USC CANDLE Innovation Lab: Summer 2026 Design Sprint 

Are you ready to reimagine classroom learning through the lens of cutting-edge adolescent neuroscience and developmental science? The USC CANDLE Innovation Lab is inviting teams of middle and high school educators to join our Summer 2026 Design Sprint, a 5-day, in-person experience designed to translate research into real-world classroom innovation. 

What’s the Summer 2026 Design Sprint? 

From July 20–24, 2026, teams will converge at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles to: 

  • Engage with research on adolescent development, affective neuroscience, and the science of learning
  • Explore implications for student motivation, engagement, belonging, and deep learning
  • Identify a meaningful instructional challenge or opportunity in their own context
  • Design or adapt curriculum and classroom practices through structured, consultancy-style sessions
  • Develop an actionable plan for implementation of the designs in Fall 2026
  • Participate in structured reflection and feedback

Watch educators and the CANDLE team discuss the challenges facing schools and how centering adolescent development shifts classroom practice.

Apply Today! 

Applications are team-based. Each team should include: 

  • 3–6 classroom educators teaching students aged 12–18, across any academic content area and electives
  • 1 administrative leader to provide structural support and ensure the work can scale across the educator community
Apply Here!

The application window is now closed. To stay in touch, sign up for our mailing list here.

Who Should Apply? 

We are seeking teams of 3–6 educators plus one administrator. Teams should be ready to: 

  • Engage in intensive, research-informed design 
  • Participate in reflective feedback and collective learning 
  • Optionally implement individual classroom innovations in Fall 2026 (honoraria available) 

Cost & Support 

The program is completely free. USC CANDLE will cover: 

  • Travel and lodging for the Summer 2026 Design Sprint 
  • Honoraria for educators who commit to implementation 

Why Join? 

Through this immersive design sprint, you will: 

  • Bring the science of adolescent learning into your classroom 
  • Gain tools to motivate students, strengthen belonging, and deepen learning 
  • Connect with leading researchers, including Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, and other educators committed to innovation 

For questions, contact USC CANDLE at colabs.candle@usc.edu 

Learn more about our work at https://candle.usc.edu  

Together, let’s design classrooms that reflect how adolescents truly think, feel, and grow.