School's In

How can schools help students develop digital literacy in the classroom? And how can these techniques be applied to how we consume news and identify reliable information? On this episode of School’s In , recorded live on campus in May 2025, we welcome a panel including GSE Professor Emeritus Sam Wineburg, Stanford journalism lecturer Janine Zacharia, high school teacher Valerie Ziegler, and Stanfo...

What is digital literacy? And how does critical thinking play a role in students’ ability to avoid falling prey to false information online? On this live episode of School’s In , taped in front of an audience at Stanford, we welcome Stanford Professor Emeritus Sam Wineburg to discuss digital literacy and how to help students navigate the internet in the era of AI and fake news. Wineburg covers sev...

How does the average person interact with their cell phone? And what does this say about the way we process information? On this episode of School’s In , we welcome Stanford Professor Nilam Ram to discuss his research into the digital lives -- specifically, cell phone use -- of teenagers and adults, and how these findings might be used to support awareness and positive change in a person's life. R...

How soon can reading challenges like dyslexia be identified in children? And what role can technology play in supporting teachers as they work to develop student literacy? On this episode of School’s In , we welcome Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Associate Professor Jason Yeatman to discuss advancements in dyslexia screening, and how teachers can use technology to ease the burden of a...

What does it mean to be a lifelong learner? And how might education and learning be reframed to enable flourishing across the lifespan? On this episode of School’s In , we welcome Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Professor Mitchell Stevens to discuss the nature of work and learning in a world where people are living and working longer. We also touch on how parents and educators can prep...

Why is early childhood math important? And how can parents and teachers use research-backed, and play-based practices to encourage math learning? On this episode of School’s In , we welcome Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Professor Emerita Deborah Stipek to discuss why learning and practicing math is important for young children. We also touch on ways to engage young children in playfu...

*** Join us for our LIVE event May 21st on the Stanford campus. Details below. *** How can schools apply the latest research to improve learning for all students? And how can parents, school leaders, and policymakers use that research to bring about change? On this episode of School’s In , we welcome Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Professor Susanna Loeb to discuss how to scale educati...

*** Join us for our LIVE event May 21st on the Stanford campus. Details below. *** What is a healthy amount of homework for a student? And how can schools, teachers and parents help students live balanced lives? On this episode of School’s In , we welcome California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo to discuss the Healthy Homework Bill and students’ need to balance work and down time. We also touc...

What are effective methods that support adult learning? And how can modern tools and technology help in that effort? On this episode of School’s In , we welcome Associate Professor Candace Thille to discuss the research and design behind successful adult learning. We also touch on the importance of feedback, and how it can make AI and other technology more useful in educational settings. Thille co...

How can parents of young children best foster healthy development? And what role does real-time, actionable data play in designing tools and policies that support families and caregivers? On this episode of School’s In , we welcome Professor Phil Fisher to discuss best practices for early childhood development and ways policymakers can help. We also touch on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected youn...

What should the average adult know in order to achieve financial literacy? And what role should schools play in helping students get there? On this episode of School’s In , we welcome Professor Annamaria Lusardi to discuss the financial skills young people need to make wise decisions and fully participate in society. We also unpack a new bill passed in California to require financial literacy educ...

What are the positive and negative effects of cell phones in the classroom? And how might teachers and parents support thoughtful and constructive use of cell phones by students? On this episode of School’s In , we welcome Associate Professor Antero Garcia to discuss cell phone bans in schools and opportunities for educators to integrate technology in the classroom. Garcia covers several topics, i...

Why is public service a critical part of education in a democracy? And what are some barriers and pathways for students to engage in public service? On this episode of School’s In , we welcome Adjunct Professor Tom Ehrlich to discuss civic participation, public service, and the role teachers play in American democracy. Ehrlich covers several topics, including: (01:01) What is public service? (04:3...

What positive tools, foundations, and concepts can educators pull from the past? And how might they be applied to create a better future for educators, students, and school systems? On this episode of School’s In , we welcome Maisha Winn to discuss historical insights into education, the importance of establishing identity to student success, and how parents can help children connect to themselves...

What does it take to be a successful entrepreneur in education? And how does one create an educational product or service that is profitable? On this episode of School’s In , hosts Dan Schwartz and Denise Pope welcome Joy Chen, entrepreneur in residence at Stanford Graduate School of Education, to discuss entrepreneurship in education – its challenges, rewards, and impact. Chen covers several topi...

How is the world of entrepreneurship driving innovation in education? And how can business strategies and creative thinking make learning more accessible for everyone? On this episode of School’s In , hosts Dan Schwartz and Denise Pope welcome venture capital investor Sergio Monsalve to discuss the skills and dispositions that make great entrepreneurs, and how great ideas can be applied to educati...

How does unstable housing affect student success? And how can schools identify students in unstable housing and partner with community organizations to support them? On this episode of School’s In , hosts Dan Schwartz and Denise Pope welcome Amy Gerstein, executive director of Stanford’s John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities, to discuss how unstable housing affects educational out...

How do creativity, tinkering, and hands-on learning support education? And can AI expand the possibilities for cultivating creativity in the classroom? On this episode of School’s In , hosts Dan Schwartz and Denise Pope welcome Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Senior Lecturer Karin Forssell to discuss AI and how Stanford is helping students navigate the technology through the GSE’s new...

How effective are new education tools and technology in the classroom? And how does one get into the business of creating them? On this episode of School’s In , hosts Dan Schwartz and Denise Pope welcome Stanford Accelerator for Learning Executive Director Isabelle Hau to discuss the efficacy of tech tools in schools, and what can happen when the goals of public good and profit collide. Hau sheds...

What role will AI tools play in the classroom? And how can the technology be used to support teachers? On this episode of School’s In , hosts Dan Schwartz and Denise Pope welcome Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Assistant Professor Dora Demszky to discuss using artificial intelligence as a tool for giving feedback to teachers, with the goal of supporting continuous improvement in their...

What roles do empathy and compassion play in our ability to have healthy relationships? And what does it look like to apply those concepts to oneself? On this episode of School’s In , hosts Dan Schwartz and Denise Pope welcome Stanford Psychology Professor Jamil Zaki to discuss compassion, empathy, and what our perceptions of the world say about us. Zaki touches on several related matters, includi...

What are the largest threats to mental health facing modern teens? And how can parents, educators, and other adults help them thrive despite their challenges? On this episode of School’s In , hosts Dan Schwartz and Denise Pope welcome Assistant Professor Farzana (Saleem) Adjah to discuss racial trauma and stress and the effect that it has on student mental health. Adjah covers several relevant top...

What are some of the most serious mental health challenges facing our young people today? And how can we create the support that they really need? On this episode of School’s In , hosts Dan Schwartz and Denise Pope welcome Dr. Steven Adelsheim, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine, as they discuss how the pandemic affected students’ mental health....

How do we use AI responsibly? And how do we prepare students to navigate a world where AI plays such a central role? On this episode of School’s In , hosts Dan Schwartz and Denise Pope welcome Associate Professor Victor Lee as they discuss the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in education and its implications for how we teach and learn. Victor’s research addresses several topics in the future...

Who was hardest hit by learning loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic? And what can states, teachers, and parents do to help students recover?  On this episode of School’s In, hosts Dan Schwartz and Denise Pope welcome Professor Sean Reardon as they discuss educational inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic, and what’s needed to chart a path forward. Sean’s research sheds light on key issues, i...