Concurrent 45 min

The Agency to Think: Encouraging a Community of Thinkers in Secondary Classrooms

Friday, November 14, 2025

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM ET

Location: Convention Center, 315/316

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12, Postsecondary

FD

Felicia A. Dixon (she/her/hers)

Professor Emerita, Department of Educational Psychology
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana, United States
Mason T. Fulton

Dean of Students
Yorktown School Corporation
Muncie, Indiana, United States

Short Description: “I think, Therefore, I am.” (Descartes). A challenging classroom for gifted secondary students is marked by the depth of questioning, student agency to engage and to question each other, and equitable access for all learners to contribute meaningfully. This session focuses on thinking and questioning each other that promotes inclusion , ensuring every voice is heard in meaningful discussions.

Learning Objectives:

Educators will learn to connect philosophical reasoning with questioning practices to create dynamic and productive classroom discussions.
Educators will will explore strategies for cultivating a classroom culture in which gifted students both challenge each other's ideas yet also build on them to create meaningful dialogue.
Educators will assess the effectiveness of various questioning strategies in promoting critical thinking, student engagement, and student-led inquiry.