Teacher Workshops

Bring Design Challenge Learning to Your Classroom

DCN’s full-day workshops introduce teachers to a powerful, project-based learning model that helps students tackle real-world problems—and reignites classroom engagement. You’ll walk away with practical tools and inspiration to bring Design Challenge Learning (DCL) to life in your own school.

BRING A WORKSHOP TO YOUR SCHOOL

  • Learn the Model

    Get an in-depth introduction to Design Challenge Learning—a proven, cross-curricular approach that combines student creativity, real-world relevance, and skill-building.

  • Explore Examples

    See examples of student videos and papers, and discover how other teachers are using Design Challenge Learning in STEM, Language Arts, and Social Studies.

  • Get the Tools

    Take home the Educators Playbook, a comprehensive guide that supports planning, teaching strategies, and grading—flexible across age groups and content areas.

  • Apply It

    You’ll leave with a plan for implementing Design Challenge Learning in your own classroom—and an invitation to join the statewide Community Changemaker Challenge.

  • "​​Implementing the Community Changemaker Challenge has completely shifted how I see my role as a teacher. I’ve started giving students more voice and choice, and it’s incredible to see how engaged they become when working on real problems that matter to them. Watching them step up as creative, thoughtful changemakers has made me realize just how much potential they have when we let them lead. It’s made my classroom feel more alive—and made me a more hopeful, purpose-driven educator. "

    – Tim O'Neil, Hinsdale Middle High School

  • “Design Challenge Learning makes me a better teacher by putting me on an equal playing field as students. Since they are choosing their topics and problems/solutions, I am learning alongside them, and since they are the experts, they are teaching me, which helps them learn the material better.”

    – Participating Teacher

  • “Participating in the CCC has activated mind-based educational strategies that have emerged as best practices for students and teachers. The program energizes students and gives them autonomy to collaborate and pursue lines of inquiry that interest them. I find myself setting up the lesson, modeling techniques from the Playbook, and then setting them loose to apply what they have just learned.”

    – Participating Teacher