Could the “word gap” be more myth than fact? Or is it a useful tool for understanding inequality in early childhood?

On this episode of School’s In, Stanford Assistant Professor Monica Ellwood-Lowe joins the show to unpack one of the most cited – and most debated – ideas in early childhood development: the so-called “word gap,” or idea that children from lower-income families hear fewer words than those from more affluent homes. She explains what the latest research says about the quantity and quality of early language exposure, the effects of structural and economic inequities on parental engagement, and how brain development might differ not because of what children lack, but because of how they adapt. She covers several topics, including:

• (03:07) The word gap: Origins and controversy
• (05:47) Do parents just need to talk more? How financial and structural stressors affect parental attention
• (13:55) Beyond “motherease”: Cultural differences in child language development
• (18:20) Parenting, pressure, and perspective

Monica Ellwood-Lowe is an assistant professor at Stanford Graduate School of Education. With a PhD in developmental psychology, she studies how the structure of society shapes caregiving and early child development. She dives into questions about children’s language and brain development that continue to drive her work today. Learn more on her faculty profile.

School’s In is your go-to podcast for cutting-edge insights and fresh perspectives on the future of learning. Hosted by Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Dean Dan Schwartz and Senior Lecturer Denise Pope, each episode dives into the latest research, innovations, and real-world challenges shaping education today.

Stanford GSE is at the forefront of education research and teacher preparation, dedicated to advancing equitable, accessible, and impactful learning experiences for all.

Stay connected with the latest insights—subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.

What will it mean to teach and learn in an AI-powered world? Can we use artificial intelligence to enhance, but not replace, the best of what humans do?

Recorded live in Los Angeles at Stanford’s Open Minds event, this episode of School’s In dives into how AI is reshaping education – its promises, pitfalls, and surprises. Dan and Denise welcome Stanford faculty members Judith Ellen Fan, a cognitive scientist, and Christopher Piech, a computer scientist, to the stage for a lively discussion that ranges from motivation and creativity to assessment and cheating. Together, they explore the deeply human elements of human learning and AI design, and the ways that Stanford is shaping the conversation about how humans and machines learn together. They cover several topics, including:

• (01:57) Students and AI: Inspiration and creativity
• (04:55) Beyond words: Why AI still struggles with human thinking
• (09:53) AI's impact on cheating and academic integrity
• (18:09) Keeping learning human: Mentors, motivation, and meaningful tasks
• (23:59) Designing AI for the future of learning

Christopher Piech is an associate professor of computer science at Stanford University. He develops AI systems that support personalized education, working at the intersection of deep learning and classroom practice to help students learn more effectively and equitably. Learn more about his work on his faculty profile.

Judith Ellen Fan is an assistant professor of psychology and the director of the Cognitive Tools Lab (https://cogtoolslab.github.io/) at Stanford University. Her research focuses on how visual communication supports learning. She bridges cognitive science, computational neuroscience, and artificial intelligence, exploring how tools like drawing can reveal and enhance human understanding. Learn more about her work on her faculty profile.

School’s In is your go-to podcast for cutting-edge insights and fresh perspectives on the future of learning. Hosted by Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Dean Dan Schwartz and Senior Lecturer Denise Pope, each episode dives into the latest research, innovations, and real-world challenges shaping education today.

Stanford GSE is at the forefront of education research and teacher preparation, dedicated to advancing equitable, accessible, and impactful learning experiences for all.

Stay connected with the latest insights—subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.

*Please note: This episode includes discussion of youth mental health, including mentions of suicidal ideation. Listener discretion is advised.*

Could the future of school-based mental health include chatbots—and should it?

On this episode of School’s In, Stanford Assistant Professor Nick Haber joins the show to unpack research on AI chatbots as tools to support young people’s mental health. As an expert in learning sciences and artificial intelligence learning sciences, Haber sheds light on both the promising and the unsettling. , He covers several topics, including:

• (03:27) Why study AI chatbots as therapists?
• (06:27) The danger: AI therapists in crisis situations
• (11:41) Human interaction vs. AI companionship
• (15:04) AI and youth mental health
• (18:48) From risks to responsibility: Advice for parents and educators

Nick Haber is an assistant professor at Stanford Graduate School of Education. He and his research group develop AI systems meant to mimic and model the ways people learn early in life, exploring their environments through play, social interaction, and curiosity. Learn more about his work on his faculty profile.

School’s In is your go-to podcast for cutting-edge insights and fresh perspectives on the future of learning. Hosted by Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Dean Dan Schwartz and Senior Lecturer Denise Pope, each episode dives into the latest research, innovations, and real-world challenges shaping education today.

Stanford GSE is at the forefront of education research and teacher preparation, dedicated to advancing equitable, accessible, and impactful learning experiences for all.

Stay connected with the latest insights—subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.

What happens when a school shuts down? And how do those decisions ripple through the students, families, and communities left behind?

On this episode of School’s In, Stanford Assistant Professor Francis Pearman joins us to discuss the complex and often emotional issue of school closures. We dive into why schools close, who is most affected, and how these decisions ripple through communities – especially for low-income students and students of color. Pearman covers several topics including:

• (02:21) Why do schools close?
• (06:34) How school closures affect local communities
• (08:02) Educational consequences for students
• (11:25) Are school closures fair? Equity and disproportionality
• (16:07) Financial realities and policy tradeoffs
• (19:03) Is there a better way? Alternatives and considerations

Francis Pearman is an assistant professor at Stanford Graduate School of Education. His research examines how poverty and inequality shape the life chances of children, particularly through the lens of educational opportunity and urban development. Learn more about his work on his faculty profile.

School’s In is your go-to podcast for cutting-edge insights and fresh perspectives on the future of learning. Hosted by Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Dean Dan Schwartz and Senior Lecturer Denise Pope, each episode dives into the latest research, innovations, and real-world challenges shaping education today.

Stanford GSE is at the forefront of education research and teacher preparation, dedicated to advancing equitable, accessible, and impactful learning experiences for all.

Stay connected with the latest insights—subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.

How can AI be used as a tool that supplements, rather than supplants, the learning process? And what does research say is the most effective way to use the tool?

On this episode of School’s In, we welcome GSE Assistant Professor Hari Subramonyam to discuss AI in education. He covers several topics, including:

• (01:41) What is critical thinking?
• (05:03) Beyond prompting: AI, creativity, and critical decision making
• (09:10) Using AI to scaffold the writing process
• (13:59) AI as learning tool: What the research shows
• (19:29) AI and assessment
• (22:33) AI in education: Advice for parents and teachers

Hari Subramonyam is an assistant professor at the Graduate School of Education, where his research focuses on augmenting critical human tasks (such as learning, creativity, and sensemaking) with AI by incorporating principles from cognitive psychology. He is also a faculty fellow at Stanford's Institute for Human-Centered AI. To learn more about his work, visit his faculty profile.

Stanford GSE is at the forefront of education research and teacher preparation, dedicated to advancing equitable, accessible, and impactful learning experiences for all.

Stay connected with the latest insights – subscribe to the GSE’s newsletter and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.

What does it mean for students to be successful? And how can parents, schools, and educators create the conditions for students to thrive?

On this episode of School’s In, we welcome co-host and GSE Senior Lecturer Denise Pope in the guest seat to discuss how to improve student wellness, belonging, and engagement. She covers several topics, including:

• (1:54) Challenging a narrow definition of success: Parents and students
• (7:42) What the data shows: Stress, sleep, and engagement
• (14:02) Belonging: Student relationships with teachers and peers
• (18:10) Practical solutions: School-level change
• (24:37) What parents can do, and key takeaways

Denise Pope is a senior lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Education, where her research focuses on curriculum studies, service learning, student engagement, and school reform. She is also the co-founder of Challenge Success, a nonprofit that partners with schools to implement research-based strategies that improve student well-being and engagement.

To learn more about her work, visit her faculty profile.

Stanford GSE is at the forefront of education research and teacher preparation, dedicated to advancing equitable, accessible, and impactful learning experiences for all.

Stay connected with the latest insights – subscribe to the GSE’s newsletter and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.

Season 3 is here, and we have a great lineup for you, our listeners. We kick off the season with our very own Denise Pope in the hot seat, sharing research on what constitutes student success. This season we also bring you research on AI as an educational tool, chatbots as therapists, the impacts of school closures, and much, much more. Subscribe now. You won’t want to miss an episode!

What does the growing popularity and utility of AI tools mean for students, teachers, and schools? And what can educators do to leverage these tools to make learning stick?

This week we are sharing an episode from our friends at Stanford School of Engineering – an episode of The Future of Everything, with host Russ Altman. Originally released in August 2024, this episode features our own GSE dean and School’s In co-host, Dan Schwartz in the hot seat. Schwartz covers several topics on the future of educational technology, including:

• 01:27 Enter AI: Opportunity and upheaval in education
• 02:49 Teachers vs. technology: Do we still need humans?
• 08:24 Cheating, ChatGPT, and assignments that matter
• 12:25 Industry, EdTech, and AI’s future direction
• 18:14 Assessment, analytics, and ethical design
• 25:30 Embodied learning and virtual AI integration

Dan Schwartz is the James Quillen Dean and the Nomellini & Olivier Professor of Educational Technology at Stanford Graduate School of Education. He is also the Halper Family Faculty Director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning.

An expert in human learning and educational technology, Schwartz also oversees a laboratory that works to prepare students to continue learning and adapting throughout their lifetimes.To learn more about his work, visit his faculty profile.

The Future of Everything podcast explores how technology, science, and medicine are shaping our lives. Host Russ Altman asks his guest to discuss their role in creating the future – of everything. Learn more about this episode on the show’s website.

Stanford GSE is at the forefront of education research and teacher preparation, dedicated to advancing equitable, accessible, and impactful learning experiences for all.

Stay connected with the latest insights – subscribe to the GSE’s newsletter and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.