The Tang Institute at Andover is calling for 2019 – 2020 Tang Institute fellowship proposals that focus on supporting student learning at Phillips Academy and within the broader educational landscape. In 2019 – 2020, the Institute encourages project proposals with a particular emphasis on one or a combination of the following emerging areas of education: project-based learning, equity and inclusion, instructional coaching, pedagogy, and interdisciplinary learning. Creative interpretations of these themes and ideas in other areas of teaching and learning are also welcome. Andover faculty members may submit proposals as interdisciplinary teams or as individuals with plans to collaborate in specific areas. They are also encouraged to engage collaborators from instructional units and support services. The deadline for proposals is Monday, November 5, 2018.
What is the Institute, and why should I apply?
The Tang Institute exists to support Phillips Academy’s most important priority: student learning. One of the best ways faculty can support student learning is by learning too: asking questions, trying out new methods, and asking for and giving feedback. As a Tang fellow, Andover faculty members are given the support and time they need to develop their ideas and cultivate a culture of ongoing learning at the Academy.
“Our Andover community has exciting ideas for enriching the student experience on campus and in the world beyond — and we are looking forward to seeing that creativity come through in fellowship proposals,” said Andy Housiaux, Currie Family Director of the Institute and an instructor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies.
Housiaux worked for three years as a Tang fellow on his project, Mindful Community. Recently he shared his plans for the Institute in an online Q&A and discussed how he will continue his own fellowship work of bringing mindfulness into daily life.
Becoming a Fellow: Learn, Connect, Grow
Working with the Institute team, fellows develop a work plan and project timeline. They are also encouraged to connect their learning with other educational leaders, sharing and growing their knowledge with local and global communities. Tang fellows often report that the experience opened up a range of new opportunities.
The projects I have worked on have been the best professional development of my career. Just having the time to explore different pedagogies and blended learning tools has reinvigorated how I teach students and my own Andover experience.
The application requires a brief overview of the project, along with early-stage planning on potential audiences and ideas for sharing work. New this year in the proposal process is a request for applicants to observe and offer reflections upon student learning in classrooms outside of the applicant’s own academic department. As applicants think about how best to support student learning through their work, they should make specific connections between their observations and their proposals. Fellowship notifications will be sent during winter 2018 – 2019.
Learn More: Areas of Focus
Following are full descriptions of the five areas of focus for 2019 – 2020:
1. Project-Based Learning
This track will explore project-based learning on a larger scale at Andover, including the possibility of combining more than one class into an immersive learning experience for students and potentially developing a school-within-a-school model at Andover.
2. Equity and Inclusion
This track is open to projects that continue to advance the work of equity and inclusion on campus. Projects with a curricular focus will likely work closely with the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies.
3. Instructional Coaching
Individuals in this track will be asked to do several days of professional learning at a conference over the summer. They will mentor two-to-three teachers weekly in a collaborative, non-evaluative manner during the term in which they receive their course reduction.
4. Pedagogy
Fellows in this track track will continue to explore innovative approaches to teaching and learning. Projects that span more than one department will work closely with the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies.
5. Interdisciplinary
We seek collaborations that will bring together two (or more) academic departments. We are particularly interested in teachers who are interested in bringing interdisciplinary perspectives into core courses (taken earlier in the academic program by a large number of students) as opposed to upper-level electives.
About the Tang Institute
Student learning is the most important priority at Phillips Academy, and the Tang Institute exists to support it. The Institute funds faculty fellowships — often in interdisciplinary teams — to learn about and engage with central questions in education today. Fellows connect their learning with other educational leaders, sharing and growing their best ideas with local and global communities. For more information, please contact tanginstitute@andover.edu or visit tanginstitute.andover.edu.
Talking to People from the Past
Connecting to the history of our community through hands-on learning
