Welcome to the thirteenth annual WISIT Summer Institute. This week long learning experience brings together educators from across the Washington, DC region and beyond to explore research based strategies that deepen student thinking, nurture creativity, and support agency in young people.
Throughout the week, participants learn with Project Zero researchers, local museum educators, and an outstanding faculty of practitioners who use these ideas in classrooms and learning environments every day.
What You Will Learn
The institute is organized around four central throughlines that guide all plenaries, learning groups, and interactive courses.
Building a Culture of ThinkingHow do we develop dispositions that lead to thoughtful learning across school subjects and beyond?
How do we effectively create a culture of thinking in classrooms and across schools that supports all learners?
In response to the challenging three years we have just experienced, how can play, creativity, and making reignite joy in learning?
How do these practices help us become attuned to nuance and open new pathways for engagement and understanding?
What can we, as educators and students, learn from objects, artworks, and archival materials to deepen understanding and engagement with the curriculum?
How can we leverage the extraordinary museum resources within our community to enrich learning?
How do we guide students to develop the capacity and desire to act in positive ways to improve the ever changing and tech filled world around them?
How do we lift up young people’s voices and ideas and support them as contributors to their communities?
Institute Format
The 2026 institute takes place primarily at the Washington International School Tregaron Campus. Wednesday is a full day of learning in Washington, DC museums and cultural sites.
General Daily StructureMorning Plenaries
Keynotes and panels featuring Project Zero researchers, museum partners, and local educators. These sessions introduce the big ideas that anchor the week.
Learning Groups
Small, facilitated groups that meet daily to reflect on ideas, share classroom connections, and build community.
Interactive Courses
Hands on sessions that allow educators to dive deeply into Project Zero ideas and practices and create meaningful connections to their own teaching contexts.
Art Happenings
Short art based sessions that invite participants to explore visual arts, movement, performance, sound, and design.
Wednesday Museum Day
All participants spend the entire day at partner museums for object based inquiry, guided exploration, and opportunities to learn from museum educators.
Friday Synthesis
A culminating session focused on reflection, documentation, and planning for next steps through the DC Project Zero Network.
Registration, Fees, and Deadlines
Institute Dates: August 3 to 7, 2026
Registration Closes: June 30, 2025
Early Bird Deadline: May 1, 2025
• $1,500 per participant
• $1,250 for educators in Title I or equivalent schools or for teams of three or more
• $1,600 per participant
• $1,350 for Title I educators or teams of three or more
Scholarships
A limited number of scholarships for Title I educators, dual-language educators, and arts educators are available. Please email [email protected] for a link to the scholarship application.
Sched accepts credit card payments or can generate an invoice for payment by check or by a school or district business office.
Location
Washington International School, Tregaron Campus
3100 Macomb Street NW, Washington, DC
All sessions take place on campus except for Wednesday, which is dedicated to offsite programming at partner museums.
Ongoing Support
Participants are invited to join the WISIT Network, which hosts workshops, learning groups, and collaborative events throughout the school year.
