Deeper Learning 2026

What does it mean to meet the human needs of students and educators? What choices can we make—as leaders, teachers, and people—to create deeper learning environments that meet this moment in history with respect for the humanity and intellect of our communities? In 2024, Libby Woodfin and Jal Mehta embarked on a research project to discover, describe, and share the qualities of human schools. Through stories and examples from schools across the U.S. involved in this research, participants will explore the impact that more (or less) human choices have on the experiences of students and adults in schools. Participants will leave with an understanding of the 10 Principles of Human Schools and practical steps they can take to bring these principles to life in their own settings. Note: Jal Mehta will attend and contribute to the session but is not a presenter.

Negotiation is the process through which people come together to make sense of problems and build sustainable solutions. In that sense, we as educators are negotiating all day, every day. We are negotiating with students, colleagues, caregivers, community members, and political leaders. Some of our negotiations are formal - such as a contract negotiation. But most of our negotiations are informal, such as when we deliberate on how to address a pressing challenge or resolve a conflict within our school or community. In this session, we will explore foundational negotiation principles and strategies through experiential learning, giving us the opportunity to experience the Deeper Learning competencies firsthand. In doing so, we’ll pursue two main goals: 1) learn more about the theory and practice of negotiation, and 2) explore how to design and facilitate high-impact experiential learning experiences that are rich in the Deeper Learning competencies.

Lunch is included in each deep dive.
LUNCH MENU
Greek Salad (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Cannelini Bean & Pasta Salad (Vegan)
Lemon Basmati Rice (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Mediterranean Spiced Chicken (Gluten-Free)
Tahini Dressing
Falafel (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Roasted Vegetables   Lemon Bars & Baklava

What does it mean to be a deeper learning teacher—and how can we support each other in that journey? Participants will use our Deeper Learning Teaching & Classroom Framework—anchored in the domains of Conditions, Connection, and Pedagogy, along with the Growth Arcs (Sprouting → Rooted → Thriving)—to practice giving and receiving feedback that deepens practice rather than merely checking boxes.
Participants will analyze what deeper learning looks like across contexts and practice structured protocols for feedback. Whether newer to deeper learning or more advanced, participants will have differentiated entry points to explore and calibrate.
Takeaways include:
A set of feedback stems aligned to the framework.
An adaptable observation lens using Growth Arcs.
A feedback protocol to apply in their own school.

Our Framework draws on research and practitioners including Hammond, Immordino-Yang, Bransford, Hewlett Foundation, Ritchart, Berger, McTigue/Wiggins.