The course is part of the conference The Adaptive Brain: Development, Learning, and Learning Disorders, scheduled from 25 to 28 May 2025 and organized by a research program of the University of Zurich with the support of the Department of Education and Learning / University of Teacher Education of SUPSI.

The first part of the training will be devoted to the biological mechanisms of learning and the role played by genetic and environmental factors - including educational and pedagogical methods - in shaping our ability to learn. The most recent research on dyslexia and dyscalculia will then be reviewed, and some effective support methods will be presented.

During the second part of the training, three workshops will be offered in which participants will be able to discuss practical ways of applying what they have learnt in order to best and effectively deal with learning disorders at school.
 

Programme

13.30 – How do we learn? Nature towards education
Luca Godenzini, Post-doc researcher, University of Zurich

14.15 – Short presentations on learning disorders
Silvia Brem, Associate professor in ‘Cognitive neuroscience in childhood and adolescence’, University of Zurich
Karin Kucian, Lecturer, University of Zurich

15.00 – Break

15.15 – Workshops

• Learning to read successfully: the role of executive functions
  Angela Pasqualotto, Associate Professor in Cognitive Psychology and Inclusive Education, DFA/ASP
• Dyscalculia diagnosis
  Karin Kucian, Lecturer, University of Zurich
• Reading Learning and Dyslexia
  Silvia Brem, Associate professor in ‘Cognitive neuroscience in childhood and adolescence’, University of Zurich

16.10 – Final plenary discussion

Participation

For organisational reasons, registration via the registration form is welcome by 9 May 2025.