CBI LEarning labs conference
CBI Learning Labs Conference 2027
Feb 25–28, 2027
Chadwick International School, South Korea
A 4-day conference on Concept-Based Inquiry teaching and learning.
Ticket sales are now open
About the CBI Learning Labs Conference
Join us for an immersive multi-day experience designed for educators ready to go beyond the theory and into transformational practice.
Hosted by Professional Learning International, CBI Learning Labs 2027 brings together a global community of concept-driven teachers, school leaders, and curriculum designers to explore what it really means to lead learning through inquiry.
Expect more than just keynotes. This is a conference built around hands-on workshops, real-world classroom strategies, and collaborative problem-solving. You’ll walk away with tools, insights, inspiration to shift thinking in your school, and the confidence to lead meaningful change.
Whether you’re just starting your Concept-Based journey or deepening years of experience, this is your space to connect, learn, and lead.
Conference Tickets
Ticket sales are now closed.
Missed out on Learning Labs 2025? Click here to join the list for Learning Labs 2027!
Keynote Speaker
Rachel French, M.A. Ed.
Rachel French, MA Ed., is Director of Professional Learning International and a certified Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction trainer. She has worked with international schools across South America, Africa, Europe, and Oceania, and has co-presented with Dr. Lynn Erickson in Cyprus, England, Luxembourg, and Germany. As an experienced IB PYP workshop leader, Rachel supports schools in aligning Concept-Based approaches with IB frameworks and has presented at leading conferences including the AEM IB Global Conference and AGIS.
Through her work with PLI, Rachel leads professional learning experiences around the world, helping educators design meaningful curriculum, deepen student thinking, and implement inquiry-based teaching with confidence. She continues to consult with schools on planning, implementation, and unit design review, supporting teams to bring Concept-Based Inquiry to life in classrooms.
Introduction to Concept-Based Inquiry
Pre-Conference Workshop
February 25
Living the Learning: How Schools Sustain Concept-Based Inquiry for Lasting Impact
Conference Keynote
November 15
Keynote Speaker
Rasha El-Haggan
Rasha is a certified Erickson and Lanning Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction (CBCI) trainer with over 20 years of experience as an educator and leader across all three IB programs—PYP, MYP, and DP.
She currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Tarbiyah Academy, a K–8 IB Islamic school in Maryland, where she leads with a strong focus on instructional excellence and community-centered growth.
Rasha also co-leads Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction courses and workshops in collaboration with Rachel French and Tiffanee Brown.
She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania, with a research focus on Shūra decision making—a consultative, participatory leadership model rooted in Islamic tradition.
Rasha holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Maryland and an MA in Education from Johns Hopkins University.
Who Gets a Say?
Why Lasting Change Requires More Than Vision
Conference Keynote
Sunday, November 16
Pre-Conference: February 25, 2027
Kick off your Learning Labs experience with an inspiring full-day deep dive. Our pre-conference intensive workshops are designed to go beyond introductions and offer immersive, hands-on learning that gives you practical strategies, model lessons, and resources you can use right away.
Led by internationally recognized facilitators, these sessions provide a rare chance to explore powerful approaches in depth and to connect with fellow educators before the main conference begins.
OPTION 1
Introduction to
Concept-Based
Inquiry
Rachel French
Join Rachel French for a dynamic introduction to the Concept-Based Inquiry (CBI) model, developed with Carla Marschall.
This full-day workshop explores the model’s seven phases through interactive activities, student work samples, and classroom video clips that illustrate CBI in action.
Perfect for educators new to the approach, it offers a practical foundation to begin implementing CBI and to enrich your experience at the Learning Labs conference.
OPTION 2
Reimagining Mathematics through Concept-Based Inquiry
Jessica Humble-Crofts & Michelle Simpson
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll discover how Concept-Based Inquiry Mathematics (CBIM) shifts teaching from coverage to curiosity and deep understanding.
Through live model lessons, strategy talks, and practical activities, you’ll see how the French & Marschall Inquiry Cycle, guiding questions, and transfer tasks support meaningful mathematical thinking.
Suitable for educators at all levels, this session equips you with tools and inspiration to reimagine mathematics learning in your school.
OPTION 3
Enlivening Service Learning for Community Engagement and Global Citizenship
Cathryn Berger Kaye, M.A.
This interactive preconference introduces the Five Stages of Service Learning as a roadmap to purposeful action, helping students ask better questions, connect with community assets, and reflect meaningfully on their learning.
You’ll experience practical strategies, lively activities, and collaborative discussions designed to bring service learning to life in your school.
Whether you’re new or experienced, you’ll leave with resources you can use immediately and connections to a community of educators committed to global citizenship.
Learning Labs 2027: Keynotes
Service Learning: A Pathway to Engagement
Cathryn Berger Kaye, M.A.
What does it look like when learning moves beyond the classroom walls and into the real world?
In this keynote, Cathryn Berger Kaye explores how service learning ignites curiosity, deepens inquiry, and empowers students to apply knowledge and skills in meaningful contexts.
Living the Learning: How Schools Sustain Concept-Based Inquiry for Lasting Impact
rachel french
What does deep, sustained implementation of Concept-Based Inquiry (CBI) look like after the initial excitement fades and the real work begins?
In this keynote, Rachel French draws on theory, school partnerships, and action research to explore how schools in different stages of their CBI journey are embedding the approach into their everyday practice.
Who Gets A Say? Why Lasting Change Requires More Than Vision
rasha el-haggan
Why do some initiatives fade when leaders move on, while others endure? In this keynote, Rasha El-Haggan draws on case studies from schools, classrooms, and beyond to explore how context and agency shape whether change truly takes hold.
Join Rasha to rethink how we lead Concept-Based Inquiry so that change is not only implemented but embraced and sustained.
Learning Labs 2027:
Sessions & Experiences
From immersive live lessons and virtual classroom visits to keynote presentations and roundtable discussions, Learning Labs offers a range of experiences designed to inspire and connect educators.
pre-conference
pre-conference intensives
Kickstart your Learning Labs journey with a full day of immersive pre-conference workshops. Designed to go deeper than a typical session, these hands-on experiences give you practical strategies, rich resources, and direct access to world-class facilitators. It’s a rare chance to dive in early, connect with peers, and leave already inspired before the conference officially begins.
conference sessions
keynote presentations
Our keynote presentations set the stage for Learning Labs, bringing visionary educators and thought leaders to share insights that challenge, inspire, and reframe the way we think about teaching and learning. These sessions invite you to see the bigger picture, connect ideas across disciplines, and spark the conversations that will carry through the conference and beyond.
conference sessions
LIVE lessons
A Learning Labs exclusive, Live Lessons let you become a student again. In a 90-minute classroom experience, you’ll feel the power of inductive teaching as concepts emerge through guided inquiry. A 30-minute debrief then unpacks the strategies, helping you see exactly how to adapt them for your own teaching. This rare format bridges theory and practice in a way few conferences ever attempt.
pre-conference
virtual classroom visits
Join virtual classroom visits where experienced CBI educators share real lesson videos. Watch students respond to case studies and guiding questions to build understanding, then take part in a debrief to explore the strategies behind the learning.
conference sessions
breakout sessions
Learn directly from Certified Erickson & Lanning CBCI Trainers as they share how they’re bringing Concept-Based Inquiry into their classrooms. Each session combines practical strategies with small-group interaction, giving you the chance to ask questions, exchange ideas, and explore focused topics in a comfortable, collaborative setting.
pre-conference
roundtable discussions
Round table discussions create space to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and dive into Concept-Based Inquiry within specific subjects or contexts. These small-group conversations bring more voices to the table, spark fresh perspectives, and allow for honest dialogue about the unique challenges and opportunities of implementation.
optional add-on
conference dinner
Gather with fellow educators for an evening of connection and conversation at the Conference Dinner. Share ideas, stories, and laughter in a relaxed setting that celebrates community and the shared journey of transforming education.
Join us in
South Korea
Be part of the global CBI community at Learning Labs 2027.
Earlybird pricing ends 1 December—don’t miss the best rate. Choose from individual or group options.
The Perfect Plan for Your Growing Business
Choosing the right plan is crucial for your business growth. We offer tailored plans that fit your current needs and scale with your ambitions. Whether you're just starting out, expanding your team, or leading a large enterprise, we have a solution designed for you.
Pre Conference
Perfect for individuals and small teams just getting started.
Main Conference
Ideal for growing teams and businesses needing more capabilities.
Saturday night Dinner
Designed for large teams and enterprises with advanced needs.
USD$450
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USD$690
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USD$50
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accommodation
Where to stay
Accommodation in Incheon tends to book out fast, so once you’ve secured your Learning Labs ticket, we suggest reserving your room right away!
We don’t have any official partner hotels, but we recommend staying at one of the Accor Group properties. By joining their loyalty program, you can access discounted rates on your booking.
Accor operates more than a dozen hotels in the Incheon area, including:
All hotels offer special pricing for Accor loyalty club members.
Dates
thursday
FEBruary 25
pre-conference
Special sessions and workshops, including:
Concept-Based Mathematics with Michelle Simpson and Jessica Humble-Crofts
Pre-Conference session with Cathryn Berger Kaye, M.A.
Concept-Based Inquiry workshop with Rachel French
The Pre-Conference runs from 9.30 am - 3.30 pm.
friday - sunday
February 26 - 28
conference
Conference begins! Choose from a plethora of workshops, roundtable discussions, classroom visits, and more, and join your fellow conference attendees for a 3-course dinner on Saturday, 26th.
Times:
Friday 26 February: 9.30 am - 4.30 pm
Saturday 27 February: 8.30 am - 5:00 pm (followed by optional Conference Dinner)
Sunday 28 February: 9.00 am - 1:00 pm
Full program coming soon.
our hosts
Chadwick International
We’re proud to partner with Chadwick International as the host venue for Learning Labs 2027.
Located in Songdo International Business District in Incheon, South Korea, Chadwick International is an independent, non-profit international school serving students from pre-kindergarten through Grade 12.
Established in 2010 and founded on the educational philosophy of its sister school, Chadwick School in California, the school is known for its strong commitment to academic excellence, character development, and global citizenship.
Chadwick International offers the full International Baccalaureate continuum (PYP, MYP, DP, and CP), creating a learning environment that encourages inquiry, conceptual thinking, and meaningful connections across disciplines.
The school’s modern campus, designed to support collaboration, creativity, and innovation, provides an inspiring setting for professional learning. With exceptional facilities and a vibrant international community, Chadwick International offers the perfect environment for educators to gather, exchange ideas, and explore new approaches to teaching and learning.
We look forward to welcoming you to this dynamic learning community in Songdo.
Transforming education starts with you.
