Project Zero Perspectives: Making, Thinking, Understanding

In the frenzied pace of school life, students (and teachers) rarely have time to consider big questions about themselves and humanity as a whole: How do our lives relate to place? How are we connected to other human beings? How do we as individuals fit into a bigger story of human history? Moreover, we rarely find the time to observe closely what is going on around us or to listen attentively to other people’s stories. In this course we will draw from Project Zero’s collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Paul Salopek, whose seven-year Out of Eden Walk involves retracing the migratory pathways of our ancient human ancestors and generating “slow journalism”. We will engage in a variety of activities that encourage students both to learn from the stories and perspectives of others as well as to reflect in new ways about themselves and the wider world. While we will introduce participants to Out of Eden Learn, Project Zero’s free, online learning community for elementary, middle and high school students, our activities will also be applicable to off-line classroom contexts. The course is open to all but may be of particular interest to language arts and social studies educators.