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LILRC Webinar: From “I Can’t” to “I Can” – Empowering Students to Overcome Learned Helplessness

Learned helplessness can quietly derail student success—it’s the phenomenon where students feel that no matter what they do, they’ll fail, and as a result, they stop trying. In the classroom, this often manifests as students who refuse help, give up easily, or lack motivation. This webinar shines a light on learned helplessness in education and offers actionable solutions. Educators will learn how to recognize the signs of learned helplessness, understand its psychological and behavioral impact on student engagement, and implement strategies to break this negative cycle. The goal: help you replace “I can’t” with “I can” in your students’ mindset by fostering resilience, motivation, and self-efficacy.
Throughout the session, you’ll learn to identify the telltale signs of learned helplessness, such as apathy, avoidance of challenges, and negative self-talk, while exploring the underlying causes. We’ll cover how to cultivate a growth mindset in students, encouraging them to view setbacks as learning opportunities rather than failures. Practical techniques for giving students ownership and autonomy in their learning will be shared, along with ways to empower them through choice, voice, and responsibility to build confidence and intrinsic motivation.
Additionally, you’ll gain strategies for delivering encouraging, constructive feedback that reinforces effort and progress, with a focus on celebrating small wins and improvement milestones to build momentum. We’ll explore how to create a classroom culture that is safe, supportive, and fosters resilience—one where mistakes are seen as opportunities to grow, and students feel secure in taking academic risks.
By the end of the webinar, you’ll be equipped with practical tools and strategies to transform your classroom climate and support every learner. You’ll know how to spot and address learned helplessness early, foster resilience and self-efficacy, apply growth mindset techniques in daily teaching, deliver empowering feedback, and re-engage discouraged learners. Join us and gain ready-to-use strategies to boost student engagement, confidence, and success—turning “I can’t” into “I can” and watching your students thrive.
Dr. Danny Sabol is an experienced educator, librarian, and leader with a strong background in promoting student engagement, literacy, and educational innovation. With over a decade of experience spanning public libraries, K-12 schools, and higher education, Dr. Sabol specializes in fostering inclusive learning environments that empower students and support academic success.
He holds a Doctorate in Computer Science, a Master of Library and Information Science, and other advanced degrees in both Computer Science and Web Technologies. Dr. Sabol is a published author and recognized speaker, with expertise in areas such as student resilience, growth mindset, educational technology, and literacy development. His work focuses on equipping educators with practical strategies to support student motivation, self-efficacy, and lifelong learning.
In addition to his academic and professional achievements, Dr. Sabol is passionate about creating equitable and supportive learning spaces that help students overcome challenges like learned helplessness and disengagement. His engaging, actionable approach has made him a sought-after presenter at conferences and webinars nationwide.
To learn more about Dr. Sabol please visit his website: www.danielsabol.org
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