2024 Social Studies Bootcamp Oshkosh - Inquiry & Innovation

The 2024 Social Studies Bootcamp in Oshkosh will focus on social studies inquiry and innovation.  

Since the 2018 Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies were first adopted, the most common questions about them circled around inquiry and civic engagement.  Over the course of this two day workshop, we will dig into inquiry in social studies and spend time brainstorming what innovative social studies practices look like in the classroom (hint: I think they're very similar!).  

We are looking for teachers who practice inquiry and innovation, who want to transform their classrooms, and teachers who are just plain curious and interested.  Teacher teams are encouraged but not required.  

Day one we will focus on inquiry and disciplinary literacy (remember that? - it's in our inquiry standards, but I think a lot of people forget that!).  In the afternoon, there will be LOTS of time for you to work on things that YOU think are important for your classroom.  Day two we will spend more time together in larger groups brainstorming what innovation in social studies look like - and maybe more importantly, what do we need in place to help teachers move in that direction.  There will also be more time for you to focus on things that you think are vital for your own professional learning in smaller groups.

You will also get first hand information on plans for the next year in the DPI Social Studies world (and help shape those plans!) and updates on things happening at the state level that will affect social studies education (like the personal financial literacy requirement, the Holocaust and other genocides requirement, and the brand new Act 266 Hmong-American and Asian American requirement). 

A number of our Wisconsin Civics Fellows will be on hand to facilitate and lead discussions, and I have invitations out to David O'Connor, our American Indian Studies consultant, the Wisconsin Historical Society, the Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center, and PBS Wisconsin.  

*Note - the cost of Bootcamp does NOT include an overnight stay; unfortunately, prices have gone up since our last in-person Bootcamp in 2019 and the $135 registration fee covers only the venue and food.  The Oshkosh Waterfront Hotel & Conference Center (920-247-0451) has a block of rooms on hold for July 11 at the state rate of $98.  You will need to call them and mention DPI Social Studies Bootcamp to get that rate.  Rooms will be held until one month ahead of the event; after that, you will be charged their normal room rate.  

*Important note!  Our registration software sunsets on June 30, 2024, so registration closes on that date.  NO registrations will be allowed, nor changes to registrations, nor cancellations for refund can be processed after June 30, 2024.  If payment has not yet been made by that date, we can only accept a check (no purchase orders, no credit card) after June 30.