It's Not the World We Grew Up In: A Conversations About Skills for Learning and Thriving
Files
Loading...
Presenter Bio
Ellen Galinsky is President of Families and Work Institute and the Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN), as well as a senior research advisor to AASA. Formerly Chief Science Officer at the Bezos Family Foundation and faculty at Bank Street College, her research on work-life balance, child and adolescent development, and executive function (EF) skills has earned widespread recognition. She is the author of Mind in the Making and The Breakthrough Years, a widely acclaimed 2024 study on adolescence. A recipient of multiple lifetime achievement awards, she has spoken at five White House Conferences and been featured on Good Morning America, The Today Show, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Presentation Description
Over the past 20 years, the science of what helps students and adults learn and thrive has become increasingly clear and irrefutable, revealing that strong executive function (EF) skills of the brain are predictive of achievement, health, well-being, and quality of life—often even more so than IQ or socioeconomic status. These are the skills we all need to foster positive mental health, achieve academic and career success, and contribute to a thriving workforce. In this session, we will discuss these skills and how you can apply them to your own teaching and learning.
Pre-Session Materials
READ: https://ellengalinsky.substack.com/p/the-time-to-act-is-now-promoting. (though this is about kids, it explains the basics of EF skills.... The biggest barriers to learning in the post-pandemic world—such as lack of focus, academic unpreparedness, and classroom disruptions—are directly tied to executive function (EF) skills, which govern attention, self-control, and goal-directed behavior. Strengthening EF skills through meaningful, engaging learning experiences is essential not just for academic success, but also for developing the critical life and career skills that will help students thrive beyond the classroom.)
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OedIV8yOqA
DO: Think of a challenging situation you faced as a teacher. Be ready to come to the session to discuss it.
Post-Session Exercise
PLAN one teaching session where you focus on using these skills yourself and promoting them in your students.
Publication Date
3-10-2025
Campus
Berklee Online
Recommended Citation
Galinsky, Ellen and Pedagogy Arts Collective, "It's Not the World We Grew Up In: A Conversations About Skills for Learning and Thriving" (2025). Pedagogy Arts Collective. 22.
https://remix.berklee.edu/pac/22