Whether you're a seasoned researcher or new to action research, this symposium provides an invaluable platform to share your findings, learn from peers, and contribute to the advancement of educational practices. Don't miss this opportunity to be at the forefront of educational innovation.
Location
This immersive professional learning opportunity bridges instructional innovation, neuroscience, and education, empowering educators to enhance student success through evidence-based practices. The symposium will begin with a showcase of Center workshops highlighting hands-on strategies for engaging students, followed by Action Research Symposium sessions featuring inspiring classroom-based research projects. The day will conclude with an Action Research session designed to help participants envision and plan their own research study.
Morning Sessions (choose your session)
Teaching with the Brain in Mind
Both Sides of the Brain II: An Artistic Approach to STEM for All Teachers
AI in Action: Empowering the 4Cs Through Ethical, Real-World Learning
How does the brain learn—and how can an understanding of neuroscience help educators make more informed instructional decisions? In this engaging, hands-on session, participants will explore the biology of learning alongside a neuroscientist, gaining insight into how the brain processes information, forms memories, responds to experiences, and supports learning. Educators will participate in the dissection of an actual sheep brain, providing a unique opportunity to examine brain structures firsthand and make meaningful connections between anatomy and human learning.
Through interactive exploration and real-world examples, participants will connect neuroscience concepts to classroom practice, deepening their understanding of attention, memory, emotion, and learning. This immersive experience will help educators view teaching through the lens of the brain and leave with practical insights for creating learning experiences that better support how students think, learn, and grow.
Explore science and technology through problem solving and an artistic perspective with all new activities, highlighting the benefits of integrating art and STEM, such as enhanced creativity, critical thinking, and engagement. Delve into the Engineering of Paper Making from recycled materials and how iterations can modify the products. Investigate the Mechanics of Relief Printing as you identify the chemical and physical principles involved in creating your own prints. Build and use a pinhole camera to discover the camera obscura effect. Master electrical circuits to produce your own Circuit Artistry with various media.
This interactive K–12 professional learning session explores how educators can harness the power of artificial intelligence to strengthen teaching and learning—without replacing the critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication that students need most. Participants will gain a practical understanding of AI and explore hands-on applications for lesson planning, personalized learning, differentiation, and student engagement. Through collaborative activities and classroom-based examples, educators will examine how AI can support the 4Cs—critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration—while also learning strategies to protect student agency and ensure that AI enhances rather than does the thinking for students. The session will also address responsible AI use, including privacy, ethics, and data security, and provide practical strategies and resources educators can immediately apply in their classrooms.