Education - The Conversation - Elementary, secondary and higher ed

A graphic image shows a brain with various colorful thought bubbles and symbols drawn across it.

A graphic image shows a brain with various colorful thought bubbles and symbols drawn across it.

Learning another language may be one of the best ways to keep your brain healthy as you age

Karen Stollznow, University of Colorado Boulder; Griffith University; University of New England

Lockdown or active shooter drill? The distinction matters for children’s safety and well-being

Emily Greene-Colozzi, UMass Lowell

A series of wooden desks and chairs are lined up in a dark room that is partially obscured.

A series of wooden desks and chairs are lined up in a dark room that is partially obscured.

We paid college students about $5 a night to sleep at least 7 hours – and their grades quickly improved

Osea Giuntella, University of Pittsburgh; Sally Sadoff, University of California, San Diego, and Silvia Saccardo, Carnegie Mellon University

A graphic image shows people sleeping in bunk beds, in a blue-lit room.

A graphic image shows people sleeping in bunk beds, in a blue-lit room.

Here’s how teachers and parents can collaborate and help Michigan’s 1.4M students succeed

Patricia Edwards, Michigan State University

Three kindergarten students sit at a desk

Three kindergarten students sit at a desk

Why the Trump administration’s bid to end diversity efforts at nonprofit schools is likely to get tied up in court

Elizabeth Schmidt, UMass Amherst

Students mill about on a campus with fall foliage.

Students mill about on a campus with fall foliage.

Read our latest education articles

AI and Education

A principal welcomes students to school.

A principal welcomes students to school.

When it comes to developing policies on AI in K-12, schools are largely on their own

Janice Mak, Arizona State University

The ‘one chatbot per child’ model for AI in classrooms conflicts with what research shows: Learning is a social process

Niral Shah, University of Washington

Boy sitting in classroom looking at tablet with headphones on.

Boy sitting in classroom looking at tablet with headphones on.

How I rehumanize the college classroom for the AI-augmented age

Sean Cho Ayres, Kennesaw State University

College student sitting in lecture hall while others walk around.

College student sitting in lecture hall while others walk around.

What AI earbuds can’t replace: The value of learning another language

Gabriel Guillén, Middlebury College and Thor Sawin, Middlebury College

four diverse young people sit at a table at a cafe and talk

four diverse young people sit at a table at a cafe and talk

AI could worsen inequalities in schools – teachers are key to whether it will

Katie Davis, University of Washington and Aayushi Dangol, University of Washington

Group of teachers with laptops to discuss AI policies.

Group of teachers with laptops to discuss AI policies.

More articles on artificial intelligence in education

Higher education

A graphic shows a space shuttle, microscope, beakers, telescope, a plant, pencils and a book.

A graphic shows a space shuttle, microscope, beakers, telescope, a plant, pencils and a book.

Polytechnic universities focus on practical, career-oriented skills, offering an alternative to traditional universities

Kelly Droege, University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic and Laura Reisinger, University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic

The Ivies can weather the Trump administration’s research cuts – it’s the nation’s public universities that have the most to lose

Todd L. Pittinsky, Stony Brook University (The State University of New York)

A group of young people shout and hold signs reading 'Kill the Cuts, Save Lives.'

A group of young people shout and hold signs reading 'Kill the Cuts, Save Lives.'

Rural high school students are more likely than city kids to get their diplomas, but they remain less likely to go to college

Sheneka Williams, Michigan State University

A person is seen from behind overlooking a large brown grassy area, trees and some farm machinery.

A person is seen from behind overlooking a large brown grassy area, trees and some farm machinery.

Larry Summers’ sexism is jeopardizing his power and privilege, but the entire economics profession hinders progress for women

Yana van der Meulen Rodgers, Rutgers University

Larry Summers walks while talking into a mobile phone.

Larry Summers walks while talking into a mobile phone.

Trump is changing student loan forgiveness rules – barring some public workers from getting relief, but resuming it for others

Jennifer L. Steele, American University

A metal scale shows a bag that says 'loan' on one side, with small books covered by a black graduation cap on the other side.

A metal scale shows a bag that says 'loan' on one side, with small books covered by a black graduation cap on the other side.

Read more about Higher Education

K-12 education

A rendering of small homes surrounded by trees.

A rendering of small homes surrounded by trees.

America’s teachers are being priced out of their communities − these cities are building subsidized housing to lure them back

Jeff Kruth, Miami University and Tammy Schwartz, Miami University

Oklahoma tried out a test to ‘woke-proof’ the classroom. It was short-lived, but could still leave a mark

Emery Petchauer, Columbia University

A top shot of an isolated blackboard with a chalk and the shape of Oklahoma drawn onto it.

A top shot of an isolated blackboard with a chalk and the shape of Oklahoma drawn onto it.

Children learn to read with books that are just right for them – but that might not be the best approach

Timothy E Shanahan, University of Illinois Chicago

Two school-age children and one adult sit and read books, in front of a large shelf of books.

Two school-age children and one adult sit and read books, in front of a large shelf of books.

Mindfulness is gaining traction in American schools – but it isn’t clear what students are learning

Deborah L. Schussler, University at Albany, State University of New York

A group of children sit at individual desks and close their eyes in a classroom.

A group of children sit at individual desks and close their eyes in a classroom.

AI is taking hold in K-12 schools – here are some ways it can improve teaching

Michael G. Kozak, Drexel University

Group of 4th grade students working on laptop computers.

Group of 4th grade students working on laptop computers.

Read more about K-12 education

Sports & athletics

Three swimmers dive into the water at the start of a race.

Three swimmers dive into the water at the start of a race.

NCAA will pay its current and former athletes in an agreement that will transform college sports

Joshua Lens, University of Iowa

High school sports are losing athletes to private clubs, but schools can keep them by focusing on character development

Mark Rerick, University of North Dakota

boys in football clothing line up on field under blue skies to shake other team's hands

boys in football clothing line up on field under blue skies to shake other team's hands

Student-athletes find more power in the changing legal landscape of college sports

Joshua Lens, University of Iowa

A football player extends his arms in a stadium full of people underneath the evening or night sky.

A football player extends his arms in a stadium full of people underneath the evening or night sky.

Students with disabilities often left on the sidelines when it comes to school sports

Megan MacDonald, Oregon State University

A boy in a wheelchair spins a basketball on his finger. He's wearing a red jersey with the number 16 in white numbers. And dark shorts.

A boy in a wheelchair spins a basketball on his finger. He's wearing a red jersey with the number 16 in white numbers. And dark shorts.

How Black male college athletes deal with anti-Black stereotypes on campus

Jonathan Howe, Temple University

Young man wearing jersey holds basketball against forehead

Young man wearing jersey holds basketball against forehead

Read more about sports in education

Families & parenting

The back of a young girl wearing a backpack standing in front of an open door, which has been opened by a woman who's greeting her.

The back of a young girl wearing a backpack standing in front of an open door, which has been opened by a woman who's greeting her.

Getting beyond answers like ‘fine’ and ‘nothing’: 5 simple ways to spark real talk with kids

Shelbie Witte, University of North Dakota

Teen drivers face unique challenges during ‘100 deadliest days’ of summer, but safety measures can make a difference

Shannon Roberts, UMass Amherst and Anuj Kumar Pradhan, UMass Amherst

A young woman looks at her phone while driving a car.

A young woman looks at her phone while driving a car.

Parents don’t need to try harder – to ease parenting stress, forget self-reliance and look for ways to share the care

Elizabeth Sharda, Hope College

woman with laptop comforts a crying baby in a seat

woman with laptop comforts a crying baby in a seat

About a third of pregnant women in the US lack sufficient vitamin D to support healthy pregnancies − new research

Melissa Melough, University of Delaware

Top view of a pregnant person with a large belly looking down at a handful of vitamins.

Top view of a pregnant person with a large belly looking down at a handful of vitamins.

Children living near oil and gas wells face higher risk of rare leukemia, studies show

Lisa McKenzie, University of Colorado Anschutz and Nicole Deziel, Yale University

A mother pushes her young son on a swing with an oil and gas storage facility in the background.

A mother pushes her young son on a swing with an oil and gas storage facility in the background.

Read more stories on parenting

Uncommon Courses

Women in STEM face challenges and underrepresentation – this course gives them tools to succeed

Filomena Nunes, Michigan State University

A group of women in an engineering lab, standing around a piece of machinery.

A group of women in an engineering lab, standing around a piece of machinery.

Exploring questions of meaning, ethics and belief through Japanese anime

Ronald S. Green, Coastal Carolina University

A cartoon showing a young child running with dark clouds in the background.

A cartoon showing a young child running with dark clouds in the background.

AI and art collide in this engineering course that puts human creativity first

Francesco Fedele, Georgia Institute of Technology

Abstract image of a woman's hand accessing the digital world from the real world.

Abstract image of a woman's hand accessing the digital world from the real world.

Schools are harnessing artificial intelligence to revolutionize courses in hospitality management

Betsy Pudliner, University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic

A woman behind a hotel counter interacts with two guests.

A woman behind a hotel counter interacts with two guests.

Some of the most interesting and innovative courses on campus

Read our Uncommon Courses series

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