As the new school year arrives, Pennsylvania teachers are knee-deep in lesson planning while preparing for a major shift: implementing the state's STEELS standards—which emphasize science, technology, engineering, environmental literacy, and sustainability—in time for full integration into K-12 classrooms by the start of the 2025-26 school year. To support educators already stretched for time and resources, especially those new to teaching computer science, Lehigh University is introducing the Lehigh K-12 Computer Science STEELS Toolkit: a suite of flexible, free enrichment activities designed and tested by undergraduate students and partnering teachers at local schools for use in elementary and secondary classrooms.

A recent Illinois law went into effect requiring public high schools to teach at least one unit on media literacy. However, a new study led by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers in collaboration with Northwestern University found that instruction varies widely across the state's schools and is fraught with digital divides associated with teachers' lack of familiarity with the platforms used by teens, teachers' academic background and local politics.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is pleased to announce the election of Prof. Oron Shagrir as its next Rector, following a vote by the University Senate.

 

Prof. Shagrir currently serves as the Vice-President for International Affairs. He previously held key academic and administrative roles, including Head of the Department of Cognitive Sciences and Vice Rector.