PLACE Exchange: A Forum for Educators, Families & Communities

Building STEM Pathways: Evidence-Based Strategies to guide Black Boys and Men – September 16, 2026 | 4:00 – 5:00 pm CST | Virtual via Zoom

Presented by:  Dr. Brian Burt, Professor, Director, Wisconsin’s Equity and Inclusion Laboratory (Wei LAB)

Every child deserves to see themselves in STEM, yet Black men still make up less than two percent of STEM graduate students. Dr. Brian Burt and his team spent the last decade researching how to empower Black men and boys in STEM. In the next PLACE Exchange, we will explore the Black Males in Engineering Multimedia Project. This innovative initiative translates rigorous scholarship into accessible short-form videos and interactive toolkits for parents, teachers, and advocates. We’ll share concrete ways to foster STEM identity, community, and lifelong success from early childhood to the workplace. Come be part of the solution. 

Register!

Staying Active Together: Physical Activity for Children with Disabilities and Their Families – October 21, 2026 | 4:00 – 5:00 pm CST | Virtual via Zoom

Presented by:  Dr. Luis Columna, Professor in the Department of Kinesiology

How can families stay active together, especially during the long winter months? In this presentation, Luis Columna, PhD, will share findings from his research with children with disabilities and their families. He will discuss how physical activity can help children develop motor skills, build confidence, and participate more fully at home, at school, and in their communities. The presentation will also explore the important role parents play in supporting their children’s participation and why parents need opportunities to exercise for their own health and well-being. Participants will leave with practical ideas for inclusive winter activities that families can enjoy together, along with strategies for adapting activities to different abilities, interests, and needs. Parents, educators, and community professionals will gain useful ways to make movement enjoyable, accessible, and part of family life throughout the year.

Register!

Sessions coming soon:

Arts Education Resources

Demystifying Data Science

Submit A New Topic Idea

Move Your Mood: What Happens to How We Feel After Exercise – August 19th, 2026 | 4:00 – 5:15 pm CST

Presented by: Jacob Meyer, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, and Principal Investigator in the Wellbeing and Exercise Lab

We often think of exercise as an investment in our future health, but physical activity can also have powerful effects on how we feel right now. In this presentation, Jacob Meyer, PhD, will explore what happens to our mood, stress, energy, and well-being in the minutes to hours after a single bout of exercise, drawing on research from his lab and the broader scientific literature. Participants will learn how movement can help people feel more prepared for the challenges that come next—whether that’s a stressful meeting, a difficult conversation, a day in the classroom, or managing symptoms of depression and anxiety. The session will also highlight practical ways to incorporate physical activity throughout the day and discuss how exercise is being integrated into mental health treatments to support emotional well-being.

Responsible AI in Classrooms – May 20, 2026 | 4:00 – 5:15 pm CST

Presented by: Shamya Karumbaiah, Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology.

While AI biases and stereotypes are harmful to students, we are often left with an ethical dilemma: if the AI intervention makes all students better off than before, even if the improvement is more for one group than another, do we choose to deny access to this intervention to all students? In the absence of a counterfactual or better alternative, can we justify using this AI tool? Are there contexts where finding an alternative is especially difficult (e.g., finding bilingual resource teachers in rural schools)? Join us as we explore these ethical dilemmas with authentic cases during the PLACE Exchange session on Responsible AI in Classrooms.

Beyond the “Off” Switch: Evidence-Based Strategies for Healthy Digital Habits in Children – April 29th, 2026 | 4:00 – 5:15 pm CST

Presented by: Larissa N. Niec, Professor in Psychological Treatment, Psychotherapy, and Mental Health Interventions in the Department of Counseling Psychology.

As digital devices become permanent fixtures in the lives of young children, educators, parents, and providers are challenged by the management of children’s screen device use and wonder whether there can ever be such a thing as healthy screen time. Attendees will explore the data behind screen impact on development and learn what it is children want more than screens. Whether you are a teacher managing classroom behavior, a mental health provider supporting a family, or a parent struggling with the balance, you will learn about evidence-based strategies to help regain balance through the lens of attachment and clear, health-focused boundaries.

Understanding Special Education Law: Exploring What’s Old and What’s New – March 7th, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am CST

Presented by: Dr. Julie Mead, UW-Madison Professor Emerita

In this session participants will get an overview and an update to special education law, exploring topics like: 1) The difference between 504 Plans and IEPs and teachers’ roles in developing and delivering each; 2) Understanding the term “benefit” when thinking about what a child needs on an IEP; 3) Understanding parents’ rights in the process; 4) Understanding teachers’ roles in the discipline of children with disabilities; and 5) Understanding your obligations under federal and state law given the changes happening at the United States Department of Education.

First Amendment Rights for Students – February 7th, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am CST

Presented by: Suzanne Eckes, Susan S. Engeleiter Professor of Education Law, Policy, and Practice at the School of Education

During this session we will explore legal issues that address students’ First Amendment rights in k-12 public schools. For example, can a student wear a political t-shirt to school? Can a student criticize a teacher on social media? How much leeway does a student have to express their opinions off-campus? When does freedom of speech cross the line into bullying and harassment? When do dress code policies (or policies related to hair) abridge students’ First Amendment rights? 

New Legal Developments for Educators – January 10th, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am CST

Presented by: Suzanne Eckes, Susan S. Engeleiter Professor of Education Law, Policy, and Practice at the School of Education

This session will provide educators with a basic legal update on a variety of pressing matters that impact K-12 public schools. For example, issues surrounding student discipline, student injury, religion in schools, FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), social media and teachers’ SPEECH RIGHTS, book bans, curricular challenges, and other emerging topics will be discussed. This update will be useful to classroom teachers/aides, school leaders, school board members, parents, and others interested in school legal issues.