November 8–9, 2026 · UCLA
Critical Thinking
In The Classroom
An Antidote to Screen-Fueled Student Disengagement
A Free Event Exploring Purposeful Learning & Teaching for the 21st Century
Students are disengaged.
We know why — and what to do about it.
Student disengagement is one of the defining crises in education today. Screens, short-form content, and a culture of passive consumption have left many young people unable to connect deeply with their learning.
This event brings together leading researchers, educators, and communicators to do two things: name the problem honestly, and equip attendees with practical solutions grounded in the science of thinking.
The answer isn't just banning phones, lecturing harder or tap-dancing to keep student attention. It's building classrooms where thinking and connection become the point — and where students discover they have something worth saying.
- 46% of teachers report significant increases in student disengagement since 2019
- 3× greater student engagement in classrooms using explicit critical thinking pedagogy
- K–12+ research-backed strategies that work across every year, level and subject, from kinder to college
Participants may receive a certificate for up to ten (10) Professional Development Hours:
two (2) hours on night one, and eight (8) hours on day two.
Event Agenda
Why Are Students Checking Out — and What Can We Do?
With Virtual Welcome Address from Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath
An expert panel explores the real drivers of student disengagement: the neuroscience of screen use and dopamine, declining attention and executive function, the structural mismatch between how classroom learning is structured and how young minds actually develop and the significance of critical and collaborative thinking to meaningful learning. Panelists will share research, stories from the classroom, and concrete ideas you can take away and use immediately. Includes a Q&A where panelists answer audience questions.
Sunday Nov 8 · 2–5pm · Reception IncludedDiscounted Books and Educational Resources from Contributing Panelists Will Be Available— Provided by DopaMind
Building a Thinking Classroom Where Students Want to Be
A hands-on educators' workshop where the panel's ideas become tools. Participants will work alongside Dr. Yael Leibovitch and colleagues to design thinking-centered learning experiences, build collaborative classroom cultures, and create tasks that develop voice, reasoning, and genuine engagement — not just compliance.
Educators only · Monday Nov 9 · 9am–4pm · Breakfast & Lunch ProvidedNight One Panelists
A neuroscientist and education researcher (PhD, MEd), Dr. Horvath has taught at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Melbourne, and has worked with over 1,000 schools worldwide studying memory, learning, and screen-based technology. He is the author of six books, including The Digital Delusion, and directs LME Global, bringing brain science to educators and students everywhere.
Dr. Jordan Galczynski serves as Instructional Technology Manager for UCLA's Humanities Division and teaches as a Lecturer in the Digital Humanities department. She earned her Ph.D. in Egyptology from UCLA in 2024, with research focused on textile technology. She also co-hosts the Afterlives of Ancient Egypt podcast.
Yael is a former high school teacher turned researcher, teacher-educator and speaker. Her empirical and practical work across primary, secondary, tertiary and professional domains, show that explicitly teaching students how to think — not just what to think — transforms engagement, communication and academic outcomes at every educational level. She will guide attendees from problem to practice.
One of Australia's leading voices on critical thinking education and philosophy. Professor Brown leads research partnerships with K–12 schools and government bodies, and develops academic programs for marginalized students.
Co-founder of UCLA's Precollege Critical Thinking Summer Institute. John designs curriculum and the technology platforms that deliver it across 40+ departments — giving him a rare dual perspective on where ed-tech succeeds and where it falls short.
Award-winning children's author and co-founder of DopaMindKids.org — a nonprofit that has reached over 45,000 students with research-backed resources on tech balance and brain-healthy choices. She brings the parent and child perspective to the room.
Who Should Come
Teachers, heads of department, professors, principals, and curriculum designers looking for practical, research-backed strategies.
Parents who want to understand what's driving disconnection and how to support deep, meaningful learning at home and at school.
Young people are the experts on their own experience. Student perspective is a valuable part of this conversation.
Be part of the solution.
This isn't another conference about what's wrong with schools. It's a working session with people who have the research, the tools, and the passion to change what happens in classrooms — starting Monday morning.
Register at forms.gle/vCsMLuFY6N2HVeAM9
in partnership with
