Conference Program Schedule The Program CE Credits

Cost: $795 per person through May 26, 2023 and $895 per person after May 26, 2023
Save $100 per person when registering a group of 3 or more

Join Us for This Virtual Summer Institute

From June 26 - June 30, 2023, Learning & the Brain is offering an online Summer Institute

How can we shape lessons that foster learning, engagement, focus, and deep knowledge? This lively and interactive institute explores current brain research through four essential topics: working memory, long-term memory, attention, and schema theory. You will begin with the little-recognized goal of all schooling, called schema formation: a concept crucial for understanding optimal teaching. With this goal in mind, you will explore the core functions of working memory: the brain’s construction site that assembles small pieces into larger mental structures. Next, you will explore the cognitive steps essential to long-term memory formation: specifically, the encoding and retrieval strategies that best consolidate learning and overcome prior misconceptions. Finally, you will dive into a scientific understanding of attention. A research-informed perspective on this everyday word helps teachers rethink old assumptions and create more motivating lesson plans. With all these topics, we balance an in-depth exploration of research with practical and flexible classroom strategies. To ensure that our work remains hands-on and personal, the workshop is limited to 50 participants.

At This Institute, You Will

Understand and apply the core concept of “schema formation” at the heart of learning

Develop insights and strategies to anticipate, identify, and mitigate working memory overload

Nurture long-term memory formation—that is, learning—with research on encoding, retrieval, and consolidation

Explore the science of attention to focus on alertness, orienting, and executive attention

Apply these concepts to your own professional work

Understand psychology and neuroscience research articles, with a particular focus on developing effective and informed skepticism

The Summer Institute Is for

K-16 Teachers and Academic Administrators

School Psychologists, Learning Specialists, and Counselors

Academic Support Staff

Independent Learning Consultants

About the Institute

This Learning & the Brain Summer Institute will be led by Andrew Watson. The program translates well-established psychology and neuroscience findings into specific classroom strategies. We will especially emphasize the practical teaching application of brain research, with a consistent focus on healthy skepticism. The program offers participants frequent opportunities to discuss their own teaching practices, and to apply research findings to their lesson-plans, syllabi, assessments, and classroom practices. Active participation is expected throughout this Institute through group discussion. Participants will be expected to bring in material and questions from their own experiences to share with the group, and to share brief presentations on the final day of the institute.

Professional Development Credit

Earn up to 20 hours toward professional development credit for various professionals. For details on credit offered, visit our CE credit page or call our office at 857-444-1500 ext. 1.

Andrew C. Watson, MEd