[2/28/2023] — Franklin, IN — Franklin Community Schools and Central Indiana Educational Service Center’s (CIESC) Keep Indiana Learning are pleased to announce the first-ever Building Thinking Classrooms Conference (BTCC), which will feature the author of Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC) in Grades K-12: 14 Practices for Enhancing Learning, Dr. Peter Liljedahl and BTC facilitators alongside educators and practitioners from across the country. The conference will host an international audience in Franklin, putting Indiana at the forefront of this educational movement.

“Franklin Community Schools is excited to welcome educators and facilitators from across the US and beyond to the first-ever Building Thinking Classrooms Conference,” said Melisa McCain of Franklin Community Schools. “Dr. Peter Liljedahl’s fourteen researched practices have already made quite an impact in Franklin. Students are engaged, talking, collaborating, and thinking critically. They are discussing content like never before and finding value in the thoughts of their classmates. Our teachers have also found a renewed joy for teaching as they collaborate and share their successes based on BTC practices.”

“Keep Indiana Learning is thrilled to partner with Franklin Community Schools to produce the first conference built intentionally around Dr. Peter Liljedahl’s pivotal book, ‘Building Thinking Classrooms’,” said Lena Darnay, director of professional learning for Keep Indiana Learning.  “Keep Indiana Learning’s mission is to transform teaching and learning by investing in educators. Building Thinking Classrooms is the transformation that is needed in today’s classrooms. It is not a gimmick or a gadget that might dazzle students into paying attention for a moment, but a true, research-based understanding of how student thinking skills can be fostered, supported, and sustained across months, years, and a lifetime. We are excited to host educators from across the country and beyond in beautiful Franklin, Indiana. It will be the perfect setting for inspirational learning alongside a true Hoosier Hospitality experience.”

The in-person conference will occur on June 29 and 30 at Franklin Community High School. The city of Franklin features a thriving, historic downtown with a variety of locally-owned restaurants, high-quality lodging, shops, and wholesome entertainment. The location was selected because Franklin Community Schools initiated a widespread, cross-curricular implementation of Building Thinking Classrooms and is enthusiastic about increasing the spread of practices to educators across the nation. The city will provide attendees with an enjoyable atmosphere to debrief, collaborate, socialize, and make long-lasting connections as they work together to build thinking classrooms in their schools.

To learn more about the Building Thinking Classrooms Conference or register, visit https://keepindianalearning.org/events/building-thinking-classrooms-conference/.