Building Brains That Build Things: Engineering Habits of Mind for Gifted Innovators
Includes a Live Web Event on 09/17/2026 at 6:00 PM (EDT)
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What makes someone an inventor, designer, or problem solver? It is not just knowledge. It is how they think. In this engaging and practical session, explore six Engineering Habits of Mind that power real innovation. Persistence, creativity, systems thinking, collaboration, conscientiousness, and optimism help ideas grow into solutions. Through classroom-ready strategies and intriguing examples, discover how to help gifted learners move from curious thinkers to capable builders who design, test, and improve the world around them.
Dr. Brian Housand
Dr. Brian Housand believes learning should always be an adventure. As Coordinator of the Academically or Intellectually Gifted Program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, he helps educators challenge gifted learners both intellectually and emotionally. A frequent speaker at national and international conferences, Brian explores creativity, gifted education, and the power of play. His latest book, SEED: Silverquicken Episodes for Enrichment and Diagnosis, blends immersive storytelling with puzzle-based learning designed to instigate cognitive and affective growth. A longtime classroom teacher, gifted specialist, and professor, he also co-authored Using the Schoolwide Enrichment Model with Technology and wrote Fighting Fake News!. When not teaching or presenting, Brian proudly embraces his geeky passions for Star Wars, Disney, Taylor Swift, video games, and fonts.