Today we are IN THE CLASSROOM on the last week of summer break in Summit County, talking with counselors, coaches and college professors who teach all summer long.
Why do they do it?
Erin Buena at The Cycle Effect teaches the art of acceptance:
“It does require a little bit of courage to show up and try something new. Our girls experience that all the time at practice. But I welcome you exactly as you are, and we are ready to meet you there. We want you to be safe and have fun on a bike.”
English professor Travis Heeren at Colorado Mountain College was just voted Faculty of the Year in Breckenridge. He teaches to show that classrooms are still relevant in the age of AI.
“If AI forces us to focus on process and engagement, that serves students better. That facilitates the classroom as a valued part of education, rather than the textbook or the internet, or Cliff’s Notes, like the archaic AI. Any professors who still think of their value as based in content or expertise are obsolete. That demands a really big shift. This is how higher education used to work for a long time. But classroom, that engagement, is what students need. How do we change our practices so the curation of that knowledge, the teaching, the student experience, are what the university offer?”
Gloria Greenstein at Mountaintop Explorium in Breck teaches her campers to learn as they play.
“We are a community resource that doesn’t just do summer camp. We go into the schools with a STEM program to supplement their science learning with fun, hands-on activities. We have the museum where our littlest friends can come learn with their hands seven days a week. I wanted to be part of that mission.”
Olivia, a second-year teacher at Little Red Schoolhouse, says she has found a family through teaching.
“Little Red feels like a family. You know if you are having a bad day you can talk to anyone and they will be there for you. It’s awesome. I’m very fortunate.”
Thanks for going IN THE CLASSROOM, proudly presented by Heavenly Times Hot Tubs and Billiards and Boost Oxygen: for summer learning.