📺 Ditch Summit: Science of Happiness + Sketchnotes

Watch any of the +100 Ditch Summit sessions on the Ditch Summit Video Library page.

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🗓 Ditch Summit: 15 days down, 11 days to go
The Ditch Summit closes on Jan. 10, 2025. After that, sessions + resources are unavailable until

🔎 SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR 🔎

Creative, Visual Student Activities with FigJam

Digital whiteboard tools can be a great place to brainstorm, to organize ideas, and for students to show what they’ve learned.

FigJam (by Figma for Education) has so many unique features that make learning visual and fun. (And it’s totally free for education!)

Sure, students can drop sticky notes, create a flow chart, and add images.

But a fun photo booth to snap a selfie? Voting and polls? Even custom washii tape?

Plus it has TONS of pre-made templates for education that will get your students started right away.

In this super practical session, David Curran from Figma shows you some of his favorite FigJam features and ways to use it.

BONUS: You can try out FigJam right away! On the video presentation page, just click the “Discuss This Session in FigJam” button!

🔎 WATCH: Creative, Visual Student Activities with FigJam

📺 FEATURED SPEAKER 📺

The Science of Happiness with Kim Strobel

Happiness isn’t just about emotions and getting what you want. It’s science.

Kim Strobel has studied the science of happiness and has found:

• 50% of your baseline happiness level is genetic

• 10% is based on external circumstances

• 40% is within our control

That means that intentional practice can help us elevate our happiness baseline.

So … what can you do? Kim suggests practices that include time for yourself, gratitude, and more. Plus, she addresses the impact of happiness on our students, too.

📚 BOOK: Since this presentation, Kim has written the book Teach Happy: Small Steps to Big Joy. It’s packed full of science, strategies, and practical tools.

This session was recorded during the CUE Craft Ditch Summit, a partnership with CUE and Adobe. Kim presented this 5 years ago, and the message is still as powerful today as ever!

📺 WATCH: The Science of Happiness with Kim Strobel

📺 FEATURED SPEAKER 📺

Powerful Visual Learning Through Sketching for Students and Teachers with Jen Giffen

You may have seen some of Jen Giffen’s work in these Ditch Summit emails over the last couple weeks. She’s a sketchnote artist and has created sketches of all of our new featured speakers!

Sketchnoting is a powerful, brain-friendly practice that can help you process and remember what you’ve learned. It’s also a fun creative outlet — where you can share what you’ve made (or just keep it for yourself!).

It’s easy to look at this and think, “Wow, she’s so good. I could never do this.”

But Jen started small and has developed her skills over the years.

She also has a favorite sketchnoting app (and shares it during the session).

You’ll love her energy and positivity — and today can be the day that you start sketching!

📺 WATCH: Powerful Visual Learning Through Sketching with Jen Giffen

Watch any Ditch Summit session from previous years on the Ditch Summit Video Library page any time.