A University of Georgia study led by education professor Georgia Hodges found that an anatomy-focused video game, "Virtual Vet," helped elementary students score higher in science than peers taught through traditional lessons. Researchers say the game can keep students engaged and build problem-solving skills, but teachers remain essential to guide instruction and support learning.

Teachers can promote deep thinking and learning without extra preparation by reusing presentation slides in innovative ways. Teacher Rob McEntarffer suggests adding blank slides after key points to encourage students to reflect before taking notes, incorporating old slides to connect past and current lessons, and creating reflection slides for all students to make their thinking visible.

The School District of Philadelphia has kicked off Computer Science Education Week with an hour of coding at John H. Taggart School, highlighting the district's efforts to enhance digital literacy. Over the past 15 years, the district has invested $3.1 million to upgrade labs in 45 schools, creating digital literacy labs in 132 schools.

Principals are navigating challenges such as student performance, staffing shortages and the rise of AI-driven tools, Lisa Herring, CEO of New Leaders, says in this interview. Herring stresses the importance of preparation, continuous improvement and innovation in school leadership, and advises vendors to co-create products with educators and build strong relationships.