Here are the keynote speakers for Learning Forward’s 2023 Annual Conference, to be held Dec. 3-6 in Washington, D.C. The theme for the conference is Evidence Into Action. To learn more or register, visit conference.learningforward.org.

Christopher Emdin

Reality Pedagogy / Capacities for Imaginative Teaching/Thinking

Reality pedagogy is anchored on the tenet that teaching is more than disseminating information to students. Research in education shows that qualified educators with degrees in their discipline are not necessarily effective. Even when they have sufficient content knowledge, many still lack the tools necessary to address the cultural divides that render them ineffective.

Sharron Helmke and panel

The Power of Coaching: Voices From the Field

This panel discussion will examine how successful educators in a range of roles use coaching skills to foster autonomy, efficacy, and growth for other educators. Panelists will explore when and how they choose coaching interactions over other modes of leadership, including how to embed coaching into collegial and supervisory conversations. Representing research and practice, the panelists will discuss the power of coaching to sustain learning, bolster collaboration and collaborative organizational cultures, and engender equity among the educators they support. They will also share how they’ve deepened their own professional expertise through being coached themselves and by coaching others.

Brandi Hinnant-Crawford

Measurement & Liberation: (Is there) Evidence We’re on the Way?

What is the evidence we need to propel liberatory action, and how do we leverage evidence once we have it? Hinnant-Crawford will examine the relationship between evidence, adult learning, and action toward liberation. Hinnant-Crawford will outline the dispositions and practices necessary to gather evidence for a liberatory agenda, even in contexts where liberation is not prioritized.