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Charles County Grant Supports Outdoor STEM Education
A $15,566 grant will help the Alice Ferguson Foundation provide outdoor STEM education for Charles County third graders and teachers.
Union Grove High School renovations near completion, bringing new science spaces, media room
Union Grove High School renovations are nearing completion, adding new science classrooms, a media room, secure entrances, and other improvements.
Youth sports become big business, putting stress on families
Discuss the impact of business on youth sports and how they could be made more accessible for all
Youth sports become big business, putting stress on families
Discuss the impact of business on youth sports and how they could be made more accessible for all
Why Science and Education Videos Are Thriving on YouTube
From deep-dive science explainers to optimistic experiments, creators are proving there’s an audience for STEM content beyond the classroom
Fix Colorado without shortchanging taxpayers
If we truly want to fix Colorado, we must respect taxpayers, demand accountability and prioritize classroom results. Proposition NN fails the test. The far left put forth this measure, presenting it as the only way to fund public schools. Colorado voters should look past the title and see what Prop NN really does. The Taxpayer’s Bill of […]
Hummel Scholarship 2024-2025
At Leeds, business education extends beyond the classroom. In 2025–26, the school’s six Centers of Excellence enabled students to apply their learning, connect
Fort Worth ISD earns grant to create, expand business and entrepreneur classrooms
The Texas Trust Gives Foundation awarded Fort Worth ISD its full grant to build business classrooms at World Language Institute.
Increasing the Lead-Safe Certified Workforce in North Dakota
Learn how North Dakota is working to improve lead safety by providing trainings for the local contractor workforce.
Montreal-Based Proteus Labs Partners with Avantis Education to Bring Immersive Virtual Science Labs to Classrooms Worldwide
Proteus Labs, a Montreal-based developer of immersive mixed reality science lab applications for K–12 education, today announced that its unique mixed reality science lab application has been selected to be part of Avantis Education's ClassVR Xcelerate headset and new EduverseSTEM platform, extending hands-on virtual science experiments to schools in 90 countries.
West Virginia State Police cadets to begin mental health crisis training September 9
West Virginia State Police cadets will begin Keystone Model crisis training Sept. 9. Classroom lessons and realistic simulations will teach them to recognize behavioral health emergencies, communicate effectively and safely de-escalate encounters.
18 Sports Commentary – the first day of the school year
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – It’s time for another special 18 Sport Commentary. On this edition, we discuss the very first day of school in the New York region of The Southern Tier. The first day of school symbolizes much more than just being the first day to go back to the classroom. It’s symbolic of […]
Kids are back in classrooms. Health misinformation could shape the school year.
Public health officials and medical experts worry that declining vaccination rates will lead to more children getting infected with preventable diseases.
Business internship presentations connect classroom learning to career readiness
Nineteen Penn State Lehigh Valley business students concluded their required summer internships by presenting what they learned to faculty and staff evaluators. The presentations culminated a semester-long process designed to help students connect their academic preparation, workplace experiences and career-readiness skills.
Your vote. Your child’s classroom. Your electric bill. Your water. Your health.
More than 95% of cases in this country are handled by state courts. And as the U.S. Supreme Court pushes fundamental questions about our freedoms back to the states, state courts and state constitutions are increasingly important protectors of our rights.But those protections only mean something if the judges sitting on our Supreme Court are willing to enforce them.
It’s harmful for professors to preach their political beliefs
Senior staff writer Abby Breidenbach discusses the need for political discourse in the classroom and why that is harmed when a professor preaches their own beliefs.
It’s harmful for professors to preach their political beliefs
Senior staff writer Abby Breidenbach discusses the need for political discourse in the classroom and why that is harmed when a professor preaches their own beliefs.
Fauna Entertainment's Ben's World Reaches TV with Gulli
Fauna’s digital-first series continues its journey from YouTube to classrooms, and now to television. Under the agreement, 50 x 2-minute episodes of Ben’s
Bacteria found in classroom dust may affect children’s respiratory health
Common bacteria found in classroom dust are associated with reduced lung function in children according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
Utah woman becomes teacher amid health crisis; community rallies to keep her in the classroom
Alisha Raymond has long faced health challenges, but amid it all, has wanted to help children with special needs.
Arkansas Colleges of Health Education brings hands-on learning to area classrooms through hydroponic gardens
FORT SMITH -- The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education Research Institute Health & Wellness Center expanded its hydroponic gardening efforts this summer by equipping area teachers with the tools and knowledge to bring hydroponics directly into their classrooms.
49ers Prepare Educators to Build Positive Sports Culture Through Mental Wellness
49ers Flag presented by Visa, Positive Coaching Alliance, and USA Football hosted a coaches clinic with classroom learning and on-field instruction.
Get free personal training while helping Exercise Science students build skills
Key takeaways: For Exercise and Sport Sciences students, working with someone they don’t already know provides an important opportunity to translate classroom learning into practical experience. All Exercise Science students have the opportunity to serve as student trainers during their senior year, said Jason Casey, Ph.D., associate professor of Exercise Science. “We greatly value these […]
US Naval Academy midshipmen take 'driver's ed' on training boats
Midshipmen at the US Naval Academy put their classroom knowledge into practice on training vessels like YP 700. Take a look.
Trails over textbooks
UD initiative inspires environmental lessons to take high schoolers beyond the classroom
Lincoln Public Schools breaks down mental health resources across schools
As students get back into the swing of things in the classroom, mental health remains one of the top priorities for Lincoln Public Schools.
LPS breaks down mental health resources across schools
As students get back into the swing of things in the classroom, mental health remains one of the top priorities for Lincoln Public Schools.
KeikiCo Business Plan Competition offers Hawaiʻi students a chance to win $25,000 for their school
With Hawaiʻi students back in the classroom, American Savings Bank is calling on the state’s next generation of entrepreneurs to put their biggest ideas to the test through the 2026 KeikiCo Business Plan Competition.
Scientists to Classrooms: A thriving Science News Learning outreach program
For three years, classrooms participating in Science News Learning have welcomed scientists to share their research and career journeys, giving…
Measles concerns rise as Rochester-area students head back to school
As students return to classrooms across the Rochester and Finger Lakes region, health experts are urging families to be aware of measles amid a recent rise in cases.
Students take advantage of experiential learning opportunities
This summer was a time for travel, research, internships and expanding classroom lessons for many students in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
Public health in practice: Faith, community and student partnership across NC - UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
September 2, 2026 This summer, students from the Gillings School took their learning beyond the classroom through Practice-in-Place, a community-engaged practicum experience of the Gillings Public Health and Faith Communities Initiative.
Mental health advocate: New state standards will give students language to ask for help
Beginning this fall, the state requires Minnesota schools to provide mental health instruction for students, from fourth grade through senior year.
Teacher Research Academy connects educators to LLNL science
For nearly 30 years, LLNL has offered Teacher Research Academy (TRA) to middle school, high school and community college teachers looking for unique professional development experiences. At no cost to educators, TRA workshops offer classroom-focused applications of LLNL's groundbreaking science and technology. Over two weeks this summer, four different TRAs were offered as two-day workshops: Understanding Energy Technology, Drone Design & Application, Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the Classroom and Data Analytics for STEM Labs using AI. Understanding energy technology This session
ATLAS publishes first paper on Public Engagement with Science
You can’t exactly take the ATLAS experiment on tour. At 7,000 tonnes and buried 100 metres underground at CERN, it’s not easy to move. So, for more than a decade, the ATLAS Collaboration has found another way to bring the experiment to people around the world: live, interactive virtual visits with the scientists who work on it. In a recent paper published in the European Physical Journal Plus, the ATLAS Collaboration documents the evolution and impact of its flagship Virtual Visits programme. The paper is the Collaboration’s first publication focused specifically on science education, communication and outreach. It traces the programme from its beginnings as an experimental outreach effort in 2010 through its growth into a global programme – connecting classrooms in the Amazon, schools in the Himalayas and even a research station in Antarctica. Drawing on data collected between 2019 and 2025, the paper examines the programme’s reach and impact. Global reach, local connection Figure 1: World map showing the number of virtual visits across participating countries from 2019 to 2025. Cooler colours (purple and blue) are used for countries with fewer visits, and warmer colours (red and orange) for countries with more visits. (Image: ATLAS Collaboration/CERN) The core mission of the ATLAS Virtual Visit programme is to connect audiences worldwide with particle physicists and engage them in accessible discussions about cutting-edge research. While visiting CERN in person is an unforgettable experience, financial and logistical barriers can make such a trip difficult for many students and public groups. Video conferencing has allowed the Collaboration to break down these barriers: between 2019 and 2025, the Collaboration hosted 698 virtual visits, engaging tens of thousands of participants across nearly 70 countries (see Figure 1). Interactivity is central to the programme. Far from simple one-way broadcasts, Virtual Visit audience members are encouraged to engage in conversation with the scientist(s) hosting the visit. Most hosts are volunteers from the ATLAS Collaboration, who bring their diverse scientific expertise, language skills and cultural backgrounds to each visit. Where possible, audiences are paired with volunteer scientists who share their native language and cultural background, making it easier to engage, ask questions and connect with the hosts. Between 2019 and 2025, Virtual Visits were held in 19 different languages. The core mission of the ATLAS Virtual Visit programme is to connect audiences worldwide with particle physicists and engage them in accessible discussions about cutting-edge research. Constant evolution Figure 2: The number of ATLAS Virtual Visits organised annually since 2019. (Image: ATLAS Collaboration/CERN) The ATLAS Virtual Visit programme has continuously evolved to enhance the visitor experience. Early sessions were hosted directly from the ATLAS Control Room before transitioning in 2014 to a dedicated space in the ATLAS Visitor Centre, equipped with modern videoconferencing technology. In 2019, the ATLAS Collaboration expanded the programme’s reach, introducing live Virtual Visits from the experimental cavern during year-end maintenance stops and long LHC shutdowns. These exclusive sessions take participants beyond the ATLAS visitor platform, offering real-time, up-close views of the towering detector. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted in-person gatherings worldwide, demand for virtual engagement surged. The ATLAS Collaboration adapted rapidly by introducing Open Virtual Visits streamed via Zoom and YouTube, allowing individual science enthusiasts and families to join live guided tours. Figure 2 shows that the programme reached a peak of 155 visits in 2021 and has since maintained around 100 visits per year, demonstrating sustained engagement beyond the pandemic-driven increase. More than just a tour Beyond participation numbers, the paper highlights the positive impact on participants and educators. Teachers report successfully integrating Virtual Visits into their physics curricula, sparking sustained curiosity and in many cases inspiring students to pursue STEM studies and careers. Feedback received also highlighted how the direct dialogue with ATLAS scientists has given students an authentic and personal perspective on particle physics, helping them connect what they learn in the classroom with the people behind ATLAS research. Looking ahead, the programme will continue to evolve with new technologies and communication platforms. The goal is simple: to give even more audiences the opportunity to engage directly with particle physics and make fundamental science open to all. Learn more Breaking barriers: the impact of ATLAS Virtual Visits in science communication (Eur. Phys. J. Plus 141, 874 (2026), arXiv:2601.22457, see figures) ATLAS Virtual Visit Dashboard Register for an ATLAS Virtual Visit
Marine Science Career Accelerator Helps Student Careers
New, hands-on program aids students in bridging the gap between the classroom and the workforce by offering professional certifications and field experience
14 Science "Facts" You Were Taught In School That Are Actually False
From the "10% of your brain" thing to that tongue map poster in every classroom, here's everything your science teacher got wrong.
Business school implements AI as ‘core service,’ keeps ethics at forefront
As artificial intelligence rapidly changes, the business school's classroom experience changes with it. The school emphasizes a foundation in ethics so that humans and machines can work hand in hand to accomplish great things.
Making the case for business pressure on N.C. public school spending
With another school year starting up, Tom Oxholm held a webinar last week seeking to rally business community support for North Carolina’s K-12 system.
Rice-developed BuoyBeads bring biotechnology lessons to high school classrooms
A biotechnology kit developed at Rice allows high school students to create living materials.
Stream Team Workshop to help educators bring water science into classroom
Educators looking to add hands-on environmental science to their curriculum will have an opportunity to learn about Arkansas’ Stream Team program next month at the Fred Berry Crooked Creek Nature Center. The Stream Team Professional Development
Lanham science center teaches community about STEM
Lanham’s science center is like one giant classroom where students can get close to nature and reach for the stars. News4’s Juliana Valencia reports.
Practicum experience enhances this MPH student’s research insights
By applying classroom learning to real-world research, Keya Chilka discovered new perspectives on public health and strengthened the skills needed to create meaningful change for vulnerable populations.
Aldine Students Turn Food Truck Models Into Lessons in Business, Teamwork and Entrepreneurship
IMAGE For students in Marilyn Johnson’s business classes at Eisenhower Ninth Grade College Prep, a food truck begins with more than a menu. It starts with a question: What do their customers want? Over the past four years, Johnson has turned a classroom assignment into a hands-on business simulation that asks students to take an idea from customer research to a 3D food truck model — and build a business around it. The project recently received a boost when Greater Texas Credit Union presented Johnson with a $250 award recognizing her commitment to students and meaningful learning experiences. “I want students [...]
MTSU education in PR helps student build successful business before graduation
For Beckham Scott, the classroom and the business have become closely connected.
Illinois schools prepare for mandated student mental health screenings
Back-to-school season can bring excitement over new classrooms, friendships and routines. But for some students, returning to school can also bring anxiety and other mental health challenges.
A new survey suggests teen mental health in Vermont is finally improving
About a quarter — 23% — of high school students in Vermont reported being sad or hopeless in 2025. That’s significantly down from a high of 31% in 2019.
HVRSD Prepares for New School Year With New Cellphone Rules, Mental Health Funding
With students returning to classrooms on Sept.1, the Hopewell Valley Regional School District is putting the final pieces in place for the 2026-27 school
The Texas Activist Putting the Ten Commandments Back Into American Classrooms
David Barton—with his giant private vault—has become a quiet force driving a state-by-state campaign to integrate religion into public education
Old Saybrook High School adds ambulance bay to medical science classroom
Old Saybrook High School students got a preview of new classroom additions as the summer break winds down, including an ambulance integrated into a medical science classroom.
Scientists explore large-scale geoengineering to slow glacier melt
Learn how scientists are attempting to reverse glacial melt through intervention
Woodridge unveils new science wing
The Woodridge High School science wing recently underwent a total renovation prior to the start of this school year. New fume hoods were installed in the walls between two classrooms in the recently renovated Woodridge High School science wing. Photos: Eric Poston CUYAHOGA FALLS — Students at Woodridge High School will be welcomed back this
NJ panel deadlocks on vote to raise health premiums for teachers
The NJ-run health plan for teachers may see a 34% premium hike next year. The panel tasked with approving rates punted on a vote Wednesday.
Latino, Black students more likely to face bullying, mental health issues, says MassInc poll
The new statewide poll points to a consistent pattern of inequity around school safety, bullying, mental health, discrimination and regular attendance.
Major construction continues for UC, Life Science Building, UTA West
Smaller projects are also underway across campus to update study spaces, classrooms, roads and more.
Smithsonian Brings Sandy Beach Scientists to Texas A&M Galveston
Scientists from the U.S. and South America are workshopping at Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) this week to expand sandy beach research and broaden collegiate learning opportunities.The Tides of Opportunity Project, co-led by the Smithsonian’s Marine Global Earth Observatory (MarineGEO) Program, TAMUG, the Smithsonian Marine Station, the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, and the University of Miami, is a collaborative monitoring project with marine science professors and their students.Tuesday, Aug. 18, through Friday, Aug. 21, 15 professors and marine science professionals from the United States, Brazil, Peru, and Urugay will co-design a sandy beaches monitoring protocol and associated course modules and test the protocol in the field.The goal is to incorporate sandy beach monitoring protocols into marine science courses, which college faculty and students can use to achieve learning goals while providing essential data can help researchers diagnose the health of an understudied critical coastal habitat.Dr. Guilherme Corte, an assistant professor of marine biology in the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies at TAMUG, is a principal investigator for MarineGEO. Texas A&M University at Galveston students and faculty package samples collected on the beach to take to campus for study in the Benthic Ecology Lab. Credit: TAMUG Division of Marketing and Communications“One third of the world’s ice-free coastlines are made of sandy beaches, and they go from pole to pole,” Corte said.However, despite their abundance and place as one of the most accessible coastal ecosystems for college-level education and research, they remain critically understudied.The Tides of Opportunity Project recognized that accessibility makes sandy beaches uniquely suited for engaging professors and students, including those with limited resources.“Any students can do sandy beach research,” Corte said, encouraging instructors to help students take a break from typing questions into artificial intelligence tools and embrace opportunities to do real science. “Providing this hands-on experience is something unique.”Tides of Opportunity Project goals include:Training a cohort of professors from across the Americas in standardized sandy beach monitoring methods; Equipping participating faculty with classroom modules, field tools, and multilingual teaching materials; Expanding MarineGEO with new monitoring sites focused on the implementation of long-term sandy beach monitoring; Strengthening hands-on, college-level learning experiences; And cultivating interest, learning, and efficacy in science among college-level students.By the end of this week, workshop participants plan to have a final version of the protocol and associated course modules that we can share with professors shortly after the workshop ends to then test with their students in courses that take place between September 2026 and February 2027.The scheduleDay 1: Tuesday, Aug. 18Location: Aggie Special Events Center (ASEC), Rooms 102 B and C, Texas A&M University at Galveston 8:30 – 9 a.m. Breakfast9 – 9:30 am Welcome and brief group introductions9:30 – 10 a.m. Introduction to Tides of Opportunity Project, Design Workshop, MarineGEO, and the Connecting Coastlines to Campuses Program (presentation)10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Introduction to workshop participants and project coordination team (presentations by each participant)• Brief lunch break from 12-12:30 p.m.1 – 3 p.m. Discussion about why collaborative science matters (presentation and interactive group discussion)3 – 4:15 p.m. Introduction to sandy beaches (presentation and group discussion)Day 2: Wednesday, Aug.19Location:• Morning sessions: ASEC Rooms 102 B and C, Texas A&M University at Galveston • Afternoon sessions: Corte’s field site (location available upon request)8:30 – 9 a.m. Breakfast9 a.m. – noon Prep for fieldwork (presentation and interactive group discussion)• Finish conversation about importance of studying sandy beaches• Go through sandy beaches monitoring protocol and field sheetsNoon – 12:45 p.m. Lunch12:45 – 1:30 p.m Prep for field (including driving to the field site)1:30 – 5:30 p.m. Fieldwork & bring samples back to TAMUGDay 3: Thursday, Aug. 20Location:• Breakfast: ASEC Rooms 102 B and C, Texas A&M University at Galveston • Fieldwork: Guilherme’s field site (location available upon request)• Lab/afternoon sessions: TAMUG lab (location available upon request) and ASEC Rooms 102 B and C8:30 – 9 a.m . Breakfast9 – 11 a.m. Return to field• Shorter field trip – recovering samples left out overnight11 a.m. – noon Lab work12 – 12:45 p.m. Lunch12:45 – 2:45 p.m. Continue lab work3 – 5 p.m. Discuss with professors the feasibility of implementing protocol in their courses and where might need to make changes (discussion)Day 4: Friday, Aug. 21Location: ASEC Rooms 102 B and C, Texas A&M University at Galveston 8:30 – 9 a.m. Breakfast9 a.m. – noon Group Discussion• How to evaluate student learning and engagement• Course modules• Next steps
Supreme Court asked to review law requiring Ten Commandments in public schools
The case could set a new national standard for the limits of state-sponsored religious expression in classrooms
Supreme Court asked to review law requiring Ten Commandments in public schools
The case could set a new national standard for the limits of state-sponsored religious expression in classrooms
Supreme Court asked to review law requiring Ten Commandments in public schools
The case could set a new national standard for the limits of state-sponsored religious expression in classrooms
How health hubs at Detroit schools are helping fight chronic absenteeism
As students prepare to head back to the classroom, Detroit Public Schools Community District is making sure they have the support they need.
Blue School grants bring hands-on science to classrooms
Students across the St. Johns River Water Management District will have new opportunities to explore Florida’s waterways, conduct scientific research and connect with the environment through the …
Turning science students into problem solvers
BELIEVE Academy science teacher Seyi Akoko can trace his love of science back to a seventh-grade classroom. Curious about a lesson on evaporation, he went home and mixed salt with water in an attempt to recreate the experiment for himself. His experiment may have gotten him into trouble at home, but it also ignited a […]
Classroom Learning Meets Community Impact | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
MHS student Mark Poisler helped expand access to safe drinking water and learned how environmental health complements a career in medicine.
Kennedy in Bakersfield: States will get best science as Kern reports measles cases
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) As millions of Californians begin heading back to the classroom from summer vacation, President Trump has signed an executive or
A New Phonics Debate Shows How the 'Science of Reading' Movement Is Evolving
Growing momentum behind 'linguistic' phonics has raised questions about how best to use classroom time.
More than words: The political power of print at the Haggerty Museum of Art
Nearly 5,000 visitors viewed the Haggerty Museum of Art’s exhibitions, engaged in classroom conversations and discussed cross-cultural issues inspired by the semester’s focus on the political power of print.
Money and politics play a role in public education curriculum gaining popularity in Texas
As Texas lawmakers put more restrictions on what is approved for the classroom, one expert told ABC13 that one curriculum has a clear advantage.
UVA Batten Launches New Master of Science in Public Policy and Data
The University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy has introduced a new graduate degree, the Master of Science in Public Policy and Data which will train policy professionals to lead data analysis, not just consume it.
‘Glow Life’ brings Smokies science to fifth-grade classrooms
Fifth graders across East Tennessee and Western North Carolina will have a chance to explore one of the Great Smoky Mountains’ most fascinating natural wonders — and their creativity could earn them a trip to Dollywood. Smokies Life and its partners are launching “Glow Life” for the 2026-27 school year, a science-based educational project centered […]
Hands-On Learning, Mentorship Launch Science Grad’s Next Chapter
A chemistry grad’s next stop is Stanford University, but the path that led him there was shaped in the classrooms, labs and research groups at the University of Guelph. Peter Kim’s love for science…
St. George free entertainment on tap with Dick Earl’s Electric Witness in concert, movie in the park
Students may be heading back to the classroom this month, but the city of St. George still has plenty of summer fun lined up.
Georgia Milestone 2025-2026 scores see all-time high in math, steady rise in science and social studies
Results from the 2025-2026 Georgia Milestones assessments show that students continued to improve in mathematics, science and social studies, according to a press release from the Georgia Department of Education on Thursday.
Former VP Mike Pence joining Colorado Christian University faculty
Former Vice President Mike Pence has been hired as a visiting faculty member at Colorado Christian University, the Lakewood-based private evangelical university announced Tuesday. Pence will be on campus about once a month during the 2026-2027 school year to give lectures, host classroom discussions, and engage with students. The role builds upon his other work […]
Parents argue new lawsuit against Ten Commandments in classrooms
The posters have already survived legal scrutiny under the Establishment Clause, but these parents are relying on a Texas law that prohibits the state from substantially burdening a person’s free exercise of religion.
Lodi science museum expansion to include classrooms, hotel, and plaza
The World of Wonders Science Museum in Lodi is advancing plans for a major expansion, adding classrooms, a science-themed hotel, and more to improve science education and attract visitors.
Montclair State University Breaks Ground on $120 Million Science Building
The 110,000-square-foot facility will triple the university’s science lab space while adding state-of-the-art classrooms, research labs, and collaborative learning environments.
UMass Chan summer outreach programs inspire next generation of physician-scientists
Classrooms and labs kept busy this summer at UMass Chan, hosting high school and college students participating in outreach programs.
Tuskegee University requires business suits, bans bonnets and du-rags in new dress code
Tuskegee University is implementing a new dress code requiring students to bring a business suit and dress shoes to campus while banning bonnets, du-rags and other non-religious head coverings in classrooms and cafeterias.
Southern university requires business suits, bans du-rags and other headwear in new dress code
Tuskegee University's new dress code bans du-rags, bonnets, and sagging pants in classrooms as part of its broader workforce readiness push.
Science Inquiry Comes Alive for Jacket Middle Schoolers
Snails, sidewalks and Double Stuff Oreos... At Partnership Middle School, instructors are finding innovative ways to help students connect the classroom to what they see in the real world every day. By integrating hands-on experiences and scientific investigations into weekly lessons, 6th and 7th grade science teachers push their classes to explore the curriculum standards through the lens of critical thinking, communication with their peers, experimentation, and scientific inquiry. Last week, two different approaches for two different grade levels saw Jacket teachers ignite the same spark for learning. On Tuesday, 6th graders in Lydia Jones' science class took their lessons outside as they explored the school grounds to identify living and non-living things. Despite the warm temperatures, they engaged in discovering unexpected objects on the campus and connecting that to what they learned in class about the criteria for what qualifies a thing as "living". Ms. Jones tasked students with walking the grounds and listing as many living and non-living things they could find in just a few minutes. Students spotted a fire hydrant, construction vehicles, grass, trees, soccer equipment, rocks, sidewalks, and even a snail hidden in the plants. After they finished the exploration, students returned to the regular classroom to discuss their results and whether their objects were classified correctly. On Thursday, 7th graders in Omini Parks' science class participated in their first lab of the semester as they explored and identified the physical properties of a favorite snack -- Oreos. Ms. Parks identified the class objective before the lab activity began by writing the academic standard on the dry erase board in a declarative statement: "I can collect and evaluate qualitative data to describe substances using physical properties." Students watched a video about how Oreo sandwich cookies are made, and then engaged in a question and answer discussion to give observations on the manufacturing process, review various types of physical properties and their scientific terminology, and talk generally about how the lab inquiry would work. The Q&A ended with a predictable question from students... "Will we be able to eat the Oreos?" The hands-on lab exercise required the 7th grade scientists to observe and record the differences between regular Oreos and the Double Stuff variety based on their physical properties. They followed the instructions in their lab brief to chart a comparison between the two types of cookies by observing properties with their magnifying lenses, measuring the height and diameter of both, and weighing the cookies with and without their filling. The activity let students put their lessons about physical properties into practice with real objects while also practicing vocabulary and writing skills to record their observations and using math skills from the last school year like taking measurements and calculating averages. Of course, they ended the lab by charting the taste of the cookies as well! These types of activities allow students to see the science standards they are learning come to life in the real world and engage with the content in new ways. Beyond that, they serve as a foundation for encouraging and growing scientific inquiry. Later in the school year, students will use the scientific method they are learning to complete science projects that require real research and the ability to explain and answer questions about their process and results. At the school-level competitive Science Fair last year, 41 Partnership students earned a place in the 2026 regional Science Fair held at MSU. From there, 14 advanced to the State Science Fair conducted at Northeast Mississippi Community College in April.
Connecting with the community to create technology-based health solutions
Adria Laborin has appreciated everything she’s learned in the classroom in her first year as a student in Arizona State University’s Master of Public Health program.But as a young woman who wants to make a difference in the world, there’s only so much a classroom can offer.
Senate Panel Advances Science of Reading, Dyslexia Bills with Bipartisan Support
A bill that would require states to only use the science of reading in classrooms in order to qualify for a multi-million dollar funding grant passed with bipartisan support from a committee of federa...
PRESS RELEASE: Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association to Support Seven Enterprise Zone Business Participants for New “Builder’s Room” AI Business Cohort
Amplify Bloomington and the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce will hold an info session on Tuesday, August 4, at 6 p.m. at The Mill classroom, 642 N. Madison St., to introduce The Builder’s Room. The Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association (BUEA) is supporting seven spots in the cohort located within the Bloomington Urban Enterprise Zone to participate in this new hands-on cohort program that helps local businesses use AI-assisted tools to solve real operational challenges.
Teacher of the Week: Diamond Bibbie, science, Urbana Sixth Grade Center
In her first year at the Urbana Sixth Grade Center, math teacher Diamond Bibbie made an impact beyond her classroom, taking the lead in planning the school’s Black History Month
University of Utah Team Selected for NSF Initiative to Shape the Future of AI in Science Education
A multidisciplinary team will help design AI-powered learning tools that strengthen scientific thinking in K–12 classrooms. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into classrooms and...
Art Mart Owner Karen Fisher Expands Her Business in the Village
By Laurie Lunsford— MUNCIE, IN—“You are never too old to learn. Strive to do something new every day,” says Karen Fisher, teacher, artist, and owner of Art Mart. Fisher’s “something new” is construction. She is expanding her business in the Village by adding a large art classroom in the former tanning salon space in the strip mall. Along with wielding a paintbrush, she is learning to use tools to remove 20 tanning rooms, replace old flooring, and build fresh walls. Her dream is to create a place where people can gather and make art. She wants a place where she...
The Science Behind the AI Panic Is Shakier Than You Think
A column by Sascha Lobo Is AI making us dumb? So asked DER SPIEGEL on its cover a while ago. After a few weeks of recovery and a therapeutic intervention with the help of my AI, I feel able to respond. That’s a bit unfair, of course; the article itself is more nuanced than the loud cover, the image of a schoolkid with dull prompt questions, or the subtitle: “AI is conquering the schools, and educators fear a disaster.” The short answer to “Is AI making us dumb?” is: no. The long answer is more interesting, and even carries a preliminary glimmer of the spectacular. Unfortunately, it requires a detour into the sphere of artificial intelligence, into the mogul-field terrain of technology assessment, the attention economy, and the destructive virus of cultural pessimism. Along with narrowing the scope to AI’s effects on education and work rather than on intelligence. Because the honest version of the question would be: Does AI help us learn and work, or not? Generative AI, which set off the still-ongoing hype with ChatGPT, has only existed in relevant distribution since late 2022, early 2023. For a technology-driven transformation of people and society, that is extremely short. For that reason alone, research is still in its infancy. And technology assessment is not a fast discipline anyway. Prominent voices from Elizabeth Eisenstein to RAND to Tom Wheeler say we still cannot conclusively judge the consequences of the printing press. Its invention is a mere 580 years back, and some scholars would rather not circulate assessments that might have to be retracted in two or three hundred years. We’re Going Through Growing Pains A phenomenon that already caused upheaval in social media research makes serious assessment of AI’s consequences even harder: the “moving target” problem of LLM-ology, as the linguist Sean Trott called it in 2025. AI develops so quickly and so unpredictably that researchers often end up studying snapshots of the past. There are concepts, from morphological analysis to anticipatory governance, for keeping research, planning, and regulation halfway meaningful anyway. But even with those, universally valid statements are rare. DER SPIEGEL - The German View is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe We should therefore treat findings about the interplay between humans and AI as far more procedural and situational. Unfortunately, this challenge comes at the worst possible time. We are going through growing pains: AI’s everyday impact has grown very large very fast, and with it the longing for guidance. Annoyingly, the body of solid knowledge has not exploded along with it. Experts cannot be moved to broad consensus on even banal statements about AI. Sascha Lobo, born in 1975, is an author and strategy consultant focusing on the internet and digital technologies. Together with Jule Lobo, he explores the debates of the day in the podcast “Feel the News – Was Deutschland bewegt” (”What Moves Germany”). Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says software developers are dying out. Bill Gates considers coders one of only three professions that will survive the AI tsunami. Top tech economists find virtually irrefutable arguments both for and against an AI bubble. The same naturally applies to the structurally youth-hostile debate over whether AI is good or bad for young people. The gap between the demand for insight and the supply of solid knowledge creates an orientation vacuum. This vacuum of AI cluelessness is filled, as the attention economy described by Georg Franck in 1998 would have it, with half-knowledge (funnily enough, often AI-generated), marketing, and self-marketing. After all, infinite money is at stake, along with academia’s best current shot at global fame. But this iridescent froth of interpretation operates more by the algorithmic principles of the digital public sphere than by seriously earned insight. That is why dramatized, fear-feeding claims about AI are so promising. It tempts parts of academia into distorted drivel, and parts of the media then sensationalize the published drivel once more. Was the Research Aimed at a Desired Result? How badly this can influence academia and public perception is demonstrated by one of the most-discussed studies on AI’s effects: “Your Brain on ChatGPT.” The MIT study by Nataliya Kosmyna also gets plenty of space in the SPIEGEL cover story. What was measured and interpreted: lower brain activity in people who write with AI assistance, compared to people who only google or write without any tools. As is common with preprints, the study has not yet been peer-reviewed, and it contains substantial weaknesses that experts have sharply criticized. The first round had 54 participants in three groups, the second only 18, who reportedly also came from MIT’s own orbit. There was no preregistration (committing in advance to what you want to find out with which data). In their analysis, Stanković et al. even discovered an opposite effect that the study does not further explain. Some measurement data has not (yet) been published. And the EEG analysis method used is considered too imprecise to support such far-reaching conclusions. The biggest criticism, though, is the suspicion of an activism-driven study. In an interview with Time, lead author Kosmyna said she published the study immediately, rather than after full peer review, because she feared politicians might otherwise decide to put ChatGPT in kindergartens. She considers that absolutely harmful. It is legitimate to hold such a view. It just seems unscientific to approach a study with it, and then to design the setup so that the chance of a fitting desired result remains as high as possible. Ideologies Collide It is not easy to separate genuine AI insights from studies that trivialize and weaken well-founded AI criticism. The same goes for the opposing, AI-enthusiastic narratives, because the pro-AI side works against it with billions in resources. Ideologies collide, fed by egos, PR strategies, moral posturing, and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Doomsday marketing makes the search even harder: AI companies can profit from warnings about the dangers of AI, whether through the notoriety of apocalypse narratives or because, in some target groups, danger translates into power. Some seemingly negative findings are therefore quite welcome in the AI industry. If you try to get at the findings presumably less influenced by interest groups, the picture in education seems relatively clear: AI can improve educational outcomes when the right AI is used the right way, namely pedagogically. Simply dumping an AI chatbot into a classroom, by contrast, accomplishes little. Huge surprise. But something else is also obvious: whether they are allowed to or not, kids use AI for school, which is why the controlled integration of AI tools into education is, in the medium term, entirely without alternative. In the world of work, the landscape of findings is more complex and requires more differentiation. A series of serious studies points to an AI effect that suits neither the alarmists, regulation fetishists, and AI opponents, nor the trillion-dollar corporations with their armada of paid scientists, PR professionals, and ecosystems: working with AI helps the inexperienced (at least for now) considerably more than it helps the pros, in certain fields of work, and provided they know how to use it correctly. Missing Domain Knowledge Among the experienced, the professionals, and the high flyers, by contrast, despite frequent time savings, partially negative effects and new problems are emerging. Take the jagged frontier problem: AI solves task A brilliantly and fails completely at task B, even though both look similar even to professionals. Or the verification-cost problem, in which AI’s greater productivity gets eaten up by the enormous effort of checking its output. Or the illusion of competence, because AI makes new domains seem easily penetrable, until you painfully discover that deep domain knowledge is missing. Taken as a whole, the effects of working with AI do lean positive. But the promise that AI works as a turbocharger for everyone and boosts practically everything simply refuses to materialize. The AI magic the world has been feeling since ChatGPT arrived in late 2022 has so far barely shown up in most companies’ numbers. The consulting firm McKinsey has coined a term for this, the “gen AI paradox,” and believes that work processes and corporate structures would have to be rebuilt quite fundamentally to realize AI’s benefits at scale. Reuters just reported that only 3.3 percent of Microsoft’s customers have subscribed to the AI package Copilot. That may be down to the product; in other areas we continue to see soaring successes and new AI triumphs. But after the first quarter of 2026, disillusionment is the word for all too many AI projects at traditional companies: because the promised revolution of AI agents has so far failed to arrive or been postponed, and because of the leveling effect that many of the studies cited here suggest. Against Inequality The societal effects, on the other hand, appear rather encouraging. Many previous technologies operated on the Matthew principle, named for the Gospel verse about giving to those who already have: they tended to reward the more competent and more privileged. AI, however, seems more often to have an equalizing effect once a threshold of access and education is crossed. Some anecdotal insights point in this direction, for example, how an unemployed man in Leipzig successfully defended himself in court in 2025 against fraud accusations from Germany’s federal employment agency — without a lawyer, armed only with ChatGPT. The AI made mistakes and cited invented court rulings, but in the end the man walked away unpunished. And a key capability of artificial intelligence is its capacity to learn: set up correctly and fed with data, it can keep getting better. It is a question of time, or more precisely of AI innovations and training data, until even free AI chatbots write better legal briefs than law graduates with perfect exam scores. Whether that will make anyone dumb is something the world’s press will surely inform us of in due time. Subscribe Leave a comment
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