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China is training geniuses to compete in math, science and AI
China is using "genius" classes for top math and science students to train AI researchers.

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 33 min read
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'Basic' readers can't make sense of the Tylenol-autism debate
Two-thirds of Americans don't read well enough to evaluate scientific or medical claims.

Joanne Jacobs
Sep 27, 20252 min read
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8th-graders don't know much science -- and they don't care
Science knowledge -- and interest in science -- is falling for 8th graders.

Joanne Jacobs
Sep 10, 20252 min read
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Physics students learn more from the professor than from each other
Student-led discussions fail less-prepared physics students -- they need the professor -- but work for well-prepared students.

Joanne Jacobs
Jul 22, 20252 min read
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Just teach us, say students: Explain the math or science so we can understand it
Teenagers want teachers to explain STEM subjects. Few care about working in groups or seeing examples that reflect their race or gender.

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 4, 20251 min read
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DEI buzzwords trigger huge cuts in STEM ed research
DOGE has ordered $773 million in cuts to STEM education research.

Joanne Jacobs
May 18, 20252 min read
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Honors for none
"De-laning" -- dropping honors classes at Silicon Valley high schools -- is "an assault on excellence," tweets liberal Democratic congressman in California.

Joanne Jacobs
May 14, 20252 min read
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Following the junk science: How a health crisis became an educational disaster
While millions of European children were in school -- mostly unmasked -- U.S. policymakers ignored the science, suppressed dissent and kept schools closed.

Joanne Jacobs
Apr 23, 20252 min read
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DEI double take
Columbia researchers say they're losing federal grants for DEI language that they were required to add by the Biden administration.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 23, 20252 min read
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Silicon Valley runs on Asian tech talent: 66% of workers are immigrants
Two-thirds of Silicon Valley tech workers are immigrants: Half were born in Asia.

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 15, 20251 min read
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UK will teach diverse, non-Western science
Britain's Labour Party plans to make science teaching less Western-centric and relax standards so lessons are more "enjoyable."

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 3, 20251 min read
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Return of the nerds: US should honor mathletes as much as athletes
Honor mathletes and science fair winners or plan to import a lot of high-tech immigrants.

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 2, 20252 min read
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'Multilevel classes' aren't equitable or excellent, say teachers
Mixing high-achieving, average and low-achieving students in the same class was a noble experiment, writes Ryan Normandin, a high school...

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 11, 20242 min read
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U.S. math scores show 'devastating' decline
U.S. students are doing much worse in math, while some other countries are improving.

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 5, 20242 min read
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It takes a teacher: Many students won't 'discover' science on their own
You'd think that science educators would "follow the science" about what works for students, writes Holly Korbey on The Bell Ringer. But...

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 25, 20242 min read
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Yale wants science profs to 'promote DEI through teaching'
"Diversity" statements are out for job applicants at MIT: Would-professors won't have to pledge their loyalty to Diversity Equity and...

Joanne Jacobs
May 27, 20242 min read
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Schools in England will teach 'biological sex' -- not 'gender spectrum'
Schools in England will not teach students about "gender identity," under a new government draft guidance, reports Andrew McDonald for...

Joanne Jacobs
May 17, 20242 min read
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Teachers aren't unhappy or underpaid
Most teachers like teaching, enjoy the flexible work schedule, live comfortably and are no more likely to quit their profession than...

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 26, 20241 min read
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Core Knowledge students learn more -- a lot more
Students taught a structured, knowledge-rich curriculum starting in kindergarten earned higher reading, math and science scores in third...

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 15, 20241 min read
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Teaching science and social studies improves reading (and math)
After a long battle to persuade educators they need to teach phonics, systematically and explicitly, the science of reading has moved on...

Joanne Jacobs
Mar 12, 20242 min read
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