Tag: classroom

Why Teachers Are Leaving The Classroom: Stressed Out, Burned Out And Dropping Out
IN OTHER NEWS, VIDEO REELS

Why Teachers Are Leaving The Classroom: Stressed Out, Burned Out And Dropping Out

Many school districts across the United States are in the midst of a crisis: a teacher shortage. Part of the problem is due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are other reasons why teachers are leaving their jobs at higher rates than before. On Aug. 29, 2022, SciLine interviewed Tuan Nguyen, an assistant professor in the College of Education at Kansas State University, about why teachers are quitting and what can be done to slow or stop the trend. Tuan Nguyen talks to SciLine about teacher burnout. Below are some highlights from the discussion. Please note that answers have been edited for brevity and clarity. Can you share some data on typical rates of teacher turnover? Tuan Nguyen: Before the pandemic, about 15%, 16% of teachers turn over every year. About half of that is teachers swi...
Politicians Seek To Control Classroom Discussions About Slavery In The US
EDUCATION, POLITICS

Politicians Seek To Control Classroom Discussions About Slavery In The US

Of all the subjects taught in the nation’s public schools, few have generated as much controversy of late as the subjects of racism and slavery in the United States. The attention has come largely through a flood of legislative bills put forth primarily by Republicans over the past year and a half. Commonly referred to as anti-critical race theory legislation, these bills are meant to restrict how teachers discuss race and racism in their classrooms. One of the more peculiar byproducts of this legislation came out of Texas, where, in June 2022, an advisory panel made up of nine educators recommended that slavery be referred to as “involuntary relocation.” The measure ultimately failed. As an educator who trains teachers on how to educate young students about the history of slavery in t...
What Summer School Looks Like In 2021 – Bringing Joy Back To The Classroom And Supporting Stressed Kids
EDUCATION

What Summer School Looks Like In 2021 – Bringing Joy Back To The Classroom And Supporting Stressed Kids

Raphael Travis Jr., Texas State University; Kathleen Lynch, University of Connecticut; Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Temple University; Naomi Polinsky, Northwestern University, and Roberta Golinkoff, University of Delaware Already 62% of parents believe their children are behind in learning, according to a survey conducted by the National PTA and Learning Heroes. The transition from in-person to remote learning in 2020 has disrupted students’ academic work. We’ve assembled a panel of academics to talk about how summer schools should be supporting students this year. Here, five experts explain what summer school does, and why it may look very different this year. Does voluntary summer school work? Kathleen Lynch, assistant professor of learning sciences, University of Connecticut Summer school progr...
To Build Better Understanding Of Science Here Are 5 Ways To Use Hip-Hop In The Classroom
EDUCATION, VIDEO REELS

To Build Better Understanding Of Science Here Are 5 Ways To Use Hip-Hop In The Classroom

Back when I attended M.S. 101 in the Bronx, I tuned out the science teacher because I didn’t think science was for me. I viewed the subject as something distant and inaccessible. I never saw myself becoming a scientist. Things changed, however, when my physics teacher at Marie Curie High School used hip-hop to make connections with science. We learned about the physics of pendulums by using hip-hop artists’ chains as examples and participated in call-and-responses to remember science information. Once I’d found an approach that finally appealed to me, hip-hop set me on a course to become a science teacher myself. But not just any kind of science teacher. Instead, I became a hip-hop science educator. My mission in life is to educate teachers on how to use hip-hop to get more students to ...
In The Classroom The Perils Of Associating ‘White’ With ‘Privilege’
EDUCATION

In The Classroom The Perils Of Associating ‘White’ With ‘Privilege’

White privilege – the social advantage that benefits white people over others simply on account of skin color – has become a racial justice catchphrase. Peggy McIntosh, an academic who originated the term in 1989, described it like this: “An invisible package of unearned assets that I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was meant to remain oblivious.” As examples, she highlighted the appearance of being financially reliable, shopping alone without being harassed and seeing representation of her race in history books and the media. In the wake of George Floyd’s death, an increasing number of white Americans agree that white privilege exists. That includes a growing number of Republicans. Despite the term’s pervasive use, little attention has focused on how it affects vic...
COVID-19: Where You Sit In A Classroom Matters, How Ventilation Can Help
COVID-19, VIDEO REELS

COVID-19: Where You Sit In A Classroom Matters, How Ventilation Can Help

It doesn’t take long for airborne coronavirus particles to make their way through a room. At first, only people sitting near an infected speaker are at high risk, but as the meeting or class goes on, the tiny aerosols can spread. That doesn’t mean everyone faces the same level of risk, however. As an engineer, I have been conducting experiments tracking how aerosols move, including those in the size range that can carry viruses. What I’ve found is important to understand as more people return to universities, offices and restaurants and more meetings move indoors as temperatures fall. It points to the highest-risk areas in rooms and why proper ventilation is crucial. As we saw this past week with President Donald Trump and others in Washington, the coronavirus can spread quickly in clo...
EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY

Robots in the classroom: Could robots replace tutors, teachers?

Robots have been shown to be effective at increasing cognitive and affective outcomes In “Social Robots for Education,” a study published last August in Science Robotics, the abstract conveyed: “Social robots can be used in education as tutors or peer learners. They have been shown to be effective at increasing cognitive and affective outcomes and have achieved outcomes similar to those of human tutoring on restricted tasks. This is largely because of their physical presence, which traditional learning technologies lack.” The study indicated a few reasons why educational robots are emerging as a teaching trend: ‒ Shrinking school budgets ‒ Growing numbers of students per classroom ‒ Demand for greater personal-ization of curricula for children with diverse needs Instead of just seati...