Featured Speakers
Thursday, June 18
Setting the Stage for Curiosity
Curiosity by Design: Creating the Conditions for Student Engagement
Dr. Todd Zakrajsek
Educator, Author and Faculty Developer
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Curiosity isn’t just a student trait—it’s directly impacted by course design. Grounded in research-backed strategies, this interactive session explores how to create the conditions that spark and sustain curiosity. Learn how to deepen student thinking and meaningful engagement by using structured uncertainty, leveling questions, and leveraging tools like polling, AI, and more.
Turning Large Classes into Engaged Communities
Dr. Deanna Behnke-Cook
University of Guelph
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Students don’t disengage all at once—they drift. In this session, Dr. Deanna Behnke-Cook shares how she builds connection, maintains academic rigor, and keeps students from slipping through the cracks in her large lecture course. Through a practical, 10-step, classroom-ready approach, discover strategies she uses to foster belonging, spark participation, and keep students engaged, present, and on track.
What’s New with Top Hat: Engaging the Classroom (Activation Session)
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Learn how Top Hat is making engagement easier than ever—from getting students interacting to gaining deeper insights into their learning, with AI-powered support along the way. Then bring it to life with the Engaging Classroom Activation Kit, featuring ready-to-use activities to foster belonging, spark participation, and help you start strong right away.
Thursday, July 16
Teaching for Thinking in the Age of AI
Students as Producers: Creative Assignments for Deep Learning
Dr. Derek Bruff
University of Virginia
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In the age of AI, how do you design assignments students actually care about? In this session, we explore how creative, open-ended work can spark curiosity, fuel exploration, and foster real ownership of learning. Through a range of inspiring examples, you’ll learn how to move beyond traditional assignments toward experiences that feel meaningful to students—and worth the effort.
Turning Large Classes into Engaged Communities
Learn more
Move beyond AI bans and into real classroom practice by co-creating AI guidelines with your students—building trust, accountability, and deeper thinking. We’ll explore how to create conversational chatbots and interactive games in Top Hat to enable role-playing, simulations, and low-stakes practice to help students apply concepts in realistic, engaging ways.
What’s New with Top Hat: Teaching for Thinking (Activation Session)
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Explore Top Hat’s newest features—including AI-powered scenarios, interactive video assessments, and adaptive student practice—designed to promote deeper thinking. Then put them into action with the Thinking-First Classroom Activation Kit, with ready-to-use ideas to help students reason, reflect, and apply their learning.
Spark curiosity. Fuel engagement. Make learning stick.
From big ideas to classroom-ready tactics, Top Hat Summer Camp is all about turning curiosity into participation—and participation into learning.
Curiosity-Fueled Keynotes
Design learning experiences that spark curiosity and drive real engagement.
Learn from Peers
See how fellow instructors build classrooms rooted in belonging and engagement.
What’s New with Top Hat
Explore new tools and get activation-ready strategies for your course.
Meet your Summer Camp speakers
Dr. Derek Bruff
University of Virginia
About Derek
Dr. Derek Bruff is a speaker, educator, author, and host of the Intentional Teaching podcast. His work helps faculty rethink learning experiences to spark curiosity, engagement, and deeper thinking.
Dr. Todd Zakrajsek
Educator, Author and Faculty Developer
About Todd
Dr. Todd Zakrajsek is one of higher ed’s most sought-after teaching experts, translating learning science into practical strategies that boost student engagement and instructor effectiveness.
Dr. Deanna Behnke-Cook
University of Guelph
About Deana
Dr. Deanna Behnke-Cook is a University of Guelph faculty member in Sociology and Anthropology who helps students build resilience, overcome limiting beliefs, and develop the mindset needed to thrive in academics, athletics, and life.
Dr. Demian Hommel
Oregon State University
About Demian
Dr. Demian Hommel is an Associate Professor at Oregon State University and an AI in Teaching and Learning Fellow, focused on helping faculty design ethical, engaging, AI-informed learning experiences that build student agency and critical thinking.
Dr. Ross Avilla
University of California, Merced
About Ross
Dr. Ross Avilla is a psychology instructor at UC Merced focused on student engagement, and using AI to enhance learning. His research interests include interpersonal relationships and the experience of first-generation college students.
Clare Castro
Top Hat
About Clare
Clare Castro is a Senior Product Marketing Manager at Top Hat, bringing nearly two decades of experience launching innovative educational solutions that enhance teaching, learning, and student engagement.
Harleen Dhami
Top Hat
About Harleen
Harleen Dhami is a content marketing leader at Top Hat, creating research-informed resources that help faculty adopt evidence-based teaching practices and improve student engagement.
Dr. Bradley Cohen
Top Hat
About Bradley
Dr. Bradley Cohen provides leadership and advocacy within the higher education community at Top Hat, advancing student outcomes through digital learning. Previously, he led student success, innovation and growth initiatives at Ohio University and the University of Minnesota.
