Innovation Lab
Neuroscience in Action
At USC CANDLE, we are committed to transforming educational practice by integrating developmental neuroscience with pedagogical innovation. Our approach is not simply about transferring research insights to educators; it’s about creating a dynamic, collaborative environment where educators actively engage with and apply scientific knowledge to their work, in their unique contexts.
Through initiatives like the USC CANDLE Innovation Lab and the development of COLABs (cohorts of collaborative learning and action-based communities), we aim to foster schooling experiences that promote deep student engagement, transcendent thinking, and lifelong learning.
Programs
COLAB
Part community of practice and part lab, COLABS are collaborative learning and action-based communities, where teachers, researchers and youth co-develop strategies grounded in science to implement in real-world classrooms. Through a series of professional learning workshops and activities, COLABs, composed of school-based teams of educators, learn directly from USC CANDLE about the science of adolescent development and then are supported in creating and implementing actionable science-informed strategies in their schools.
These strategies, constructed around human development, aim to promote civic engagement, emotional well-being and transcendent thinking, which research shows plays a crucial role in students’ long-term success and mental health. The COLABS generate professional development resources for educators and advance research in developmental neuroscience. By enabling a deeper connection between scientific research and practical classroom applications, researchers and educators can address the pressing educational needs of today’s diverse student populations.
Professional Learning Workshops and Resources
We recognize that teaching, like learning, is a social, emotional and cultural enterprise and teachers require support, programming and resources that can help them meet the challenges of the current educational climate.
We offer standalone science-informed professional learning programming focused on educator wellness, as well as support to help educators create opportunities for transcendent thinking in their work. Sessions enrich educators’ understanding of the value of transcendent thinking and its long-term benefits.We offer standalone science-informed professional learning programming focused on educator wellness, as well as support to help educators create opportunities for transcendent thinking in their work.
Spotlight on Practice
Bezos Family Foundation
We are proud to announce a two-year, $2.1 million grant from the Bezos Family Foundation to launch the USC CANDLE Innovation Lab. This groundbreaking initiative will explore how cutting-edge neuroscience can be integrated into classroom practices to foster deeper student engagement and durable change in adolescent education. The project will bring together researchers, educators, administrators and students in a collaborative setting.
The USC CANDLE Innovation Lab’s primary focus is to explore how understanding adolescent brain development can revolutionize teaching methods, aiming to address challenges such as student disengagement and inequity in learning.We offer standalone science-informed professional learning programming focused on educator wellness, as well as support to help educators create opportunities for transcendent thinking in their work.
Get Involved With COLAB
If you are an educator or administrator interested in establishing a COLAB at your school, please get in contact with us.