EdSurge Podcast

What if Rodin’s famous sculpture of the thinking man sitting holding his chin gives us the wrong idea about how people think? A growing body of research suggests that thinking is influenced not just by what’s inside our skull, but by cues from our body movements, by our surroundings, and by other people we’re interacting with. And that has implications for educators.

Could cutting-edge virtual reality tech help to spread classical education models and alternatives to traditional public schools? That’s what one proponent is hoping, and she’s started a new online charter school delivered largely through VR headsets to try it.

A mockumentary web series called Admitted explores college admissions and post-pandemic student life. The podcast discusses the impact of the pandemic on college life, challenges in college admissions, and admiration for the show 'Abbot Elementary' and Quinta Brunson.

This podcast explores the effects of technology on children, discussing topics such as early childhood development, 'techno-ference' in parent-child interactions, mindful screen use, challenges in middle childhood, legislation and accountability for tech companies, and controlling tech platforms and tools.

Students share their group project horror stories and a teaching expert provides advice on avoiding such scenarios. The podcast discusses challenges in group projects, including poor coordination and unequal contributions. It emphasizes the importance of selecting group members wisely and grading both process and substance. A successful group project with real stakes and impact is highlighted, along with the need for a more positive approach to group projects.

The Moth's education program and spin-off podcast, Grown, share impactful student stories. They challenge the idea that young adults have it all figured out and explore coming-of-age topics like heartbreaks, first kisses, and body image. A childhood self-portrait project prompts a conversation on racial identity and a person's journey towards self-acceptance.

A documentary explores the need for effective reading instruction as a matter of civil rights. The film follows an educator's reluctant participation and hopes for change. It discusses the failure of early reading instruction and the impact of journalist Emily Hanford's research. Activist Karim Weaver advocates for change, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based curricula. The speaker reflects on their journey, highlighting sacrifices made. The chapter also explores the need for improved reading instruction in teacher training programs.

A professor of urban education dug into the history of school reform in Philadelphia, and came away with questions of what motivates large-scale efforts to change schooling.

The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down the consideration of race in college admissions has sparked a strong push to also end the consideration of enrollment legacy in admissions. Here’s what’s behind the push and a look at other ways colleges are trying to encourage diversity in light of the new ruling.

Scholars have taken to podcasting, interviewing each other about ideas and sharing their favorite areas of knowledge. Even when audiences are small, this new way of spreading information to a broader public is challenging traditional notions of what counts as research, and who gets to be an authority.