Breakout sessions

Augmented intelligence combines AI and machine learning with human judgment and decision-making, focusing on a human-centred approach. This workshop will empower educators to integrate Augmented Intelligence (AI) into teaching and administration. It will explore how to balance automation with human expertise while embracing active learning, future skills, and emotional intelligence. Participants will:

• differentiate between automation and augmentation in education
• assess AI’s impact on time, knowledge sharing, learning, and society
• explore AI-driven strategies to enhance student engagement and performance
• redesign educational models for future skills and emotional intelligence
• develop an actionable roadmap for AI-augmented strategies.

Participants will leave this session feeling empowered to lead education’s transformation in the AI age.

In this breakout session, we will dive deeper into the ideas and issues raised in the keynote presentation. Together, we will:  

• reimagine future-readiness – shift the focus from grades and test scores to what truly enables students to flourish.  
• gain global insights – learn how various cultures and communities are transforming education for profound learning and real-world relevance.  
• acquire practical strategies – explore concrete, actionable ideas that you can apply right away to make learning more engaging, meaningful and transformative.  

Participants will leave with new insights, practical strategies and a renewed sense of purpose to apply them in their own contexts.  

In this workshop, we will delve into the essential aspects of supporting learners' executive functions, including working memory, behavioural inhibition, cognitive flexibility, planning and self-regulation. We will:

• identify where these executive functions act as enablers or barriers for learners
• reflect on additional strategies that educators can adopt to support learners in developing these transferable competencies.
• explore how learners can create detailed plans for self-directed learning, such as organising an essay
• discuss ways to support learners during times of change, like working with a new group for a project, and how the physical space can promote focus rather than distraction. 

Participants will leave the session with key reflections tailored to their own professional contexts, enabling them to better support their learners' executive function development.

Society can be improved by strengthening the quality of relationships between people, starting with children in schools.

'Relational Thinking' may sound theoretical, and people may struggle to believe that relationships can be measured and mapped, but this is no 'soft skill'. The relational is both tangible and can be understood through the empirical. In this workshop delegates will:

• explore the underlying intellectual foundations of Relational Thinking
• explore the factors that inhibit connection as well as the key drivers of proximity and belonging
• apply this thinking to a number of case studies in the domains of teacher-student relationship, peer group cohesion and teacher development and retention.

Participants will leave with practical ideas to use in their own contexts.

This workshop explores how Cambridge Global Perspectives & Research promotes student dialogue, critical thinking, and reflective practice. Participants will:

• learn strategies for structured class discussions on preparing future-ready learners
• discover how to integrate research, analysis, evaluation, communication, collaboration and reflection into class time
• engage in active learning exercises to navigate research and construct perspectives
• share perspectives and reflect on the concept of being future ready.

By the end of the session, attendees will leave with practical strategies to foster critical thinking and enquiry in their classrooms.

Learn more about Cambridge's plans and progress towards digital high-stakes assessments, focusing on stakeholder engagement. Participants will:

• review 'digital readiness' survey results from various regions
• understand the planning and research behind the move to digital assessments
• share insights about local contexts and digital readiness
• discuss the implications of digital assessments for schools and students.

Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of Cambridge's digital transition and how to prepare their schools and students.

This workshop focuses on metacognition and dialogic talk strategies to enhance teaching practice. Participants will:

• explore the concepts of metacognition and dialogic talk
• gain practical insights on implementing these strategies in classrooms
• learn how these strategies support critical thinking, collaboration and communication
• participate in activities to practice these strategies.

Participants will leave this breakout with tools to better prepare students for college and career readiness.

This session provides insights from US admission officers on supporting Cambridge students through the college admission process. Participants will:

• learn what to include in school profiles for clarity and effectiveness
• understand important exam scores and methods for sending them
• explore the role of AI in admissions and current trends
• gain insights from current trends in college admissions.

By the end of this session, participants will leave with valuable knowledge to support students in their journey towards college success.

This workshop delves into the connections between skills and knowledge in the Cambridge Pathway. Participants will:

• explore systems thinking, kind and wicked problem-solving, analogical and metacognitive skills
• discuss best teaching practices and share experiences
• examine the relationship between higher order thinking skills and the Cambridge learner attributes
• participate in activities to practice these skills.

Participants will leave with strategies to empower students with critical thinking skills.

This workshop explores embedding oracy into all subjects to reduce teacher workload and improve student engagement. Participants will:

• discover practical oracy strategies like talk swaps, role-play, competitions and clubs
• learn how noisy classrooms can improve behaviour and assessment for learning
• explore ways to integrate oracy into everyday classroom activities
• discuss the benefits of purposeful talk and collaboration.

Participants will leave with practical strategies to create purposeful, collaborative and engaging classrooms.

This session challenges the misconception that critical thinking is only for advanced students. Participants will:

• engage with case studies showing critical thinking development from beginner to advanced levels.
• discover practical scaffolding strategies that make critical thinking accessible across disciplines and student abilities
• learn how to adapt classroom activities to build confidence in higher-order thinking
• discuss ways to support students' critical thinking journey at every level.

Participants will leave with practical strategies to nurture critical thinking at all levels.

This workshop, presented by Cypress Bay High School, explores how Cambridge Global Perspectives pathways equip students with essential skills. Participants will:

• learn how co-curricular clubs enhance Cambridge Global Perspectives coursework
• discover how diverse topics increase interest in the Cambridge AICE Diploma
• understand how these pathways prepare students for global challenges
• explore strategies for integrating Cambridge Global Perspectives into various subjects.

Leave the session with strategies to empower students as global leaders.

This session explores the role of critical and ethical thinking in education. Participants will:

• discuss ways to develop a skills and value-based programme
• understand how to transform the learning environment to foster thought leadership
• explore the relationship between students and their learning environment
• learn strategies to promote self-awareness, objectivity, and fairness.

By the end of this session, participants will leave with strategies to prepare students for an increasingly complex world.

This session focuses on developing executive functioning skills in students. Participants will:

• learn about the impact of executive functions on student success
• discover a predictable learning routine to practice executive functions
• engage families in the process of developing these skills
• explore strategies to model and practise executive functions daily
• discuss ways to support students with weak executive functions.

Participants will leave with practical strategies to enhance executive functions in their classrooms.

This hands-on workshop introduces Report Maker, our platform to help US schools analyse student exam results. Participants will:

• navigate the Report Maker platform interface
• generate and format reports of student results data
• understand Cambridge's future digital services and data initiatives
• learn how to use the platform to meet institutional data needs
• discuss best practices for data analysis and reporting.

Participants will gain practical experience with the Report Maker platform to better serve their data needs.

This session provides an overview of the integrated support Cambridge offers teachers. Participants will:

• learn about the range of support available for developing educational practice
• discover upcoming initiatives from Cambridge
• explore integrated resources and tools for teaching the Cambridge Pathway
• discuss ways to enhance teaching and learning with Cambridge support
• share experiences and best practices with other educators.

By the end of this session, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of Cambridge's integrated approach for teachers.

This interactive session focuses on the role of exams officers. Participants will:

• explore the importance of the exams officer role
• gain awareness of the responsibilities and support available
• share knowledge about managing large cohorts and complex timetabling
• discuss best practices for administering the exams cycle
• learn about resources and support for exams officers.

Participants will leave with resources and strategies to support exams officers.