Summer Springboard
Future Educator
AT BARNARD COLLEGE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
DISCOVER THE POWER OF TEACHING AND INSPIRE LEARNERS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
THIS IS A TWO-WEEK PROGRAM WHERE YOU’LL FOCUS ON ONE COURSE FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION.
Future Educator at Barnard College, Columbia University
- Discover what makes great teachers effective and how students learn best through interactive lessons and real-world examples.
- Explore key educational theories like behaviorism, constructivism, and humanism, and examine how they inform modern teaching practices, including the use of AI tools.
- Learn to design inclusive, engaging lessons using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and creative digital tools.
- Practice teaching through short lesson designs, microteaching workshops, and receive feedback to strengthen communication and leadership skills.
- Visit local schools and education centers to observe teaching in real-world settings and reflect on classroom practices.
- Explore teaching as a global career and gain insight into roles in education, curriculum design, youth development, and policy-making.
Summer Springboard
Future Educator
About This Course
Jump into the world of education in the heart of New York City at Barnard College
Everything in life starts with learning and great teachers make it possible. The Future Educator program introduces high school students to the art and science of teaching. Through interactive lessons, hands-on projects, and real-world case studies, students will explore what makes great teachers effective and how people learn best. They’ll also gain insight into lesson planning, teaching strategies, and how to create learning environments that foster curiosity and growth. Whether you’re interested in becoming a teacher, working in youth development, or shaping education policy, this course provides a meaningful first step toward an impactful career in education.
TOPICS YOU'LL EXPLORE
Hands-on Learning
Students will design and deliver short lessons, participate in microteaching workshops, and receive feedback from peers and instructors to refine their teaching style and classroom presence.
Career Exploration
Through classroom activities and excursions to local schools and educational spaces, students will gain insight into careers in teaching, education policy, curriculum design, and youth development, exploring how educators shape the world one student at a time.
RESOURCES
Course Infosheet
Course Infosheet – Coming Soon!
Program Catalog
Click here to request our catalog to learn more about our summer programs and courses.
Campus Page
Click here to view the website page for this campus and learn more.
“I had a great time at Summer Springboard and learned a lot in my academic course. It’s a fun balance of academics and excursions and college life experience.”
– Justin R. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Future Educator
Meet Your Instructor
Patricia Brooks-Dickens is an experienced Teacher Trainer and School Improvement Consultant with over 25 years of experience helping educators and schools reach their full potential. Holding a Master’s in Innovations in Education and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of South Wales, she believes that effective teaching can transform not only individual students but entire communities. As a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching (FCCT) and a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE), Patricia has worked in the UK, UAE, USA, and the Caribbean, bridging research with real-world classroom practice.
This summer, Patricia will lead the Future Educator Program at Barnard College. She has spent her career designing dynamic learning experiences, training teachers, and improving instructional practices. Most recently, she served as the Subject Knowledge Expert for Science across nine schools, where she led professional development and mentored teachers in lesson planning, assessment, and inclusive teaching strategies.
Patricia Brooks-Dickens, MPH
Summer Springboard
Future Educator
Dates & Tuition
| 2026 Dates |
|---|
| Session 1: July 5 – July 17, 2026 |
| Session 2: July 19 – July 31, 2026 |
Click here to enroll in this course using our online enrollment form.
| Tuition |
|---|
| Residential Tuition: $5,898 |
| Commuter Tuition: $3,298 |
Apply by November 30 to lock in the lowest prices of the year. Tuition increases on December 1.
Tuition Protection Plan: Allows for cancellation for any reason up until the day of the program.
| Location |
|---|
| City: New York City |
| State: New York |
| Campus: Barnard College, Columbia University |
Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners (with the exception of Cal Poly, NYSID and UW Foster which are run in partnership with SSB). Universities and their affiliated departments and partners do not control and are not responsible or liable in any manner for any part of the Summer Springboard program.