Session opening and engagement (3 minutes): Polls/Padlets used to assess audience comfort level with material and questions they would like addressed.
Session Framing (2 minutes): Discussion of session purpose and outcomes
Background/goals of creation focused lessons (10 minutes): Participants will dive into the components of this type of lesson design including engagement, application, innovation. Each has pros and cons which will be discussed. Behavioral, emotional, and cognitive development will be touched on so teachers will recognize the type of engagement they desire in their students. Information will be presented with ample opportunity for questions and audience feedback/partner discussions.
Brain science (5 min) - what is getting in the way of students being engaged and fully authentic in their lessons? How can we use this research to elevate the learning experience?
Lesson/Project design (10 min) - concrete examples are given to demonstrate how small changes can elevate learning experiences. Audience members will learn how to take lessons they already have and, using some design questions, create and elevate the learning experience for their students. They will learn how to incorporate an immersive experience that will allow students to both demonstrate their learning and deeply explore a topic. At the end audience members will be provided with resources to continue their design exploration.
After this session, participants will be able to design creation-centered learning experiences that deepen student engagement and understanding, evaluate current lessons to identify opportunities for meaningful student choice and creativity, apply brain-based strategies to extend learning beyond surface-level tasks, and leave with a practical template or framework for transforming traditional lessons into immersive, student-driven projects.
1) The Neuroscience of Active Learning and Direct Instruction by JM Dubinsky (2024)
2) Brain-Based Learning: Using Neuroscience in Education by Dennis Shirshikov (2025)
3) Core Practices for Project-Based Learning by Pam Grossman et al.
4) Reinventing Project-Based Learning by Suzie Boss
5)Putting Neuroscience in the Classroom by Bruce McCandliss and Elizabeth Toomarian (2020)
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