The NAIS office will be closed Monday, December 23, through Wednesday, January 1, for Winter Break. We will reopen at 9:00 AM ET on Thursday, January 2.
In the Thrive Learning Lab, learn from educators as they pitch prototyped innovations around disruptive technology and student wellness, while getting real-time feedback from industry mentors. The Learning Lab sessions will take place in The Quad during workshop blocks throughout the conference.
Learning Lab Sessions and Schedule
Beyond AI: Designing Tomorrow's Curriculum Today
Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM–12:30 PM (Workshop Block A)
Learn about a groundbreaking curriculum for the future that encompasses disruptive tech beyond artificial intelligence (AI), including extended reality, decentralized finance, green energy, and genome sequencing. Connect with leaders from Cairo American College who have creatively incorporated these disruptive technologies into their educational setting. Delve into their interactive exercises, discover their forward-thinking teaching methods, and gain insights on preparing students for the future. Seize this chance to lead the way in curriculum design that equips learners with the skills, knowledge, and experiences for the next wave of technological transformation.
Presenters: Jared Harris and Courtney Bailey, Cairo American College (Egypt)
Pioneering VR Classrooms: Global Outreach and Specialized Programming for the Future
Thursday, February 27, 1:30–2:45 PM (Workshop Block B)
Learn about leveraging virtual reality (VR) technology to transform education. Discover how Saddle River Day School’s custom-designed VR classroom not only enhances learning for students but also provides a unique opportunity for international schools without the means to develop such technology. Ideal for educational administrators and technologists, join us to explore the integration, management, and benefits of VR in education, highlighting a collaborative approach to solving staffing issues for specialized classes while also expanding global educational outreach. Find out how to implement this innovative model in your institution.
Presenters: Kevin Merges and Lauren Hollis, Saddle River Day School (NJ)
Unlocking Student Potential: Surveying Cognitive Skills to Personalize the Student Experience
Thursday, February 27, 3:15–4:30 PM (Workshop Block C)
Three years ago McCallie School introduced the MindPrint Solution to a subset of students struggling academically. Developed by neuroscientists at the University of Pennsylvania's Brain Behavior Lab, MindPrint Solution includes assessments of executive functions, memory, and complex reasoning, with a goal of providing personalized study skills and strategies. Students who participated developed greater cognitive self-awareness and academic confidence and claimed greater agency over their education. Learn about MindPrint’s recently published research on the dramatic cognitive skill declines observed post-pandemic and how McCallie is working to combat this phenomenon using MindPrint to create a more personalized, strengths-based approach to learning.
Presenters: Sumner McCallie, McCallie School (TN); Nancy Weinstein, MindPrint Learning
From Bell to Bell: The Outcomes of Phone-Free Schooling
Friday, February 28, 11:15 AM–12:30 PM (Workshop Block D)
In light of current research on the impact of cell-phone usage on the well-being of middle school students, including their mental health and academic achievement, St. Anne’s School of Annapolis engaged the community to create a phone-free school. To assess the impact on the school’s climate and health, we compared Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) scores, student grades, ratings on the Independent Schools Health Check (ISHC), and parent and faculty survey data from before and after the change to the personal device policy. Learn about this nuanced policy decision, paradigm shift, and its implementation and discuss the implications for data-based decision-making more broadly at your school.
Presenters: Connie Coker, Hadley Moore, and Karen Davis, St. Anne’s School of Annapolis (MD)
Students Stopping Stigma: A Student Responder Program
Friday, February 28, 1:30–2:45 PM (Workshop Block E)
Learn how to customize and implement a successful Students Stopping Stigma program to enable your students to respond to peers in distress and create a community that supports inclusion. Students Stopping Stigma focuses on creating a student body informed and trained to identify mental health concerns and navigate the needed next steps. This program encourages students to explore, respect, and appreciate differences and similarities and put care into action. Implementing the tools in this program empowers students to support themselves and others while creating emotional safety and new opportunities for all students.
Presenters: Ashley LeGrange and Jay Glynn, The Kinkaid School (TX)