Learning Forward Annual Conference: An Overview

Learning Forward's Annual Conference serves as a dynamic platform where educators from various backgrounds converge to engage in meaningful dialogues, acquire innovative strategies, and gain access to resources tailored to their specific roles. The conference aims to equip leaders at all levels with the tools to meet educator and student learning needs head-on.

The Conference Experience: A Blend of Inspiration and Overwhelm

Participants often report experiencing a surge of excitement, hope, and renewed passion during the conference. However, the sheer volume of new information and ideas can sometimes lead to feelings of overload, anxiety, frustration, and even a sense of apprehension.

Navigating the Post-Conference Landscape

Recognizing this potential challenge, Learning Forward has developed a toolkit designed to assist individuals and teams in organizing and making sense of the wealth of information gleaned from keynote speakers, session presenters, facilitators, fellow educators, and vendors. The toolkit offers actionable steps to take before, during, and after the conference, ensuring that participants can effectively apply their newfound knowledge and energy.

Key Features and Highlights

Learning Forward’s Annual Conference stands out for several reasons:

Focus on Professional Learning

Learning Forward is the only professional association devoted exclusively to those who work in educator professional development. The conference is exclusively focused on how to plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning that changes educator practice and improves results for all students. Learning Forward brings together thought leaders, experts, researchers, and other practitioners to collaboratively share the latest learnings, knowledge, and techniques. The organization sets the bar high for its presenters, who are expected to deliver engaging learning and facilitation strategies that promote active participation and interaction among attendees.

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No Exhibit Hall

Unlike typical conferences, Learning Forward does not feature an exhibit hall. This deliberate choice reflects attendees' preference for spending their time on deep learning experiences.

Ticketed Sessions

To ensure that attendees can attend the sessions that are most relevant to their needs, Learning Forward employs a ticketed system. This allows participants to reserve their seats in advance, guaranteeing access to the sessions they want to attend, regardless of location. This eliminates the common conference frustrations of standing against a wall, sitting on the floor, or having to leave sessions early to secure a spot at the next one.

Emphasis on Networking and Collaboration

Conference meals are strategically designed to facilitate networking and collaboration among attendees. These meals provide opportunities to meet new colleagues, connect with practitioners in similar roles or facing similar challenges, and check in with teams between learning experiences.

High-Quality Professional Development

The Learning Forward conference offers top-tier professional development opportunities, providing attendees with valuable insights into the latest educational trends, research, and effective teaching strategies. Sessions are grounded in research and the professional learning standards, focused on the real issues educators are facing right now, and interactive.

Conference Themes and Topics

The conference addresses a wide range of timely and relevant topics in education. Recent themes and trending session topics include:

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Innovate for Impact: As seen in the 2020 conference.
REIMAGINE: The theme for the 2022 Annual Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
Bridging Professional Learning & Student Success: The theme for the 2025 Annual Conference in Boston, Massachusetts.
Leadership development
Coaching
Equity
Implementation
Data-driven decision-making
Continuous improvement cycles
Curriculum and instructional materials
Educator effectiveness
School improvement/reform
Models of professional learning (including in-person, virtual, and hybrid models)

Featured Speakers

The Learning Forward Annual Conference consistently attracts prominent keynote speakers who are experts in their respective fields. Notable past speakers include:

Dan Heath
Valerie Kinloch
Anthony Bryk
Barbara Schneider
Cornelius Minor
Shane Safir
Sawsan Jaber

These speakers share their insights and expertise on a variety of topics, inspiring and challenging attendees to think differently about education and professional learning.

Testimonials

Attendees consistently praise the Learning Forward Annual Conference for its high-quality professional development, engaging presenters, and focus on relevant issues. Some representative comments include:

"High-quality professional learning with engaging presenters. It was wonderful to hear about these topics rooted in research and with a national perspective, and then hear from practitioners in other states."
"The amount of options for sessions guarantees you will find something that fits your needs. My pre-conference session was by far the most impactful and engaging session I attended."
"It’s been difficult in the past 8-ish years for me to find a conference with sessions where I actually learn something."
"The presenters are professional. The choice of sessions readily meet the needs of people to simply improve their craft."
"I would recommend this conference to colleagues. It provides a space to network and hear from other school districts and a different physical space from the normal building professional learning."
"This conference always reminds me of the importance of professional learning and ignites my passion to continue that work. Well-organized. Fun."
"Well-organized. Fun (good food, good conversations, enough time to think and collaborate during and between sessions)."

Preparing for the Conference

To make the most of the Learning Forward Annual Conference, attendees are encouraged to:

Download the Annual Conference mobile app: This app provides access to session handouts and other important information.
Utilize the conference planning toolkit: This toolkit helps attendees organize and make sense of the information they learn at the conference.
Make session selections in advance: Many sessions fill up quickly, so it is important to reserve seats early.
Review the printed program: The printed program serves as a roadmap for navigating the conference and selecting the sessions that are most relevant to individual needs.

Looking Ahead

Learning Forward continues to be a leading voice in the field of professional learning, providing educators with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to improve student outcomes. The Annual Conference remains a vital platform for fostering collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement in education.

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The organization is currently accepting proposals for the 2025 Annual Conference, to be held Dec. 7-10, 2025, in Boston, Massachusetts. The 2025 Annual Conference theme is Bridging Professional Learning & Student Success, focusing on documenting the link between meaningful, rigorous, and engaging learning experiences and improved results for adults and students.

Equipping Leaders for Success

Learning Forward equips leaders at all levels with the tools to meet educator and student learning needs head-on. The organization's high-impact professional services provide school and system leaders with the tools to transform professional learning, increase educator capacity, and improve student achievement. This includes advice about making the most of professional learning resources, including money, time, personnel, and technology.

Addressing Current Challenges

In a world where mandates and policy have educators focused on everything else, Learning Forward helps them keep the focus on kids and learning, while preserving their own wellbeing.

Embracing Innovation

Educators are reimagining professional learning to create meaningful, future-ready classrooms. By embracing AI as a thought partner, schools can elevate teaching through ethical use, digital citizenship, and intentional instructional design.

The Boston Experience

The Boston Host Committee received a lot of love for their “Wicked Learnah!” shirts, so they’ll be sellin’ ‘em right at the hospitality booth. Grab one if you wanna souveniah that screams Bah-ston, or wear it to your next professional learnin’ to show you’re a true wicked smahtie.

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