Webinar: Beyond Borders--Leaning Into Place-Based Learning

Pack your curiosity and join us for this exciting new series with teacher-librarian Amy Brownlee as she journeys beyond Kansas borders to broaden her worldview and explore how history and culture can bring learning to life for young patrons. 

Together, discover how to take students on learning journeys--without ever leaving the library! Gain inspiration from Amy's experiences during teacher study trips to Germany, Ethiopia, and Washington, D.C., as well as from her adventures integrating comics and graphic novels into library programming. 

In this five-part series, you'll explore how travel and new learning adventures can transform the way history, culture, and creativity connect with student learners. Amy will share her place-based learning experiences and show how she turned her adventures into innovative programming, lessons, and collection development strategies—and how you can do the same. Feeling adventurous? You'll also learn how you can apply for your own travel-and-learn experience!

WEBINAR | Session 2
Beyond Borders Series: 
Leaning Into Place-Based Learning  

Register today for this live webinar--sure to inspire you to make your library a passport to the world. Possessing strong skills in collaboration and lifelong learning makes librarians uniquely qualified to step out as leaders in the field of place-based learning. Navigate the world of experiential professional development by learning about programs available, the pros and cons of participating, the workload involved, costs, funding options, and application tips. Opportunities are available for preK-12 educators, school librarians and administrators, academic professionals, public librarians, and other informal educators.

In this webinar, you will gain an understanding of:

• The benefits of place-based, experiential learning
• Professional development programs available, including fully-funded, partially-funded, and self-pay opportunities
• Pros and cons of participating
• Application tips for maximizing your chances of selection

If you are interested in the Beyond Borders: Leaning into Place-Based Learning Series, check out these sessions when they are available...

• Bringing Germany's Resilience and Remembrance into Library Programming | RECORDING | Available November 2025
• Developing a Global Perspective: Lessons from Ethiopia | RECORDING | Available January 2026
• Bringing Washington, D.C.'s Historical Landscape into Your Library | RECORDING | Available February 2026
• Using Graphic Novels to Ramp Up Relevance and Engagement | RECORDING | Available March 2026

Guest presenter Amy Brownlee is a librarian and reading teacher for preK-12 students at Sterling USD 376. She was named the 2017 Kansas School Librarian of the Year and serves on the executive council of the Kansas Association of School Librarians. Amy writes for the American Association of School Librarians' Knowledge Quest blog. Her work has also been published by School Library Journal, Edutopia, and Teen Librarian Toolbox. In her 25+ year career, Amy has demonstrated her leadership by securing over $97,000 in grant funding and presenting over 40 national and regional workshop sessions. You can learn more about her work at BiblioBrownlee.weebly.com.

EVENT NOTES

Registration Details | Not sure you can make it to a live webinar? Register anyway, and we’ll send you a link to the recorded version when it is available. Registration is limited. Deadline for registration is seven days prior to the event. Webinar access information will be emailed to registrants prior to the event.

Recording | When you participate in a SCKLS webinar, a photographic, video or audio recording may occur. If you want your image or voice removed from the webinar recording, you must notify in writing SCKLS Training Specialist Katherine Hughes at least 24 hours in advance of the webinar. Absence of written notification grants SCKLS all rights to the webinar recording for educational purposes.