Academics

CTTL

The Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning is the bridge between the latest Mind, Brain, and Education Science research and the teaching practice of primary and secondary schools around the world. 
St. Andrew’s renowned Center for Transformative Teaching & Learning (CTTL) is powered by the creativity of its faculty and the partnership of our university researchers. The CTTL makes research-informed teaching and learning the central focus of faculty professional development, curriculum and program design at St. Andrew’s. It connects independent and public school teachers, leaders, and policymakers through discourse on translating research into innovative teaching and learning strategies.  

One hundred percent of St. Andrew's pre-school through 12th grade faculty is trained by the CTTL in how to read and translate research in the field of Mind, Brain, and Education Science and implement it in their classrooms.

The true beneficiaries of the training are St. Andrew’s students, from age 2 to Grade 12. The expectation is that each St. Andrew’s teacher will use his or her training to inform and transform the design of their class and work with each individual student in his or her current areas of strength and areas of challenge. Most importantly, because every St. Andrew’s teacher knows about brain plasticity, the ability of the brain to change both naturally and through deliberate practice by the student, St. Andrew’s teachers use research-informed whole-class and personalized strategies to help each student become more confident, efficient, and independent learners throughout his or her learning journey. 

Here are ways St. Andrew's teaching and learning has been transformed through the CTTL:

A Day in the Life of the CTTL

Here are ways St. Andrew's teaching and learning has been transformed through the CTTL:

  • Mindfulness training for Lower School teachers and students.
  • Teachers use varied forms of assessments. In certain middle and upper school classes, students have the opportunity to choose what type of year-end assessment would be best for the way they demonstrate cumulative understanding.
  • Transformation of grades 6-12 final exam schedule so that students have a deep opportunity to reflect on their performance, receive oral feedback from their teachers, and to establish strategies for future improvement.
  • The advisor program educates students about the neurodevelopmental demands of learning focusing on enhancing attention, memory, executive functioning, and time management.
  • Launch of new, research-informed daily schedule in fall of 2018
  • More frequent formative assessments for all grade levels
  • Elevation of memory strategies such as the spacing effect, testing effect, and interleaving.

Listen to the Podcast

  • Final Exams Final Exams
    Students experience the exam period in three distinct parts: preparation, assessment and reflection.
  • Student Research Fellows Student Research Fellows
    Our students contribute to CTTL research as Finn Family Student Research Fellows.
  • Teacher Training Teacher Training
    100% of St. Andrew's preschool through grade 12 teachers receive MBE training. Here's how we do it.
Think Differently and Deeply is a nationally recognized publication written by St. Andrew’s pre-school through 12th grade teachers, students, alumni, and the CTTL’s university research partners. More than 10,000 teachers, school leaders, and policymakers have read the CTTL’s publication Think Differently and Deeply’s first two volumes, which provide models for how teachers can use research to inform the design of their classes and to work more effectively with each student.
Glenn Whitman, Dean of Studies and Director of the CTTL, and Dr. Ian Kelleher, Science Teacher and Head of Research for the CTTL, have co-authored Neuroteach: Brain Science and the Future of Education. Featured by The Klingenstein Center, the book is a resource for all teachers and school leaders who are looking for ways to incorporate MBE research into the classroom.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is a private, coeducational college preparatory day school for students in preschool (Age 2) through grade 12, located in Potomac, Maryland.