Summer Institutes Menu

Program

A few spots have opened up. Please call 781-449-4010 x 101 to reserve a spot.

Engage in intensive training in neuroscience concepts
that have applications in classrooms.

Register for the Learning ghj_amp the Brain Summer Institute

co-sponsored with the Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara

Cost: $1,975
The Summer Institute Is for:
  • PreK-12 Teachers, Administrators, School Psychologists and School Clinicians
  • Education Professors
  • College Professors

From August 2-5, 2011, Learning ghj_amp the Brain will offer a Summer Institute, co-sponsored with the Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA on the oceanside campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Brain imaging studies and cognitive neuroscience continue to give a clearer picture of how individuals respond to sensory stimuli and perform cognitive tasks. This has allowed for a better understanding of the brain's neural systems and how they relate to focus, learning, memory, and creative problem solving. The Institute will focus on the applications of neuroscience research to teaching and learning. Through lectures and facilitated discussion, participants will explore neuro-logical approaches for understanding and meeting the diverse academic, social, and emotional needs of students. The Institute is hands-on and is limited to 35 participants.
You Will Learn Strategies to:
  • Employ brain-friendly strategies to advance student achievement
  • Examine ways to maximize and maintain student attention and focus
  • Improve student participation by reducing stress and promoting habits of mind
  • Increase memory retrieval, the creation of long-term memories, and conceptual understanding through the use of mental manipulation, transfer, and metacognition
  • Promote executive function development
  • Use advances in memory research to ignite student learning and turn on the brain's learning centers.
  • Examine ways to maximize and maintain attention and focus.
  • Implement strategic review, study, and test preparation to allow students to retain information and transfer it to future learning and creative problem solving.
  • Differentiate instruction for all learning styles and skill levels through activities and instruction within student's individual achievable challenge levels.
Content Goals
  • Achieving a new understanding of students' ability to be attentive and retain information
  • Acquiring tools and strategies for improving curricula
  • Improving instructional practice
  • Enhancing student outcomes
Format
Full-time participation and preparation are expected throughout the Institute. The Institute is hands-on. Rather than simply listening to lectures, participants also collaborate in facilitated discussions and analyses of case studies to develop scientifically grounded approaches for understanding and meeting the diverse cognitive, social and emotional needs of students. A full schedule of class sessions and activities is held each day, amounting to a program total of 22 hours. Additionally, there will be assignments and group projects each evening for the next day.
About the Institute

This Learning ghj_amp the Brain Summer Institute helps individuals and school teams develop the knowledge, skills and strategies necessary to responsibly apply neuroscience and cognitive science findings to the classroom to improve teaching and learning. The program offers participants an intensive professional development experience, drawing on the most up-to-date findings in affective and social neuroscience. The Institute emphasizes memory and retention and their roles in learning, motivation, attention and the culture of schools. This course is designed for educators with no prior background in neuroscience.

The Institute will be led by Dr. Judy Willis.
About Dr. Judy Willis

judy willisJudy Willis, MD, EdD is a neurologist and credentialed teacher. She has combined her training in neuroscience and neuroimaging with her teacher education training and years of classroom experience. Dr. Willis is an authority in the field of learning-centered brain research and teaching strategies derived from this research and has spoken at national and international educational conferences.

Dr. Willis has taught in elementary and middle schools and is currently an adjunct lecturer at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

She has written six books on this topic, contributed extensively to educational journals, and conducts interactive professional development workshops throughout the United States and internationally.

Her most recent books include Research-Based Strategies to Ignite Student Learning (2006), Brain Research Based Strategies for the Inclusion Class (2007), How Your Child Learns Best (2008), and Inspiring Middle School Minds: Gifted, Creative and Challenging (2009).

Professional Development Credit
This program provides a total of 22 hours toward professional development credit for various professionals. For types of credit offered, or to find out about additional engaged hours toward professional development credit, call Learning ghj_amp the Brain Conference at 781-449-4010 ext. 101. Note: credits are not provided by University of California, Santa Barbara.

Accommodations

Interaction between faculty and participants outside the classroom is an integral part of the Institute. To foster this total immersion learning environment, participants are housed in dormitory accommodations on the UC, Santa Barbara campus. Participants are assigned a single room with shared bathrooms. Linens are provided. All facilities are ADA compliant. If you are interested in making your own accommodations off-campus, please call us at 781-449-4010 x 101 for a reduced rate.