From Theory to Practice

Foundations of the Science of Learning

July 20 - 24, 2026

Santa Barbara, CA

Leading the Institute in Santa Barbara Is:

The Program Schedule CE Credits Travel Registration

Cost is $2,195 per person through May 22, 2026 and $2,395 per person after May 22, 2026. Save $200 per person when registering a group of 3 or more.

Join Us This Summer in Santa Barbara for a Hands-on Workshop

From July 20 - 24, 2026, Learning & the Brain is offering a Summer Institute on the oceanside campus of UCSB.

Over the last two decades, tremendous strides have been made in de-mystifying the human learning process. A robust body of scientific research has successfully established that, far from being strictly conceptual, much of learning adheres to predictable and reliable neurobiological processes.

Despite these advances, much of this research has yet to be translated from the laboratory into everyday classroom practice.

The aim of this program is to not only introduce educators to the modern Science of Learning, but also to equip them with a simple process for defining and gathering evidence of impact in their own practice. Together, we will begin bridging the longstanding gap between theory and practice that has eluded researchers and practitioners.

This institute is hands-on and is limited to 45 participants.

At This Institute, You Will

Describe the foundational human learning process, from surface learning to deep understanding and transfer

Align instructional strategies, feedback practices, and assessment approaches with distinct phases of the learning journey

Apply core principles of memory, attention, and cognition to both instructional design to both teaching and study practice

Explore the process of translation and consider ways to develop evidence that informs curricular and pedagogical decisions

Explain the roles of narrative, error, and emotion—particularly stress—in shaping learning both within and beyond the classroom

The Summer Institute Is for

K-12 Teachers, Special Educators, School Administrators

School Psychologists and/or Clinical Psychologists

Adult Educators

Learning Specialists, Counselors, Academic Support Staff

Any Professional Concerned with Teaching and Learning (L&D, Advertising, Developers, etc.)

About the Institute

This Learning & the Brain Summer Institute will be led by Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath. Designed for educators and administrators across the educational sector, the program develops deep understanding of the core principles of human learning, memory, and attention. Participants will explore how these principles can be applied in practice and learn how to gather evidence to inform ongoing instructional and organizational decision-making.

The Institute offers an intensive professional development experience spanning introductory, intermediate, and advanced topics. Drawing on emerging research from neuroscience, psychology, and education, the program supports participants in building meaningful expertise in the Science of Learning.

Active participation is expected throughout this Institute. Class sessions will begin Monday afternoon after a lunch with the other participants. On subsequent days, classes will be held in the morning with afternoons free to explore Santa Barbara.

Attendees will be housed and all sessions will take place at the Sierra Madre complex on the Goleta, CA side of the UC Santa Barbara campus. Lodging, some meals, and course materials are provided. See the online schedule for meals provided.

Accommodations and Meals

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 undergraduate dormitory accommodations on the UC Santa Barbara campus. The dormitory rooms are located in the recently opened Sierra Madre complex located on the Goleta side of the UC Santa Barbara campus. Participants are assigned to their own bedroom in a shared two-bedroom apartment with each participant having their own bathroom. Linens are provided. All facilities are ADA compliant. The Institute provides four nights lodging with an arrival date of July 20 and a departure date of July 24. If you would like to arrange for an early arrival and stay over on the night of Sunday, July 19, the extra cost would be $125. If you are interested in making your own accommodations off-campus, please call us at 857-444-1500 x1. Please check the online schedule for information on the meals provided. Note: The UCSB campus is a smoke-free campus.

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. Note: credits are not provided by the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Jared Cooney Horvath, PhD, MEd

An educational neuroscientist and a former Lecturer and Science of Learning Research Scientist at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne. He is the Founder and Director of LME Globa, a mission-driven company serving students, teachers and educators through learning science translation. Dr Horvath is also the Diirector of The Science of Learning Group and Honorary Research Fellow atSt. Vincent's Hospital; He is authored Stop Talking, Start Influencing: 12 Insights From Brain Science to Make Your Message Stick (2019) and co-authored 10 Things Schools Get Wrong (2020), Learning Analytics in the Classroom (2018), and From Laboratory to Classroom: Translating Science of Learning for Teachers (2016) .