Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy

06/01/2026

Artists, educators, and researchers explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping—and challenging—human creativity through spark talks, student led-panels, poster sessions, music, and comedy during our two-day workshop sponsored by the Center for Responsible Technology, Policy, and Public Dialogue.

After delivering the keynote, UCLA's Safiya Noble performed a standup routine at Sketchbook Brewery, bringing tech criticism into comedy. “It’s a way humanizing these conversations and translating our work,” she said. “We have to decide: will we be Photoshop editors or will we be people with second sight who use art to transform these conversations, and in fact, leave people far more powerful than the tech industry wants us to be?”

➡️http://spr.ly/6185B89az3

05/30/2026

Dean Bryan Brayboy spoke with Anavi Prakash, editor of the Daily Northwestern and SESP–Medill dual-degree student, about his nearly three years leading SESP. His tenure has been marked by the launch of new programs, a focus on student well-being, and efforts to foster a campus environment where students, staff, and faculty can thrive.

Read more:

When SESP Dean and Carlos Montezuma Prof. Bryan Brayboy spoke to The Daily on Monday, he said he knew the exact time period he had served in the position: two years, 11 months and 11 days.  Since Brayboy assumed the role in 2023, the School of Education and Social Policy has launched a dual degree....

05/29/2026

Professor Cynthia Coburn received the Martin E. and Gertrude G. Walder Award for Research Excellence.🏅

➡️Coburn, who was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2025, studies how education policies affect what teachers actually do in urban classrooms, how school districts make decisions, and how research influences those decisions.

➡️She is currently serving on the National Academy of Education Presidential Task Force on Knowledge Mobilization.

➡️Read more:http://spr.ly/6188B8bsFu

05/27/2026

🎉 Congratulations to professor Shirin Vossoughi on being elected a fellow of the International Society of Learning Sciences! She's SESP's sixth member of the prestigious group.

Several current Northwestern programs and partnerships are based on her research findings, including the SESP Leadership Institute, which she co-directs, and a collaboration with the McGaw YMCA program in Evanston, MetaMedia.

👉Read more: http://spr.ly/6186B8XJUK.

05/20/2026

“Block-based” coding, which involves dragging and snapping pieces together, has clear learning benefits. But some high school students see these programming tools as childish, only capable of very basic functionality, or not ‘real programming.’

New Northwestern University research suggests these perceptions may stem from students repeatedly encountering block-based programming through shallow or repetitive experiences across K–12 computer science education.

“In the effort to rapidly expand K–12 computer science education, we may have unintentionally designed computer science curricula and blocks-based programming tools that lack continuity and depth,” said lead author Caryn Tran, a doctoral student in computer science and learning sciences at Northwestern University.

“Students want deeper and more authentic experiences," Tran added. "Based in part on what they absorb from peers, media, job culture, and curricula, many come to believe that serious computer science is mainly about learning syntax-heavy programming languages."

Read more about the study, coauthored by graduate student Kristin Fasiang; Max Kanwal (Stanford University); and professor Eleanor O'Rourke: http://spr.ly/6187BB4Rnx.

05/19/2026

Evanston fifth graders danced, coded, and competed at BitCrush, Northwestern's annual showcase where students share music projects built with Python. The event is led by SESP Professor Michael Horn and Northwestern volunteers who coach students throughout the year.

➡️ Read more: http://spr.ly/6181BBIQgc.
📸 Willa Stivers Art: http://spr.ly/6182BBIQgY

05/18/2026

What's hard to resist and an instant mood booster? Free ice cream and Winnie ON THE SAME DAY.🍦💜🐶

📸 Joshua Sukoff

05/15/2026

🎉 Congratulations to two outstanding graduate students! Andrew Stein and alumnus Corey Wi******er have each been awarded a National Academy of Education/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship, among the most competitive honors in any field, and the most prestigious for education scholars.

Andrew is pursuing his doctorate in human development and social policy; Corey is a PhD candidate in learning sciences.

We couldn't be prouder. 👏

➡️Read more about their research: http://spr.ly/6187BBIU1N.

05/12/2026

SESP mourns the loss of Professor Emeritus Allan Collins, a founding father of learning sciences and cognitive science, who passed away April 20 at 88. His curiosity, generosity, and groundbreaking work continue to shape how we understand learning.

A memorial service will be held at the Lexington Depot Museum, 13 Depot Square, Lexington, Mass., on Sunday, June 7, at 5 p.m.

Read more about his amazing life: http://spr.ly/6180BBQlY2.

05/01/2026

SESP students are leaders. Meet Connor Wong, a first year who was named one of 65 top young changemakers in the country by the Allstate Foundation 🙌 His focus on learning and organizational change ties directly into his nonprofit work.

🔗http://spr.ly/6186BBRupy.