Study Tours

At the Early Learning Center for Research and Practice, we know that some of our best growth as professionals comes from stepping outside of our own program to learn about and observe what is happening in programs around us. We adore the process of challenging our own thinking and practices and then making sense of it all as it applies to our own work in our program. We value the collaborative process and think we have exciting work to share with the broader early-learning community. Study tours are an excellent opportunity for educators to tour and observe at the Early Learning Center for Research and Practice, stretch and deepen their thinking about topics of interest to them, and collaborate with ELC educators and administrators. This unique professional development opportunity is customizable to each unique program/group of educators. Educators will work with our study tour coordinator to build an experience that is unique to their interests, needs, and goals. The ELC team aims to provide rich content and facilitate meaningful discourse with each visiting program and educator.

Sample topics we can explore during a study tour:

• • Documentation Practices
  • In-Depth Project Work
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Supporting Inquiry Learning
  • Nature-Based Learning Efforts
  • Infant, Toddler, Preschool, and Kindergarten Curriculum Development
  • Environmental Design
  • Leadership Practices, Coaching, and Staff Development
  • And more!

Study tours include tours of Early Learning Center for Research and Practice sites, customized content, lunch, and professional development credit. Tours are available throughout the year, at your convenience. Study Tours are $125 per educator, per day. Please contact our study tour coordinator, Dani Rose Thibus at elcstudytours@utk.edu for more information, and to begin planning for your tour!