2025 Conference Agenda

8:30am Continental Breakfast, Networking, and Arrival - Please check in at the registration desk on the lower level of Gutman Library (Gutman Conference Center)

9:00am Morning Plenary Session: Includes welcome remarks from John Manning, Provost of Harvard University and Dustin Tingley, Interim Vice Provost for Advances in Learning - Askwith Forum, Longfellow Hall, 13 Appian Way

9:10am Morning Plenary: From Grades to Growth: Cultivating Intrinsic Motivation for Learning: Motivation and the willingness to embrace challenges are key drivers of transformative education. This plenary session explores how effortful learning and productive struggle drive meaningful learning experiences. The panel will examine how these challenges can catalyze learners’ curiosity and passion for intellectual growth, help learners persist through difficult problems, and build resilience in the face of failure. Plenary speakers: Jal Mehta, Professor of Education (HGSE); Todd Rogers, Weatherhead Professor of Public Policy (HKS); Karen Thornber, Harry Tuchman Levin Professor in Literature; Professor of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Harvard College Professor, Richard L. Menschel Faculty Director of the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning (FAS); moderated by David Deming, Danoff Dean of Harvard College; Professor of Economics (FAS); Isabelle and Scott Black Professor of Political Economy and Professor of Economics (HKS); Professor of Education and Economics (HGSE)- Askwith Forum, Longfellow Hall, 13 Appian Way

10:00am Break

10:15am Concurrent Breakout Sessions (Speaker and Facilitator Bios) - Gutman Conference Center, 6 Appian Way

11:15am Break

11:30am Concurrent Breakout Sessions (Speaker and Facilitator Bios) - Gutman Conference Center, 6 Appian Way

12:30pm Lunch + Networking Activities - Gutman Conference Center, 6 Appian Way

1:30pm Lightning Round Showcase: In this session, presenters will have 3-minutes to share a teaching and learning program, project, or resource from across the University. This lightning round showcase offers a quick glimpse into the innovative work shaping teaching and learning at Harvard. Join us for inspiration and to make cross-School connections. Presenters include: Kate Higgins, Associate Director, University Disability Resources (CADM); Leora Simon, Director, Accessibility Services Office (DCE); Marlon Kuzmick, Director of the Learning Lab (FAS); Madeleine Woods, Project Lead of AI Initiatives (FAS); Katherine Porter, Product Manager (HUIT); Woden Teachout, PhD, Manager of Faculty Development (DCE); Dan Be Kim, Researcher, Center for Digital Thriving (HGSE); David Heitmeyer, Director, Academic Platform Development (HUIT); Barbara Best, Executive Director, Convu; Ari Kohn '26 and Jack Flanigan '27, Undergraduate Students, Harvard College; and Tomer Perry, Associate Director of Pedagogy, Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics (FAS) - Askwith Forum, Longfellow Hall, 13 Appian Way

2:00pm Closing remarks from Dustin Tingley, Interim Vice Provost for Advances in Learning; Professor of Government; and Faculty Director, HILT - Askwith Forum, Longfellow Hall, 13 Appian Way