Education in the Face of Unprecedented Challenges

One year ago, we set out to document how educators were leveraging research in their practice to help all learners thrive. We could not have anticipated how the COVID-19 pandemic would transform our project and bring even greater urgency to this work.

The resulting stories explore how educators are responding to the new realities of school—both drawing on research and developing entirely original strategies.

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Remote Possibilities

How educators and school leaders are navigating the transition to remote learning during the pandemic.

Feature

Voices

‘If I Could Handle This, I Can Handle Anything’: First-Year Teachers Reflect on the Pandemic

By Emily Tate Sullivan

Voices

‘If I Could Handle This, I Can Handle Anything’: First-Year Teachers Reflect on the Pandemic

By Emily Tate Sullivan

The Whole Picture

How educators are supporting their students, themselves and each other under challenging circumstances.

Feature

Social-Emotional Learning

Teacher, Interrupted: Leaning into Social-Emotional Learning Amid the COVID-19 Crisis

By Christina Cipriano

Social-Emotional Learning

Teacher, Interrupted: Leaning into Social-Emotional Learning Amid the COVID-19 Crisis

By Christina Cipriano

Putting Research Into Practice

How educators are leveraging research, data and evidence to improve teaching and learning.

Feature

Voices

How 3 Techniques From Cognitive Psychology Reinvigorated My Math Classroom

By Torre' Mills

Voices

How 3 Techniques From Cognitive Psychology Reinvigorated My Math Classroom

By Torre' Mills

Ready to put research into practice? Start here

Teachers College Record

School Climate: Research, Policy, Teacher Education and Practice

By Jonathan Cohen and Nicholas M. Michelli

Carnegie Mellon: ETC Press

Handbook of Research on K-12 Online and Blended Learning, 2nd Edition

Edited by Richard E. Ferdig and Kathryn Kennedy

Contemporary Educational Psychology

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation From a Self-Determination Theory Perspective: Definitions, Theory, Practices, and Future Directions

By Richard M. Ryan and Edward L. Deci

Upjohn Institute for Employment Research

Who Believes in Me? The Effect of Student-Teacher Demographic Match on Teacher Expectations

By Seth Gershenson, Stephen B. Holt and Nicholas Papageorge

Vox

Is Mindfulness Meditation Good for Kids? Here’s What the Science Actually Says.

By Brian Resnick

Brookings

What the coronavirus reveals about the digital divide between schools and communities

By Nicol Turner Lee

Clinical Psychology Review

Upward Spirals of Positive Emotions Counter Downward Spirals of Negativity: Insights from the Broaden-and-Build Theory and Affective Neuroscience on The Treatment of Emotion Dysfunctions and Deficits in Psychopathology

By Eric L. Garland, Barbara Fredrickson, Ann M. Kring, David P. Johnson, Piper S. Meyer, and David L. Penn

Project Description

Educators are leveraging—and conducting—research in innovative ways in order to serve the whole child. The pandemic has only increased the urgency of this work. Our project seeks to understand how educators are doing this critical work—and what supports they need. Our project consisted of the following four elements:

Stories

We sourced, curated, edited and published more than 50 stories told by educational practitioners, EdSurge reporters and researchers. Then, we categorized and organized these stories into themes that are relevant to practitioners.

Convenings

We held Virtual Learning Circle with educators around the country on themes explored in articles from our series. We focused the discussion on the relationship between research and practice.

Surveys

We administered a survey to educators to who use instructional technology in the classroom in order to understand how educators are thinking about their teaching practice and the role of technology in that practice and to identify technological products and features that are most helpful to educators. We also administered a follow-up survey to participants in our Virtual Learning Circles that explored how educators make decisions to change their practice; how educators use research in their practice and what actions participants took as a result of participating in the Virtual Learning Circle.

Interviews

We conducted follow-up interviews with a subset of educators who responded to our survey. We also conducted interviews with developers of instructional technology products commonly cited by survey respondents.

For more on methodology, download our report or contact research@edsurge.com .

Remote Possibilities

Voices

‘If I Could Handle This, I Can Handle Anything’: First-Year Teachers Reflect on the Pandemic

Voices

‘If I Could Handle This, I Can Handle Anything’: First-Year Teachers Reflect on the Pandemic

Remote Learning

How Long Should a Remote School Day Be? There’s No Consensus

Higher Education

Pandemic May (Finally) Push Online Education Into Teacher Prep Programs

Voices

How Brain Research Helped Retool Our School Schedule for Remote Learning

Leadership

How to Foster a Positive School Climate in a Virtual World

Coronavirus

The ‘Unsung Heroes’ Keeping Students and Families Fed During School Closures

EdSurge Podcast

Starting a Teaching Career When a Pandemic Hits

Opinion

Schools Will Never Return to Business as Usual. Here’s How They Can Make the Most of Our New Reality.

Blended Learning

Why Middle Schoolers Thrive in a Self-Paced Classroom

Coronavirus

Districts Pivot Their Strategies to Reduce Chronic Absenteeism During Distance Learning

Voices

Special Ed Students Have Lost Many Services. Here’s How SEL Strategies Can Help.

Voices

With Innovation and Empathy, Remote Learning Becomes Accessible for All Students

Voices

SEL Can Help Special Educators Address Rapidly Evolving Remote Learning Requirements

Coronavirus

How School Crisis Counselors Help Students Cope With Death and Grief, Virtually

Voices

How Districts Can Develop a Comprehensive Plan for Remote Learning Come Fall

Remote Learning

Innovative Schools Find Lessons — and Opportunities — in Remote Learning

The Whole Picture

Social-Emotional Learning

Teacher, Interrupted: Leaning into Social-Emotional Learning Amid the COVID-19 Crisis

Social-Emotional Learning

Teacher, Interrupted: Leaning into Social-Emotional Learning Amid the COVID-19 Crisis

Social-Emotional Learning

I’m a Peace Teacher. Here’s How Brain Science Helps My Kids Handle Conflict.

Social-Emotional Learning

Teachers Are Anxious and Overwhelmed. They Need SEL Now More Than Ever.

Whole-Child Learning

What Should Recess — and Play — Look Like in a Socially Distanced World?

Opinion

Teachers Are Living in a Tinderbox of Stressful Conditions. These Scientific Approaches Can Help.

Voices

Everyone Has Invisible Bias. This Lesson Shows Students How to Recognize It.

Opinion

Play Is Disappearing From Kindergarten. It’s Hurting Kids.

Opinion

Let’s Help Teachers Grow by Coaching — Not Micromanaging — Them

Social-Emotional Learning

A New Approach to Discipline Slashed Suspension Rates and Transformed This DC School

Special Education

How One School Is Delivering Trauma-Informed Care From Afar

Social-Emotional Learning

Rethinking Recess Leads to Results On and Off the Playground

Voices

How Virtual One-to-One Meetings Are Helping Us Build a Strong Online Classroom

Opinion

The Pandemic’s Toll on School Leaders Is Palpable. Here’s What’s Needed for a Successful School Year.

Early Learning

Five Ways Mindfulness Can Support Educators During a Crisis

Social-Emotional Learning

Student-to-Counselor Ratios are Dangerously High. Here’s How Two Districts Are Tackling It.

Voices

Yes, I Hug My Students. Research Says You Should Too.

Voices

SEL Skills Are More Vital Than Ever. Here’s How to Choose the Right Tools.

Putting Research Into Practice

Voices

How 3 Techniques From Cognitive Psychology Reinvigorated My Math Classroom

Voices

How 3 Techniques From Cognitive Psychology Reinvigorated My Math Classroom

Voices

How Can Educators Tap Into Research to Increase Engagement During Remote Learning?

Voices