SESP: A Catalyst During Crisis
When SESP Dean and economist David Figlio created the syllabus for his popular undergraduate class, he had no idea he’d be teaching it during the worst economic crisis of anyone’s lifetime.
SESP in the Media: May 2020
An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
What Happens When You Start Work During a Recession?
Recent graduates who are unlucky enough to join the workforce during a recession will likely see a loss in income and negative health effects over their lifetime, Northwestern University economist Hannes Schwandt told political analyst Amy Walter, host of The Takeaway, Fridays.
SESP in the Media: April 2020
An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
AERA Shifts to Virtual Meeting Due to Coronavirus
AERA will not be holding a place-based Annual Meeting in San Francisco, CA, in April 2020 due to the coronavirus. Instead, they are shifting to a virtual meeting.
SESP in the Media: March 2020
An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
SESP in the Media: February 2020
An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
OpenSciEd Releases Free Science Teaching Materials
OpenSciEd is a collaborative effort to develop free, high-quality classroom materials for teachers nationwide. Co-created by Northwestern University’s Brian Reiser and his team of learning scientists, the free and downloadable units are aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and lay the groundwork for the future of science education.
SESP Psychologist Named ‘Rising Star’
Northwestern University developmental psychologist Yang Qu was named a 2020 Rising Star by the Association for Psychological Sciences for his interdisciplinary work examining the role of sociocultural contexts in adolescent development.
Six SESP Faculty Members Among Most Influential Academics
Six SESP faculty members were named to Education Week’s annual list of 200 influential academics in education policy, highlighting the School’s research eminence and influence.
Kirabo Jackson: Invest in Education Early and Often
Educational investments are most cost-effective when they start early and are sustained throughout childhood, Northwestern University’s Kirabo Jackson said during the Education Policy Institute’s (EPI) Annual Lecture in London’s City Hall.
Spillane, Coburn Headline International School Leadership Symposium
Northwestern University professors Cynthia Coburn and James Spillane delivered keynote speeches during the International Symposium on Perspectives on/in School Leadership at the Danish School of Education in Copenhagen, Denmark.
SESP in the Media: December 2019
An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
College Counseling: Can High Schools Do It Well?
High school guidance counselors can significantly influence whether young people pursue higher education. But counseling offices are often understaffed and juggling large caseloads and competing demands, according to Northwestern University researchers.
A Peek Inside the Principal’s Office: 'It’s a Pressure Cooker'
School principals often have too much to do and not enough time to do it. They share leadership duties but have ultimate responsibility for the school and everyone inside of it. And they have to meet the demands of everyone -- from parents and school board members to teachers and students.
Pinkard Receives Grant to Reduce Computer Science Deserts
Northwestern University professor Nichole Pinkard received a CME Group Foundation grant to expand her work increasing access to computer science for K-12 students who live in underserved areas of Chicago.
SESP in the Media: September 2019
An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
SESP in the Media: August 2019
An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
Are All Head Start Classrooms Created Equal?
Individual classrooms within the Head Start program vary in quality and don’t always reflect the school as a whole, according to a new Northwestern University study published in the American Educational Research Journal.
SESP in the Media: July 2019
An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
Emissions-Cheating Vehicles Linked to Worse Health in Babies, Children Across U.S.
A new study conducted by researchers at Northwestern University and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is the first to show that diesel cars implicated in the emissions-cheating scandal had population-level impacts on infant and child health.
First Computer Science-Learning Sciences Symposium Draws World's Top Scholars
Computer science classes and boot camps have never been more popular in the US and worldwide. But how can educators help the next generation use this technology to their advantage? And how can that information reach everyone – not just those drawn to the traditional notions of computer science?
SESP in the Media: May 2019
An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
Why You Don’t Want to Leave School During a Recession
The bad luck of leaving school during hard economic times can lead to higher rates of early death and permanent differences in life circumstances, Northwestern University’s Hannes Schwandt wrote in a policy brief.
Computer Scientists and Learning Scientists Join Forces
Computer science classes and boot camps have never been more popular. But how can we help the next generation of students feel empowered by this technology? And how can that education reach everyone – not just those who are drawn to the traditional notions of computer science?
SESP in the Media: April 2019
An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
Rosenbaum Receives Career Award – But Far From Slowing Down
James Rosenbaum’s ability to cultivate talented researchers and his passion for tackling pressing social issues recently earned him the Elizabeth G. Cohen Distinguished Career in Applied Sociology of Education Award from the American Education Research Association.
SESP Heads to Toronto for AERA
SESP faculty, alumni, postdocs and graduate students will be presenting at the 2019 American Educational Research Association (AERA) annual meeting April 5 through April 9, the world’s largest gathering of education researchers.
SESP in the Media: March 2019
An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
Women in STEM: How Can Universities Close Gender Gaps?
Colleges and universities that invest in gender parity ultimately help support women pursuing careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), according to a new book co-authored by Northwestern University’s Lois Trautvetter.
The Cost of a Twin Brother
Women who shared their mother’s womb with a male twin are less likely to graduate from high school or college, have earned less by their early 30s, and have lower fertility and marriage rates when compared with twins who are both female, according to new Northwestern University research.
Can Female Principals Be Caring and Commanding?
White and black novice female principals adopt vastly different leadership styles at the beginning of their careers, according to new Northwestern University research that looks at how race and gender intersect for professional educators.
SESP in the Media: February 2019
An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
Undergrads Win Research Grants
A school-record 14 School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) students received Academic Year Undergraduate Research Grants (AYURG) to study everything from female entrepreneurship and empowerment the use of technology to discipline students.
SESP in the Media: January 2019
An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
Mesmin Destin Wins Early Career Award
Northwestern University psychologist Mesmin Destin, whose research emphasizes the key role socioeconomic status plays in the study of human behavior, was recognized by the American Psychological Association (APA) for his stellar work in the early stages of his career.
2018 End-of-Year Research Highlights
In 2018, members of the School of Education and Social Policy research community took home the world’s largest prize in education research, raised more than $6 million in community research partnerships, and paved the way for life-changing discoveries by studying individuals, massive organizations, and everything in between.
Hang In There. As Couples Age, Humor Replaces Bickering
Honeymoon long over? Hang in there. A new UC Berkeley study, co-authored by Northwestern University's Claudia Haase, shows those prickly disagreements that can mark the early and middle years of marriage mellow with age as conflicts give way to humor and acceptance.
How to Get Teachers to Embrace Reforms
A study of teachers co-authored by James Spillane offers lessons on how to get employees on board with reforms.
Why You Can’t 'Just Ignore' Fake News
Even if you know the information you’re getting is false, fictitious, or misleading, simply being exposed to it can have clear consequences, according to a review of recent studies by Northwestern University researchers.
SESP in the Media: December 2018
An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
How Changing Teen Stereotypes Can Help Them Shine
Efforts to help teenagers see themselves as responsible and thwart common negative stereotypes can help them flourish, according to new research co-authored by Northwestern University’s Yang Qu, a developmental psychologist at the School of Education and Social Policy.
SESP in the Media: November 2018
An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
New Study: How Groups Can Influence Your Emotions
People we identify with can have a more powerful influence on our emotions than those we don’t relate to, according to new research co-authored by Northwestern University developmental psychologist Yang Qu.
Coburn Selected to National Academies’ Committee
Northwestern University’s Cynthia Coburn, a professor at the School of Education and Social Policy, has been appointed to the National Academies’ Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication Research and Practice.
Wilensky, Horn Awarded NSF Grant for Computational Thinking Research
Northwestern University professors Uri Wilensky and Mike Horn have received a $2.6 million National Science Foundation grant to help students improve their computational thinking skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and to explore how a computer-oriented approach to problem-solving impacts science education.
SESP Faculty Hailed for Prestigious Awards
SESP professors make up just two percent of Northwestern faculty, but they represented more than five percent of those recognized by a distinguished University-wide panel during the 31st Annual Faculty Recognition Dinner.
SESP in the Media: October 2018
An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
Steenbergen-Hu Honored with Mensa Foundation Research Award
Saiying Steenbergen-Hu received the Mensa Foundation’s Award for Excellence in Research for her work looking at whether talent development programs and out-of-school learning can be used to improve STEM education for all students, particularly gifted ones.
Can a Growth Mindset Boost Coding Skills?
Introductory computer science classes often have trouble retaining students, perhaps in part because they often promote a fixed mindset or the belief that great programmers are born and not made.