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Staff shortages exceed those for teachers in many Illinois public schools

A recent study by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign reveals that many Illinois public schools are experiencing severe staff shortages. The findings indicate that teacher vacancies have decreased, while unfilled positions in support staff, such as nurses and librarians, remain persistently high.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalEducation Finance and Policy·DateMar 27, 2025

Classroom talk plays a key part in the teaching of writing, study shows

A new study shows that classroom discussion plays a vital role in the teaching of writing. Teachers manage this discussion to develop pupils' understanding of writer's choices and their impact on readers. The study emphasizes the importance of 'scaffolding' discussion, making explicit relationships between language choices and meaning.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalResearch Papers in Education·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMar 27, 2025

Childhood brain injuries can affect educational attainment in adulthood – even a concussion can be enough

A study by Tampere University found that childhood brain injuries, including mild concussions, can lead to lower educational attainment in adulthood. Researchers compared individuals with brain injuries to those with limb fractures and found significant differences in educational outcomes over a 20-year period.

SourceTampere University·JournalEuropean Journal of Epidemiology·DateMar 24, 2025

Creativity boosts NAPLAN literacy and numeracy scores

A University of South Australia study found that students who exhibit higher levels of creativity tend to excel in literacy and numeracy assessments. Higher flexibility in divergent thinking was associated with stronger NAPLAN literacy outcomes, while mathematical creativity was linked to stronger numeracy performance.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalThinking Skills and Creativity·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 4, 2025

Even after learning the right idea, humans and animals still seem to test other approaches, study suggests

A new MIT study finds that humans and marmosets retain a tendency to test other approaches to tasks, even when they have learned the optimal strategy. This behavior could help reveal needed adjustments in uncertain environments. The findings also add weight to the use of marmoset models for autism studies.

SourcePicower Institute at MIT·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 18, 2025

Diving deep into dopamine

Dopamine plays a lesser-known role in learning from punishment, which is less understood than its role in reward systems. Bioengineer Helen Schwerdt aims to investigate this phenomenon using novel neural interfaces and sustained dopamine monitoring.

Toddlers understand concept of possibility

Two- and three-year-old children distinguish between improbable and impossible events, demonstrating an understanding of possibility. They learn significantly better after experiencing impossible occurrences, which drives them to search for explanations.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 4, 2024

Why elephants never forget but fleas have, well, the attention span of a flea

Researchers develop model to calculate ideal learning rate based on environmental change and life cycle. The optimal pace of learning increases in the same way regardless of environmental changes, suggesting a generalizable phenomenon underlying learning in various ecosystems.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 31, 2024

How academia drives sustainability: Discover the impact of science on the SDGs

The study reveals a positive trend in scientific production on sustainability topics, with the US leading research. Academic clusters focus on education for sustainable development, engineering education, and environmental projects. Higher education is strongly committed to sustainability, aligning programs with SDGs.

SourceEscuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral·JournalInternational Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education·TypeLiterature review·DateOct 8, 2024

Well-being as student success

Well-being is defined as a sense of belonging, agency, purpose, identity, civic engagement, and financial well-being. The authors summarize data-backed teaching practices supporting elements of student well-being, including supportive mentorships and experiential learning opportunities.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateSep 24, 2024

Virtual learning detrimental to school attendance, especially in districts with higher poverty rates, study finds

A study by the University of Notre Dame found that virtual learning led to a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, particularly in school districts with higher poverty rates. This resulted in lower test scores, reduced social interactions, and decreased high school graduation rates. The research suggests that students from vulne...

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 5, 2024

Why children can’t pay attention to the task at hand

Children's brains cannot focus on tasks because their working memory is not fully developed, according to a new study. Researchers found that even with rewards, children still 'over explore' and gather unnecessary information. This suggests that kids are naturally curious and unsure of retaining information in their memory.

SourceOhio State University·JournalPsychological Science·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 26, 2024

Article tracks history of state history education standards, how teachers can use them as lessons

A new article from a University of Kansas scholar examines the history of state history education standards, highlighting their evolution and potential as a tool for teaching critical thinking and nuanced historical understanding. The author argues that standards can be a way for teachers to guide students in analyzing historical docum...

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalThe American Historical Review·TypeContent analysis·DateJul 11, 2024