Beaver is committed to developing deeper learning throughout all facets of the student experience. The Cuban Jazz Ensemble course, in collaboration with Escuela Nacional de Arte in Havana, Cuba, exemplifies this philosophy. The course, the trip, and the vehicle of music–all gel in an authentic way with real-world application. The experience is transformative, providing students with life-long learning that continues to resonate through the students’ formative years beyond Beaver. We will be providing attendees with reflective exercises to jump-start ideas of their own. Participants will be leaving with a toolbox of practical, and applicable principles that will help guide them as they develop their own curricula tied to real-word application. They will leave with a clear understanding of the framework needed to establish these mutually beneficial partnerships with outside organizations, as well as a practical approach to designing a multi-layered curriculum that ties deeply with such partnerships.
