November 8–9, 2026 · UCLA
Critical Thinking
In The Classroom:
An Antidote To
Screen-Fueled
Student Disengagement
Purposeful Pedagogy 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 educators 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.
- 70% 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
Event Agenda
Why Are Students Checking Out — and What Can We Do?
An expert panel explores the real drivers of student disengagement: the neuroscience of screen use and dopamine, declining attention and executive function, and the structural mismatch between how classroom learning is structured, and how young minds actually develop. 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.
Open to Educators, Families & Students · Reception to FollowBuilding a Classroom Students Want to Be In
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 assessments that develop voice, reasoning, and genuine engagement — not just compliance.
Educators only · Breakfast & Lunch ProvidedNight One Panelists
Former high school teacher turned researcher and pedagogue educator. Yael's empirical and practical work show that explicitly teaching students how to think — not just what to think — transforms engagement, writing, and academic outcomes. 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.
Dr. Horvath's research on the neuroscience of learning, memory, and technology makes him the ideal voice to bridge the science of screen use and the science of engagement. We would be honoured to have him join this conversation.
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/GHLWwg6TsTG7JYSq5
in partnership with
