Teaching Fellows and our Summer Scholar students for Idea Lab 2013 are from public and private schools and communities large and small, including Sisters, La Grande, Springfield, Cottage Grove, Medford, Eagle Point, Port Orford, Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Tualatin, and Oregon City.

2013 Idea Lab Teaching Fellows

Kim Bliss, Hillsboro High School, Hillsboro
Kevin Cahill, La Grande High School, La Grande
Frank Caro, Tigard High School, Tigard
Celeste Colasurdo, Southridge High School, Beaverton
Kacey Dewing, St. Mary’s School, Medford
Andrew Duden, Lake Oswego High School, Lake Oswego
Nicole Foran, St. Mary’s Academy, Portland
Ben Goodwin, Hillsboro High School, Hillsboro
Mike Gwaltney, Oregon Episcopal School, Portland
Portia Hall, Franklin High School, Portland
Wendy Herrin, De La Salle North Catholic High School, Portland
Matt Hiefield, Sunset High School, Beaverton
Ed Kline, Oregon City High School, Oregon City
Kelsey Macintyre, Valley Catholic High School, Beaverton
Michael McGrath, St. Mary’s School, Medford
Joshua Nice, Thurston High School, Springfield
Kristene Olsen, Kennedy High School, Cottage Grove
Kristina Passadore, Pacific High School, Port Orford
Laura Pridmore-Brown, Riverdale High School, Portland
Konrad Reinhardt, Jesuit High School, Beaverton
William Rexford, Sisters High School, Sisters
Jay Schroder, Eagle Point High School, Eagle Point
Tony Stocks, Catlin Gabel School, Portland
Mark Warner, Parkrose High School, Portland

16 January 2013 | Permalink | Comments? (0 so far)