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Living in substandard housing linked to kids’ missed schooling and poor grades

Research published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health found that children living in poor quality housing missed more school days and achieved worse test scores than their peers. Improving housing conditions, especially reducing damp and overcrowding, may have significant benefits for child health and school outcomes.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

MSU study: Screen time aids learning, but gender gaps remain

A Michigan State University study found that unstructured digital media use contributes to digital skills, which are strong predictors of performance across academic domains. However, the study also highlights a significant gender gap, with boys experiencing substantially larger benefits from digital media use.

Why parents should have a bigger say in how schools are run

Research by Ohio State University professor Vladimir Kogan suggests that students and parents have limited representation in school governance, leading to decreased focus on academic achievement. Parents and children make up only 20-35% of the electorate, with most voters prioritizing partisan issues over education.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Students build science identity through immersive research experience

A recent study reveals that community college students who participate in an immersive nine-week research program develop scientific and professional skills, build a sense of belonging in the science community, and increase their interest in graduate school and STEM careers. The program, led by CIRES E&O, pairs students with scienc...

Screen time not harmful for academic skills of preschoolers

A recent study by Ohio State University found that low to moderate levels of screen time do not negatively impact preschoolers' language, literacy, and math skills. However, high levels of screen use at nighttime were linked to smaller gains in social skills, particularly for those who used more than two hours of media daily.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

America on the move: How urban travel has changed over a decade

A Florida Atlantic University study reveals that while private automobiles remain dominant, the share of car trips has decreased since its peak in 2001. In contrast, transit, non-motorized, and taxicab trips have increased. Lower-income groups rely heavily on public transportation due to limited mobility options.

Black girls benefit most when STEM teachers train up

A study by Rice University found that students in classes taught by STEM teachers who received professional development training were more likely to pursue STEM majors in college. Black female students showed the greatest increase, with nearly double the percentage of non-AMP! teachers.

Even in kindergarten, gaps seen in extracurricular activities

A study found significant gaps in extracurricular activities among kindergarten children based on race and mother's education level. White children were more likely to participate in athletics, while those from disadvantaged backgrounds may miss opportunities that could help them succeed in school.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Study: Live chat boosts college women’s class participation

A recent UNLV-led study discovered that women enthusiastically embraced live chat during pandemic Zoom classes, with ratings showing significantly higher engagement than men. The researchers hope this data can help colleges incorporate technology into hybrid and in-person courses to increase underrepresented groups' access to STEM fields.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Students who self-identify as multilingual perform better in exams

Young people who consider themselves ‘multilingual’ perform better across a wide range of subjects at school, regardless of their language proficiency. Research shows that encouraging pupils to identify with languages and value different styles of communication can support academic progress.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Narrowing achievement gap among preschoolers

A yearlong classroom intervention for preschoolers decreased the achievement gap in numerical skills, according to a study. Scores on numerical and verbal comprehension tests were higher for children who received instruction from trained teachers.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Achievement gaps may explain racial overrepresentation in special education

New research suggests that racial achievement gaps, rather than systemic bias, are the primary reason for the overrepresentation of students of color in special education. The study found that districts with larger black-to-white or Hispanic-to-white achievement gaps were also more likely to report higher risk ratios. This method can b...

Active learning and educational equity

Active learning in STEM courses narrows achievement gaps by 33% and 45% compared to traditional lecturing. This evidence-based approach could reduce inequity in higher education.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

U of M study affirms new strategies for reducing achievement gap

A new study from the University of Minnesota confirms that preschool to 3rd grade programs can close the achievement gap by increasing school readiness, improving attendance, and strengthening parental involvement. The Child-Parent Center program led to literacy gains in St. Paul Public schools.

One factor that may help schools close racial achievement gap

A Texas school district study reveals that teachers' sense of collective efficacy has a significant impact on closing the educational achievement gap. Schools with high levels of collective efficacy saw a 50% reduction in academic disadvantage experienced by black students.

When it comes to reading, kindergarten is the new first grade

A nationwide study by Ohio State University found that kindergarten is now considered the new first grade for learning reading skills. While low-achieving students showed gains in basic skills, they struggled with advanced reading skills, highlighting a need to adjust strategies.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Science achievement gaps begin by kindergarten

A study found that kindergarten general knowledge is the strongest predictor of first-grade and third-grade science achievement. Children's science achievement gaps persist from third to eighth grade, with low-income and minority students facing larger gaps.

Closing the dyslexia achievement gap

Researchers at Yale University found that a large achievement gap between dyslexic and typical readers is already present in first grade. Early screening and reading interventions can help close this gap by implementing programs as early as kindergarten.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Study links brain anatomy, academic achievement, and family income

A new study led by MIT researchers found that higher-income students have thicker brain cortex in areas associated with visual perception and knowledge accumulation, correlating with better standardized test scores. The differences in brain anatomy could explain up to 44% of the income achievement gap.

Bilingual school counselors help narrow achievement gap

A recent study found significant improvements in reading and math scores for Spanish-speaking students who received a specialized bilingual/bicultural school counselor-led program, closing the traditional achievement gap. The evidence-based program positions school counselors to show their direct impact on student achievement.

Benefits of preschool vary by family income

A new study found that preschool participation has a positive impact on children's literacy skills, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Low-income children, particularly those from Black families, experience the greatest benefits, while nonpoor Black youngsters also show considerable improvements.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Obama's Promise Neighborhoods Initiative

The initiative, modeled after Harlem Children's Zone, combines public charter schools and community services to help disadvantaged individuals gain financial security. Recent research suggests that similar results can be achieved independent of community investments, but additional evidence is needed to measure long-term impacts.

Small classes give extra boost to low-achieving students

A study found that reducing class size in early grades raises achievement for all students through middle school and closes the gap between high- and low-achievers. Students in consistently small classes had substantially higher test scores in grades four through eight.

Study finds racial segregation a strong factor in learning disparities

A study by Emory University sociologist Dennis Condron found that racial segregation in schools is a strong factor in learning disparities between black and white children. The study revealed that black students' reading and math skills fall behind those of their white peers due to school segregation.

Achievement gaps within racial groups identified for first time

A University of Michigan study found significant achievement gaps within racial and ethnic groups, but also showed that substantial numbers of children catch up to high achievers in their groups over time. The study analyzed reading and math achievement data for a national sample of 8,060 students, revealing patterns of high achievers ...

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.