A Look Back at the NESA 2024 Learning Futures Summit & Gallery
March 1-2, 2024 | Royal Olympic Hotel, Athens, Greece
NESA's first Learning Futures Summit brought together over 100 NESA educators to "shape the future of education" over a two-day collaborative learning experience focused on the positive transformation of school. The LFS took place at the elegant Royal Olympic Hotel in downtown Athens and focused on two main strands:
- AI & DISRUPTIVE TECH: Navigating Opportunities and Challenges for Future Learning
- INCLUSION, INNOVATION & DESIGN: Models and Pathways for Maximizing Learning for All Students
Delegates came together as a group at three plenary sessins. The LFS kicked off on Friday with 15-minute "Specialist Engagement Talks" by Lee Ann Jung on inclusion, Raya Bidshahri on the School of Humanity's evolutionary education model, and Brendan Madden on his journey to re-imagine his science classroom into a "thinking," gameful, and competency-based environment.
Saturday morning's plenary featured a presentation by Cairo American College Head of School Jared Harris and Middle School Principal Courtney Bailey on "The Convergence of Disruptive Technologies: The 2050 Curriculum at Cairo American College", a groundbreaking curriculum designed to prepare students for the future.
Connections, synthesis and take-aways were the focus of the LFS Closing Plenary Panel on Saturday afternoon made up of Deepjyot Sidhu, Jacinta Williams and Ivy Yan, and facilitated by NESA Executive Director Maddy Hewitt.
Delegates attended one 2.5-hour Deep-Dive Workshop on each day, choosing from among six specialist-led sessions:
- Rethinking Education (Learning Design) with Challenge-Based Learning – RAYA BIDSHAHRI
- Seen, Heard, and Valued: Universal Design for Learning and Beyond (Day 1) / Assessment in the Inclusive Classroom: Reopening Doors with Universal Design (Day 2)– LEE ANN JUNG
- Modern Pedagogy in Practice – BRENDAN MADDEN
- Possibilities and Parameters: Shifting Educator Practice in the Era of AI – DEEPJYOT (Deep) SIDHU
- Equity by (re)Design – JACINTA WILLIAMS
- Empathy to Impact: Deep Ecology (How might we learn from nature to be well?) – IVY YAN
Both days, NESA educators presented "Sharing the Journey Workshops" on inclusion, innovation and design, showcasing applied practice in our NESA schools. It was a wonderful opportunity for exchange with and learning from peers.
A completely new program feature was inaugurated with the "Innovation & Learning Session", a one-hour collaborative experience to bring together exhibitor Learning Partners and delegates. Our Learning Partners – experts and innovators in the field of education – shared valuable programs, research and development during this fast-paced, fun session.
Delegates had a chance to relax together at the Social Soirée the first evening at the Royal Olympic's roof garden overlooking the Temple of Olympian Zeus and with a dazzing view of the Athenian Acropolis.
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