The Harkness method is a wonderful way of injecting stimulating pedagogy into one's teaching while at the same time enriching the content of one's curriculum. Thank you for a week that was revitalizing. It was inspiring!
A Conference for Teachers
The Exeter Humanities Institute is a conference primarily for secondary school English and History teachers. It is designed to explore the use of student-centered, discussion-based education that is loosely described as the Harkness pedagogy.
Morning sessions will utilize essays on a common humanities topic to explore issues in leading discussions. Afternoons are spent in focus groups or in the Academy library doing research on teaching materials for participants to use in their home schools.
The selection of a core topic is intended to provide common content in the humanities as well as a focus for class discussions. The topics are broadly defined to encourage interdisciplinary exchanges.
Professional Development Credit
Attendance goes toward reaching your professional development goals. Participants will be provided a clock-hour letter to present to their school administrators for professional development credit. A total of 42 clock hours are earned: 20 hours of classroom work, approximately twelve hours of homework, two hours of a teaching practicum, and eight hours of optional seminars.
Sample Daily Schedule
This is a sample schedule of how your day is organized. You will receive the actual schedule one week prior to the conference. You will be placed in both an "A" Class and "B" Class each morning. Afternoon classes are optional.
Plan to arrive on campus by 2:00 p.m. Sunday.
|
Sunday |
Event |
| 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m | Conference Registration / Check In |
| 11:00 a.m. | Campus Tours |
| 2:00 p.m. |
EHI Open House: Meet the Leaders and Pick Up Reading Materials |
| 4:00 p.m. |
Welcome Meeting / Opening Remarks |
| 5:15 p.m. | Dinner, Welcome Reception |
| 6:30 p.m | Harkness Demonstration |
| Monday - Thursday | Event |
| 7:00 – 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. | "A" Class |
| 10:00 - 10:30 a.m. |
Break |
| 10:30 – 12:00 p.m. | "B" Class |
| 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. | Lunch / Break |
| 1:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Afternoon Classes: These courses are optional. |
| 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. | Dinner |
| 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. | Varies by day (homework reviews, movies, featured speakers) |
| 9:00 - | Social Hour |
| Friday | Event |
| 7:00 - 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 9:00 a.m. | Check out of dorm rooms (if staying on campus) |
| 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. | "A" Class |
| 10:00 - 10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Closing exercise, conference evaluations |
| 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:00 p.m. | Conference Ends. Buses depart for Logan Airport or Manchester Airport |
CONTACT US
Rachel Hanson, Conference Manager
rhanson@exeter.edu
603-777-4471
Mailing Address
Phillips Exeter Academy
20 Main Street
Exeter, NH 03833