International Educators Conference in New York


In New York City, May 6 to 12, 1995, it was held the 7th INEPS Conference. There were 120 participants from 11 european countries and 12 states from USA.

The goal was to hold a conference bringing together two separate networks: the International Network of Productive Schools (INEPS) and both adopters and prospective adopters of City As School.

The objectives of the conference were threefold:
- To give the participants an opportunity to view and learn about the new and innovative educational schools and programs in New York City with an emphasis on City As School.
- To allow the participants to interact with each other in order to open up new connections and form larger networks for future student and staff exchanges.
- To afford the participants an opportunity to sample the rich and varied life of New York City.

To achieve these objectives the conference was structured to provide a great deal of mobility, with visits to a variety of innovative schools and places for the participants to see.

During the conference groups of educators visited several sites: The Central Park East Secondary School, The Julia Richman High School Complex, The Metropolitan Corps Academy, The Satellite Academy, The City College Workshop Center, The Fordham University and The Cooper Hewitt Museum of National Design.

There, the educators participated in the following workshops:
- Portfolio Assessment, an assessment on a High School Level using Portfolios to find a better and more effective way to evaluate the range of knowledge and skill adquired by students.
- Theme and Project Based. Learning Through an Interdisciplinary Approach
- Teaching to Diversity and Multiculturalism
- School Collaboration with the Private Sector.
- The concept of Site Based Decision Making, Site Based Management and Staff Development.
- The concept of Productive Learning.
- The concept of Learnshop.
- The Role of the University in Training Educators. School Collaboration with the University.
- Museum as an Educational Tool: the modern role played by the museum in educating and sensitizing students to the importance of art and design in our lives.

City As School held a series of workshops dealing with how the school itself functioned and other relevant issues:
- Preparing Students for the World of Work
- Innovative Horticultural Lanscape Design Program
- Learning Experience Activities Packets and Curriculum Development for Students with Special Needs.
- Fundamental Components and Structure of City As School.

The members of the International Network of Productive Schools (INEPS) had several sessions to explore about fund raising for INEPS, student and staff exchanges, publicity, and other topics. At same time, they had three plenary sessions. After the conference, the INEPS Administration Council held its meeting.
The INEPS final Plenary Sessions was leaded by Pirjo Lampinen, President of INEPS, with the support of Ingrid Böhm and Jens Schneider, fom the Institute of Productive Learning in Europe, IPLE.

At the present more than 40 projects from various areas of activity in 16 countries are members of INEPS. The New York conference offered they all the opportunity to become acquainted with the creative working methods, stimulating discussions and the mutual esteem and attachement of the network, as well as to find cooperation and exchange partners for both educationalists and participants.