Series Summary:

What does it really mean for students to be engaged — not just compliant, not just busy, but deeply invested in their learning?

This three-part professional learning series brings school-based teams together to explore how intentional task design can spark curiosity, strengthen belonging, and support meaningful learning for every student in every classroom. Across January, March, and May, administrators and teachers will learn side-by-side, blending research with real classroom practice to co-create tasks that students want to dive into.

Each session builds intentionally on the last — offering time to explore, design, try new ideas, and use evidence from your own school to see what’s shifting. You’ll leave with practical strategies for tomorrow, renewed confidence in your craft, and a network of colleagues who are learning, testing, and imagining right alongside you.

Session 1 – January 15th, 2026 - Understanding Engagement and Why It Matters

This session opens with the heart of the work: What does authentic engagement look and feel like for our students? We’ll explore research on engagement, examine real classroom examples, and reflect on what currently supports or limits engagement in our own contexts.

Participants will connect with colleagues, share stories, and begin considering how task design shapes student thinking, agency, and belonging. Participants will leave with a clear understanding of the why behind engagement, a shared framework for thinking about it, and strategies to test in their classrooms before our next session. Participants will walk away with clear, practical strategies to test between now and Session 2 — and a shared framework that will anchor our learning for the rest of the series.

You’ll leave with:

• A research-informed definition of engagement
  
  
• A shared understanding of the conditions that support it
  
  
• A set of simple, high-impact strategies to try in classrooms right away and collect feedback on between sessions
  
  

Session 2 – March 5th, 2026 - Designing Tasks that Invite Every Learner In

In this hands-on design session, teams will bring early reflections, classroom examples, or pilot ideas they’ve tried. Building on our shared foundation, we’ll dive into the how of task design. Together, we’ll explore how to intentionally shape tasks that promote curiosity, belonging, thinking, and productive risk-taking for all learners.

We’ll dig into practical structures for task design — exploring how to scaffold challenge, offer choice, build curiosity, and promote deeper thinking. Participants will co-create and refine tasks that support inclusive learning and strong engagement across diverse classrooms.

You’ll leave with:

• A framework for inclusive and engaging task design
• Strategies to nurture a culture of thinking and belonging
  
  
• Co-designed tasks ready to pilot and refine in context
  
  
• New ideas sparked by the experiences of other classrooms
  
  

Session 3 – May 7th - Measuring Impact & Sustaining Engagement

Our final session brings the learning full circle. Using classroom and school-level evidence, we’ll explore what’s changed, what students are showing us, and where we’re starting to see sparks of deeper engagement. Together, we’ll identify patterns, highlight promising practices, and set collective goals for continued growth. 

Teams will share their data, celebrate growth, identify meaningful shifts, and surface opportunities for continued improvement. We’ll look at ways to sustain momentum, scale what’s working, and embed intentional task design into school culture.

You’ll leave with:

• Evidence-informed reflection on shifts in engagement
  
  
• Strategies to sustain and grow promising practices
  
  
• A clear plan for continuing the work beyond the series
  
  
• Celebration, connection, and inspiration for where learning goes next