Twin Titans Learning Summit
On November 13, 2024, Learning InspirED hosted a four-hour summit at McCoy Theater in New Albany, Ohio, featuring internationally recognized experts Dr. Sugata Mitra and Dr. Peter Gray. The event explored the importance, research foundations, and practical challenges of student-led learning approaches.
Dr. Sugata Mitra (Educational Researcher & Professor of Educational Technology, Newcastle University)
Presented findings from his landmark "Hole in the Wall" experiments demonstrating that children in extremely impoverished areas could teach themselves without formal instruction
Discussed his Self-Organized Learning Environment (SOLE) model, which emphasizes curiosity-driven, independent learning environments
Shared insights from his distinguished career, including recognition through the $1 million TED Prize (2013) and the 2022 Brock Prize for Education Innovation
Dr. Peter Gray (Research Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience, Boston College)
Presented evidence from behavioral biology, anthropology, developmental psychology, and education demonstrating that children naturally educate themselves through play and exploration when given freedom
Discussed key arguments from his book Free to Learn, which connects unleashing children's instincts to play, tinker, and explore with improved happiness, self-reliance, and lifelong learning outcomes
Represented the Alliance for Self-Directed Education and Let Grow nonprofit, organizations dedicated to renewing children's freedom to explore independently
Learning InspirED organized and fiscally supported this professional development opportunity, bringing together educators, administrators, and community members to examine evidence-based approaches to student-centered, self-directed learning. The summit represented the organization's commitment to advancing educational practices that honor student agency, curiosity, and natural learning processes.
