Vergant Ed: The Producers' Project

To Alternative High School Teachers, Principals and UFT Chapter Chairs

STAFF DEVELOPMENT & STUDENT COURSEWORK SERIES
October 19, 2002 through January 25, 2003
Per-Session Pay Awarded to Participating Teachers; Elective Credit to Participating Students
Application Deadline: October 16, 2002

The Producers’ Project (TPP), a not-for-profit education corporation, provides professional development training and curriculum overview and support which improves and enlivens the art and science of teaching, learning and testing by putting powerful tools of production, presentation and self-directed learning into the hands of teachers.

How can The Producers’ Project be implemented in your school? How can you use documentary filmmaking and web publishing skills to enhance academic interest and performance?

Join us at Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Secondary School for Arts and Technology from October 12 - December 19 2002, to:
• Gain a program overview from TPP staff, documentary and web/technical experts, and former students
• Learn basic documentary filmmaking skills, HTML and web publishing skills
• Find out how to use these skills to enhance your classroom and after-school activities
• Produce a brief documentary
• Craft a curriculum for use in the Spring ‘02

The dedicated professional development training series will be held at the Alternative Superintendency -- 45-18 Court Street, Long Island City, NY -- with schedule as follows, and with time and location subject to confirmation.
• October: 19 (Sat, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM), 26 (Sat, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM)
• November: 7 (Thurs, 4:30 to 6:30 PM), 14 (Thurs, 4:30 to 6:30 PM), 21 (Thurs, 4:30 to 6:30 PM)
• December: 5 (Thurs, 4:30 to 6:30 PM), 19 (Thurs, 4:30 to 6:30 PM)

Additionally, The Producers’ Project will be offering two accredited after-school student courses that will provide the practical application component of the dedicated professional development series. The dedicated Professional Development training series will be held at Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Secondary School for Arts and Technology, 47-07 30th Place, Long Island City, 718/472-5671, http://rfwagnerjr.org/. The Professional Development schedule is as follows:

The student courses will be co-taught by DOE master teachers and congruent specialists in conjunction with TPP documentary makers, web programmers and subject levels experts. These practical application courses are designed to lead to deepened academic inquiry, the production of a website and the making of a documentary in the areas of Math: Easy as Pi? and Science: The Interdependence of Life. Participants in TPP Professional Development will be required to participate in these practical-application courses and will be compensated per-session. Participating teachers are also strongly encouraged to nominate students for these programs.

Enrollment in The Producers’ Project Professional Development series is open to the first 25 registrants. Principal approval and intention to implement The Producers’ Project -- in whole or in part -- at participating schools is required. Please fax the form below to Wendy Dubit at 212/463-9221 or e-mail your application to wendy@vergant.com no later than October 16, 2002. Your acceptance into the program will be confirmed by October 17, 2002. Student enrollment is limited to 15 per course (30 total), with applications, available from www.vergant.com/studentapp.htm, due October 17, and participants notified by October 19.

Please enroll me in The Producers’ Project Staff Development Series:

Name_________________________________________

Home Phone________________

Subjects taught_____________________________________________________

Computer skills and interests____________________________________________

Video skills and interests____________________________________________

School_________________________________

School Phone________________________

School Address______________________________________________________

Your e-mail address______________________

School URL__________________________

Principal Name (printed) and signature____________________________________ (or e-mailed consent from your principal)

Teacher Selection Questions (Use additional space as needed)

How did you hear about The Producers’ Project?

Which aspect(s) of The Producers’ Project intrigue you the most?

What role do you believe extracurricular activities play in the development of students’ academic performance?

What thoughts might you have on the “Importance of Math” or “Interdependence of Life?”

How might skills acquired through The Producers’ Project (documentary filmmaking, web production) be able to enhance academic area teaching and learning?