In 1999 Professional Development consultants from the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District and two members of the Hope College Education Department began their work to create the Midwest Brain and Learning Institute.

This Institute is not a conference or convention in the traditional sense. We are committed to providing a professional learning experience that is planned and implemented with "brain-considerate" principles at the forefront. We keep registration to 125 attendees so that there are plenty of opportunities for interaction between presenters and participants in a variety of settings -- learning clubs, whole group discussions, question-and-answer sessions, and relaxed lunches.

Sufficient reflection time is provided throughout the day's schedule to consider applications and implications of the information being presented as it relates to the participants' own practice.

The neuroscience literature and our presenters over nine years have validated the central principle that learning is a reciprocal process. For teaching to be effective, the learner must be actively involved in rehearsing, elaborating and making connections. The Institute's staff is dedicated to modeling this reciprocal process in a variety of ways.