CELT Annual Teaching
and Learning Symposium

Keynote Presentation:
Empowering Innovation: Unleashing the Potential of Strength-Based Education 

Arash Zaghi, PhD 
Connie Shyharat

This interactive session showcases the transformative power of a strengths-based paradigm by emphasizing its role in creating personalized learning experiences while fostering national growth and global competitiveness. Moving beyond the traditional deficit-based model, our discussion highlights how shifting toward a strengths-based approach can help students from all backgrounds feel valued and connected. Rather than focusing solely on students’ challenges, we consider how emerging technologies like AI can help educators cultivate the strengths and talents of every learner, ultimately paving the way for a more diverse and innovative workforce.

Through reflections and small group discussions, we will learn to recognize and challenge deficit-based narratives. Participants will explore ways to make simple, but powerful, changes by incorporating strengths-based language and messaging to combat stigma and shape an inclusive learning environment. Drawing on research data, AI-driven insights, and the lived experiences of neurodiverse students and educators, we will also examine how technology can enhance personalized learning. Specifically, we will explore how AI can be leveraged to design adaptive learning experiences, provide real-time feedback and supports, and provide new avenues for exploring and creativity. Finally, we invite practitioners to move beyond accommodations by integrating flexible curricula and AI-powered tools that honor the diverse ways students process, create, and communicate knowledge. Finally, we reimagine what education might be: a space where all students feel their perspectives are recognized and valued and where AI serves as a tool for empowerment rather than limitation.