Emotional Intelligence, Self-Efficacy, Growth Mindset: Insights From Neuroscience to Empower Learners and Build Equity (Oakton College)

Have you ever wished you could change your students’ attitudes toward more positive engagement in their learning? YOU CAN! The secret rests in appreciating that all of us have a profound impact upon the emotional state of the students that we engage with every day. Whether interacting with individuals or groups, the neuroscience is clear: The affective domain powerfully impacts student cognition, persistence, motivation, efficacy, and performance. During this multidimensional, highly-interactive, experiential, and fun workshop, participants explore ways to promote positive, enthusiastic, and engaged collaboration with their students. We also explore how to encourage student learning in a manner that maximizes motivation, a sense of inclusion, and improved equity within the learning environment!

By the end of this workshop, participants know or be able to:

• Understand the impact of emotions on learning, persistence, efficacy, and inclusion by using the current research from neuroscience related to learning.
• Use skills that enable them to ignite the reward pathway in learners to positively affect brain chemistry to maximize learning and a sense of inclusion.
• Apply the principles behind the “Growth Mindset,” brain plasticity, and growing intelligence to their learning environments to improve equity and overall learning.

Plans for Audience Participation and Interaction:

This workshop creates a compelling and enjoyable educational experience by modeling the behavior advocated for in the session. Using several group work techniques and activities (pair/share, group ranking, discussion, role playing, crowd sourcing), participants write, talk, think about, share, or role play concepts related to each of the major learning objectives. This learning experience is supported by a visually interesting, pedagogically sound, and relevant PowerPoint presentation complete with short videos, storytelling, and music. The goal is to be inspirational as well as informational.

All workshop participants can obtain, at no additional cost:

• A digital badge and certificate that provide a web-enabled, verifiable documentation of your professional learning experience.
• CEUs, which are awarded by passing the post-workshop learning assessment with a score of 80% or better.