We’re taking a lil bit of time to do a "total makeover" of our ongoing newsletter 👀— but for the time being, we’re sending out another to celebrate the new year! 🎆 AAP Releases New Media Recommendations; CLS2025 Keynote and Plenary Sessions Available to View + more:

✨ HAPPY 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣!!!🎉🎆🎊🥳🎇

A very happy new year from our staff and team! 💙 We've been away from BlueSky for the holidays, but please feel free to catch up with our end-of-year countdown with CLL on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/posts/connec... ✨ Get the latest and follow us: www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

The long awaited and now finally out — five full recaps of keynotes + plenaries from supporting neurodivergent youth in overcoming educational barriers to helping young people navigate the AI systems shaping their daily lives. From the 2025 Connected Learning Summit:

We’re so thrilled to share 5️⃣ full video recordings of our plenary panels and keynote talks of the 2025 Connected Learning Summit which brought over 500 attendees online and in person during the October 5 - 10 event! connectedlearning.news/cla121725 #ConnectedLearning

“[I]n makerspaces, that divergence is actually what's applauded, right?… So, when teachers bring that into their space, whether it's a makerspace or not, you're designing for that inclusivity.’” New CLA Blog Crosspost - Neurodiversity and Project-Based Learning

🌠 The latest volume of our newsletter is now out for the #ConnectedLearning community 🤩 — Plus job and research opps; youth essay in response to The Anxious Generation; young adults as mental health navigators; two events happening today and more: connectedlearning.news/Vol267

📢 NEW Blog on Neurodiversity and Project-Based Learning! From the Neurodiversity Potential Research Group; new crosspost blog covers the August 26 webinar that explored how inclusively designed environments can tap the strengths of neurodiverse learners.

Catch our upcoming symposium on Otaku Culture ✖ Interest-Driven Learning on November 20 from 4-5pm Pacific for a cross-cultural dialogue tapping on the strengths of fan culture to support #ConnectedLearning! Register and meet on Zoom or at UC Irvine:

Our CLA newsletter (now happening monthly ✨) is out! Q&A with CLS2025 Keynote Speaker Danaé Metaxa; how digital environments shape masculine identity development during adolescence and more: connectedlearning.news/Vol266

🌟 So excited to share the wonderful turnout for Institut Teknologi Bandung’s in-person CLS event! Such a lively and impactful event wouldn’t have been possible without Dr. Ary S. Prihatmanto and Eko Nugroho plus sponsors. 📸 Photos by Agustinus Tampubolon and Sandri Justiana.

We're almost to the finish line 🏃🏼💨~ we have one FINAL and Closing Keynote by Dr. Danaé Metaxa at the Connected Learning Summit! Join us at 1pm PT via the Whova platform for a livestream, and if you're by UCI, stop by the CLL Lab (Calit2 3330, UC Irvine) to see it in person!

🌟 From @medialab.bsky.social at Cambridge, MA — October 5's Connected Learning Summit In-Person event sponsored by MIT Scheller Teacher Education Program and The Education Arcade, Learning Games Network, and @digitalthriving.bsky.social. 📸 Big thanks to Mary McCrossan for the photos.

Next keynote is starting soon: The Biff World, or Speculative Writing as Time-Travel to Heal the Present by Vanessa Angelica Villarreal. Come join us at the Connected Learning Summit via live at UC Berkeley or streamed online through the Whova platform. 🙌🏼

Our first #ConnectedLearning2025 opening keynote is starting in a few minutes: Supporting Neurodivergent Learners in a (Dis)Connected World by Dr. Meryl Alper (@merylalper.bsky.social) — we hope you're joining us live at MIT, a viewing party, or on Zoom at the Connected Learning Summit! 👋🏼

Good morning 🌞 — we’re on our first day of #ConnectedLearning2025! No keynotes, plenaries, or workshops today but we’d like to invite attendees to join us for the Topical Meet-ups featuring contributors to our showcases🏆 and research papers📜 starting at 9am PT!!! We'll see you on Whova! 🧵 [1/2]

On Oct 8th from 1-3pm PT, The Technical University of Munich is sharing their work that supports critical reflections regarding AI EdTech adoption at the Connected Learning Summit! ✨ Register to see how AI tools can foster critical use of AI in art-making: connectedlearning.news/CLS2025-Regi...

Stacy Branham is bringing disabled youth voices to the forefront with her roundtable exploring how we can foster more inclusive #ConnectedLearning spaces happening Thursday, October 9th from 1 - 3pm Pacific (4-6pm ET) at CLS2025! ✨ Register: connectedlearning.news/CLS2025-Regi...

Instead of focusing on social media bans, @zephoria.bsky.social’s upcoming workshop at the Connected Learning Summit from 10am-12pm PT shines the spotlight on empowering young people and encouraging adults to meaningfully help. ✨ RSVP and Register: connectedlearning.news/CLS2025-Regi...

How can we harness AI as a tool for community-driven inquiry and impact? ✨ Check out UC Berkeley’s workshop on October 9th from 10am-12pm PT for a session whose focus is on practical co-creation that’s grounded in reflection using the Playlab AI chatbots: connectedlearning.news/CLS2025-Regi...

For library staff — a workshop happening next Thursday, October 9th from 10am-12pm PT will focus on the critical role of organizational culture in moving from theory to authentic connected learning implementation! ✨ Register for #ConnectedLearning2025: connectedlearning.news/CLS2025-Regi...

Highly interactive and hands-on, @cooneycenter.bsky.social's workshop gives participants the ability to dive into the RITEC design principles through a series of creative challenges inspired by their fellowship experiences! ✨Oct 8 from 1-3pm PT: connectedlearning.news/CLS2025-Regi...

Connected Learning x Neurodiversity is a major focus for our research—we’re thrilled to host a roundtable for participants who have integrated neurodiversity and connected learning approaches in edtech for learning! 🎉 ✨Register for October 8 from 10am-12pm PT: connectedlearning.news/CLS2025-Regi...

MIT’s Scheller Teacher Education Program and The Education Arcade is sharing their method of incorporating metacognitive reflections to cement PBL and GBL learning on October 8th from 10am-12pm PT at the Connected Learning Summit! ✨ Register now: connectedlearning.news/CLS2025-Regi...

We’re thrilled to share that Scratch Foundation is holding their workshop next Tuesday on October 7 from 1pm-3pm PT to reveal how they’re using AI to support Scratch’s open environment for tinkering, imagining, and learning with agency. 💙 ✨ Register now: connectedlearning.news/CLS2025-Regi...

Check out Civic Paths Group’s workshop at the Connected Learning Summit on Oct 8 from 10am-12pm PT to experience firsthand how collaboration and imaginative play can inspire collective action through Adventure Pages! Speaker: Sangita Shresthova ✨Register: connectedlearning.news/CLS2025-Regi...

Join the team from UPenn and USU for their virtual workshop on algorithmic justice and “algorithm auditing” activities for students on Oct 9 from 1pm-3pm Pacific at #ConnectedLearning2025! 📌 Workshop pairs well with Danaé Metaxa’s keynote! ✨ Register: connectedlearning.news/CLS2025-Regi...

From @digitalthriving.bsky.social, a Connected Learning Summit virtual roundtable that highlights participatory methods for youth-engaged research on young people’s well being and their technology use! ✨Register now and join us Oct 7 from 1pm-3pm PT: connectedlearning.news/CLS2025-Regi...

Happening virtually October 7th from 10am-12pm PT at the Connected Learning Summit is MIT's Education Arcade and Learning Games Network’s workshop on how we can teach and talk to kids about AI! Speaker: @scoto.bsky.social ✨Register for #ConnectedLearning2025: connectedlearning.news/CLS2025-Regi...

The Design Based Implementation Research roundtable on October 7 from 10am - 12pm Pacific invites colleagues to engage with co-analysis as a means to resist simplification and enrich the complexity of research. ✨RSVP + Register for #ConnectedLearning2025: connectedlearning.news/CLS2025-Regi...

Join the Lifelong Kindergarten group and @medialab.bsky.social virtually on Oct 7th from 10am - 12pm Pacific at the Connected Learning Summit to explore how you can bring a favorite book or story to life using @octostudioapp.bsky.social! ✨ Register now: connectedlearning.news/CLS2025-Regi...

When we build systems that benefit those most marginalized, society will often experience widespread and significant benefits as a whole. 🌱 New CLA Blog features our #ConnectedLearning2025 Keynote Speaker Dr. Danaé Metaxa:

🆕 CLA Newsletter out now — the latest from our #ConnectedLearning community! 🎉 Q&A with CLS keynote speaker, new fund for youth wellbeing in a digital age, report on AI + youth social connection, CLA newsletter transition and more! 🔗 Check it out: connectedlearning.news/Vol265

📢 NEW CLA Blog highlights our new report that offers insights and recommendations about integrating neurodiversity-informed approaches in the design of #ConnectedLearning programs and #EmergingTechnology‼ Blog: connectedlearning.news/cla091625 Direct Link: connectedlearning.news/IntegratingC...

“It’s really important not to over-romanticize interest-driven learning, because now, with those interests – anything you have an interest in algorithmically – there’s a profit-driven goal in cultivating them." - @merylalper.bsky.social ✨ New CLA Blog:

The schedule for the 2025 Connected Learning Summit is here! 🎉 Check out the program and register today to RSVP for limited-seating sessions, engage in discussion, and explore showcases and research papers before the summit begins in October. connectedlearning.news/CLS-Schedule

The Connected Learning Summit is online, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate and participate in person! 🎉 Check out 1️⃣ of our 8️⃣ In-Person Events at MIT, NYU, UC Berkeley, USU, UCI (Opening and/or Closing), ITB, or University of Sydney! More info and to RSVP: connectedlearning.news/CLS-Meetups

✨ We need #ConnectedLearning now more than ever. ✨ New CLA Blog features our #ConnectedLearning2025 Keynote Speaker @merylalper.bsky.social, Professor at Northeastern University and author of Kids Across the Spectrums: Growing up Autistic in a Digital Age. connectedlearning.news/cla090925

🎮 New essay from NeuPoteKen on their July 30 webinar exploring how game-based learning spaces can become neurodiversity inclusive environments with researchers Kohei Kato and Katie Salen! (Facilitated by @mimiito.bsky.social) connectedlearning.news/cla090825 #GameBasedLearning #Neurodiversity

🎉 #ConnectedLearning2025 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 & 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱! 🎉 🎙 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 • Meryl Alper (MIT/Online) (@merylalper.bsky.social) • Vanessa Angélica Villarreal (Stanford/Online) (@elnorterecuerda.bsky.social) • Danaé Metaxa (UC Irvine/Online)

1️⃣ more day to apply for our FREE virtual Rising Scholars meetup for diverse #GraduateStudents + #PostDocs in the #ConnectedLearning community! Meet on October 5th with supportive mentors and peers to connect over shared experiences and backgrounds: Apply now: connectedlearning.news/CLS-Rising-S...

🆓 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 - 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀 𝙈𝙀𝙀𝙏𝙐𝙋 for #PostDocs and #GraduateStudents in the #ConnectedLearning community! No CLS registration required. Apply by Sep. 5 and attend Oct 5 starting 9am. Workshop and Panel included with experts from Stanford, Duke, Google + more connectedlearning.news/CLS-Rising-S...

How might we develop and support gaming communities that cultivate empathetic, compassionate, and civically engaged youth? 🎮🤝🏻 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 report hopes to guide future research on making online gaming communities more youth-friendly and inclusive. 🔎 connectedlearning.news/RGGreport

@thecllab.bsky.social partnered with 9 libraries to identify 4 key areas and opportunities for teen services growth and advancement. 💡 2️⃣ reports for library leaders and staff that identifies 4 key areas and opportunities for teen services growth and advancement: connectedlearning.news/cla071524

📢 We are accepting applications for our Rising Scholars of #ConnectedLearning2025 happening Oct 5! connectedlearning.news/CLS-Rising-S... This virtual event is for diverse #GraduateStudents and #PostDocs to connect with supportive mentors and peers with shared experiences and backgrounds.

In other news — we took a mini-hiatus👀 but we’re back with a brand new volume of our newsletter! 📩 Job opps with Columbia University & CUNY Research Foundation; new data shows teen suicide declining; what Gen Z should know about non-college pathways and more: connectedlearning.news/Vol264

🎊 Registration is OPEN for #ConnectedLearning2025! 🎉 📆 October 5–10, 2025 | Online + In Person 🌐 Join educators, researchers, and innovators from around the world for a week of inspiring talks, hands-on sessions, and global connection: connectedlearning.news/CLS2025-Regi...

So what 𝘥𝘰 we do at Connected Learning Summit? 🤔 Wrapping up the latest summit in 2023, we released videos and blogs highlighting our hands-on workshops, inspiring keynotes, and interactive discussions! 🎉 connectedlearning.news/cla121323 #ConnectedLearning2025 #CLSummit2023

📢📢 Calling all graduate students & postdocs!  Connect with mentors & peers who share your experiences, learn from inspiring scholars, and build networks! Applications are open for the Rising Scholars of #ConnectedLearning2025 Meetup, happening Oct 5, 2025! connectedlearning.news/CLS-Rising-S...

Our Director and the Director of the @thecllab.bsky.social, Mimi Ito (@mimiito.bsky.social), reflects on our #ConnectedLearning research, what #Neurodiversity means to her, and the first webinar for the Neurodiversity Potential Study Group in a new article: www.neurodiversity-npo.org/library/neup...