School's In

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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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How does sleep affect student academic performance? And how might school start times be setting them up to fail?

On this episode of School’s In, originally broadcast in April 2019, we welcome Professor Rafael Pelayo, a  clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. He discusses what sleep does for the brain and how it matters for learning. Pelayo tackles several topics, including:

• 04:43  What sleep really does for us
• 08:26  Sleep and learning: The essential link
• 13:10  Adolescent sleep challenges
• 17:52  The school start time debate
• 23:45  Changing attitudes, sleep technology, and healthy habits

Dr. Rafael Pelayo is a clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University’s Sleep Medicine Division, where his clinical focus is on sleep medicine and the neurology of children and adults. He is also the author of How to Sleep. To learn more about his work, visit 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 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.

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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 Stanford undergraduate student Alvin Lee. The panel discusses the importance of teaching students how to accurately navigate the internet, and how this approach to digital information can be built into course curricula. Our guests tackle several topics, including:

• 02:57  Teaching digital literacy in a changing world (panelists’ responses to Part 1 with Sam Wineburg)
• 08:05  Truth, trust, and TikTok: Navigating information in the AI era
• 15:08  The educator’s dilemma: Keeping up with AI in the classroom
• 22:37  Beyond the mandate: Building digital literacy into the curriculum
• 25:38  Creating a culture of curiosity: Advice for students, educators, and parents

Sam Wineburg is the Margaret Jacks Professor, Emeritus, of education at Stanford Graduate School of Education, where his research focused on how people assess the credibility of digital content. To learn more about his work, visit his faculty profile. 

Janine Zacharia is a lecturer in the Department of Communication at Stanford University. She regularly appears on cable news shows and radio programs as a Middle East analyst. To learn more about her work, visit her faculty profile. 

Valerie Ziegler teaches U.S. history, economics, and advanced placement U.S. government and politics at Abraham Lincoln High School in San Francisco. Learn more about her work here. 

Alvin Hong Lee is a senior at Stanford University, where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science. A proud product of California public schools, Lee is founder and executive director of GENup, California’s largest youth-led education policy organization.

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 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.

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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 several topics, including:

• 02:02  What is digital literacy?
• 05:04  Critical thinking vs. critical ignoring
• 08:34  The challenges and potential of AI in education
• 14:13  Digital literacy in the school curriculum
• 19: 28  Navigating fake news, lateral reading, and using AI to check sources
• 25:18  Parents’ role in supporting students’ digital literacy

Sam Wineburg is the Margaret Jacks Professor, Emeritus, of Education at Stanford Graduate School of Education, where his research focused on how people assess the credibility of digital content. To learn more about his work, visit 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 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.

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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. Ram covers several topics, including:

• (03:17)  What is the Human Screenome Project?
• (08:33)  Digital switching and the human brain
• (16:50)  Generational differences: The cell phone as behavioral mirror
• (19:33)  Cell phones and mental health
• (23:16)  Positive interventions, optimization, and ethics

Nilam Ram is a professor of psychology and communications at Stanford University, where his research focuses on how short-term changes, including processes like learning and information processing, develop across the lifespan, and how longitudinal studies help generate new knowledge.To learn more about his work, visit 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 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.

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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 assessment and focus on supporting student learning. Yeatman covers several topics, including:

• 02:42  What is dyslexia and why is early screening important?
• 09:11  Designing engaging assessments: Gamification research
• 16:52  Technology’s role: Supporting teacher expertise in literacy
• 21:05  Applying ROAR beyond the primary grades
• 23:34  ROAR at home: Data access for parents

Jason Yeatman is an associate professor at the GSE where his research focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind the learning process, especially as it relates to children with dyslexia, to help design effective literacy interventions for students with learning differences. 

He is also director of the Stanford Brain Development and Education Lab, where he studies how a child’s experience with reading instruction shapes the development of brain circuits. To learn more about his work, visit 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 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.

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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 prepare young people for futures that might involve multiple careers and continuous learning over the course of a lifetime. Stevens covers several topics, including:

• 03:20  The impact of longevity on education and work
• 05:48  Rethinking our front-loaded education system
• 07:53  Lifelong careers as a thing of the past
• 11:26  Early learning matters more than ever
• 14:58  Beyond “skills”: Identity and reinvention across the lifespan
• 19:42  Who pays for lifelong learning? A new social contract

Mitchell Stevens is a professor at the GSE where his research focuses on lifelong learning, alternative forms of education, and the formal organization of knowledge. He is also co-director of the Stanford Center on Longevity. To learn more about his work, visit 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 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.

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