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.