MN ACS Awards Dinner

Location:  3M Innovation Center, 2350 Minnehaha Ave E., St. Paul, MN 55119

Presentation by 

Mr. Kevin Dirksen of Eagan High School - 2025 High School Chemistry Teacher Award Winner

Title of Presentation - Video Enhanced Learning for a Dynamic Classroom Environment 

Abstract - Kevin Dirksen, educator at Eagan High School, has spent his career refining instructional methods to enhance student learning. Frustrated by the limitations of traditional lecture-based instruction, he transitioned to a model in which students obtain primary content through concise video lessons at home, freeing up class time for deeper engagement. This approach allows Kevin to create a dynamic blend of laboratory investigations, group activities, visual demonstrations, collaborative problem-solving, formative assessments, and digital learning. It also allows Kevin to step off the “stage” and act more as a facilitator, providing targeted support to students who need it most while fostering independence in those ready to progress at their own pace. Beyond…