Branching Out Beyond Borders

Over the past year, I challenged myself to step out of my comfort zone and expand my learning network “beyond borders.” For me, that means beyond the borders of my state, my country, and my comfortable sphere of libraries and librarians.

To that end, last summer I traveled to Germany on a teacher study trip and spent a week in Washington, D.C. at the White House History Teacher Institute. Both of these experiences stretched me beyond my comfort zone as I met new people, experienced a new culture, and immersed myself in place-based learning.

Touring the Red Room in the White House.

In Washington, D.C., I explored the White House on a curator-led VIP tour, walked the halls of Cedar Hill, Frederick Douglass’s home, and learned how to leverage art at the National Portrait Gallery as a vehicle for powerful, inquiry-based lessons. A visit to The People’s House interactive museum gave me new insights into the history and function of the White House. 

In Germany, I connected with the history behind the Berlin Wall, walked the grounds of Dachau Concentration Camp, and stood in the square in Berlin where a Nazi book burning took place in 1933.

When you are standing in the place where history happened, it becomes real to you in a whole new way, and that personal connection carries over into the classroom. This is the power of place-based learning.

Consider this your personal invitation to join me in stepping beyond the borders of your comfort zone and exploring the possibilities open to you through travel-and-learn programs.

Benefits of Place-Based Learning

Examining the Berlin Wall.

Taking part in place-based professional development allows you to become immersed in the experience, leading to deep, authentic learning. You get to revel in the joy of learning by stepping into a student role, which allows you to broaden your perspective and experience personal growth.

These workshops are highly engaging, inspiring, and energizing – just what you need to recharge your batteries after a taxing school year. You will walk away with ideas for enriching your teaching, expanding library programs, and enhancing collection development. Best of all, you will spend time learning with and from an incredible group of passionate educators and expand your PLN.

Teacher-librarians are especially well-suited candidates for these types of experiences because we:

• Are skilled at collaboration
• See the “big picture” of teaching and learning at our schools
• Have flexibility in our teaching and aren’t tied to rigid pacing guides
• Have a wide reach because we serve every student and staff member

Highlighting these assets in your application materials will strengthen your chances of selection and demonstrate your value as a collaborative partner and multiplier for the program. Institute leaders are looking for evidence that you will implement what you learn into lessons with students and share your insights with teaching colleagues and your community.

Drawbacks

Before applying, it’s important to be aware of potential drawbacks. Place-based learning programs require you to give up some personal time. Most take place over the summer break, but some programs require time off work during the school year.

Many programs are highly competitive, and some require you to do tasks such as attend pre-seminar Zoom meetings, complete readings, participate in discussions, and develop and share lesson plans or presentations post-trip.

Some programs are fully funded while others require a financial contribution, which your school district may be willing to fund.

Available Programs

There are a wealth of programs available for teacher-librarians and other educators looking for place-based learning opportunities that are fully funded, partially funded, or include a generous stipend. Many summer PD programs have January-March application deadlines, so now is the time to step out of your comfort zone and apply.

Ready to explore? Take a look at these highly-recommended programs.

1. Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms. This year-long fellowship is a fully-funded, K-12 teacher exchange program. Selected participants complete an intensive online global education class in the fall, attend a Global Education Symposium in Washington, D.C. in early February, and spend 2-3 weeks abroad in the spring or summer learning about their host country’s culture and education system during a field experience. Host countries for 2025-2026 include Peru, Uruguay, Morocco, Senegal, Romania, India, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
2. National Endowment for the Humanities Teacher Institutes. These 1-4 week residential programs for K-12 educators cover various topics. Stipends of $650-$3,450 are given based on the length of the program. Participants arrange and pay for travel, lodging and meal costs, and stipends are awarded after the program concludes. Stipends may not cover all expenses and are taxable as income.  Topics for summer 2026 include: Ancient Olympics, history of the U.S. space program, studying and performing Shakespeare plays, teaching with maps, and the poetry of Emily Dickinson.
3. Smithsonian’s Teacher Innovator Institute (STEAM). Spend two weeks at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. learning to integrate authentic hands-on, inquiry-based STEAM education into your teaching. The institute is designed for STEAM educators in grades 5-8, but preK-12 teachers are welcome to apply. The program requires a two-week commitment for two consecutive summers and covers the cost of transportation, lodging, and meals.
4. White House History Teacher Institute. This 5-day institute brings together K-12 teachers in Washington, D.C. to learn about American history centered on the White House and the President’s neighborhood. Teachers participate in hands-on activities and take field trips to notable historical sites. Lodging is provided along with breakfast and lunch on days the institute is in session. A $1,000 stipend is provided after the program concludes.
5. Fund for Teachers. Design your own professional development program and get $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for a team. Follow Fund for Teachers on Facebook to gain inspiration and learn about the amazing experiences designed by other educators and how they used what they learned to positively impact students.

Want to learn more?

You can view a 30-minute webinar geared for teacher-librarians,  “Beyond Borders: Leaning into Place-Based Learning,” and access a curated spreadsheet of opportunities. (You must register with your email address in order to view the webinar video.)

The best place I’ve found to learn about national and international PD opportunities is a Facebook group called Scholarships, Grants, Summer Institutes and Opportunities for Teachers. You can interact with past participants, program directors, and application reviewers to ask questions and get more information. It is a gold mine of resources for place-based learning.

Have you attended a place-based learning program? If so, please share your experiences and recommendations in the comments.