Education
Great minds lead to great solutions. Our education section features solutions and innovations directed at strengthening educational systems around the world.
How books can be a powerful ‘punishment’ for those who commit hate crimes
In 2016, an old schoolhouse in Virginia that was once used for teaching black students during the era of segregation was sprayed with offensive graffiti. From the moment Prosecutor and Deputy Commonwealth Attorney Alejandra Rueda heard about the racist and anti-Semitic graffiti scrawled across the Read More...
What educators can learn from the elementary school Lebron James set up
The elementary school that superstar basketball player Lebron James set up in his hometown of Akron, Ohio isn’t like other schools connected to celebrities. That’s mainly because the I Promise school, as it’s known, is not a charter school run by a private operator but a public school Read More...
The inspiring story behind Peter Tabichi, the world’s best teacher of 2019
We could all learn a thing or two about generosity from Peter Tabichi, a math and physics teacher at a secondary in a remote part of Kenya’s Rift Valley. Tabichi gives away 80 percent of his income to help the poorest students at the poorly-equipped and overcrowded school who could otherwise not Read More...
Kids in Ukraine are taking media literacy lessons to better identify propaganda
The war in eastern Ukraine between government forces and Russian-backed separatists has triggered an unfortunate surge in propaganda and disinformation. To combat this, schools across Ukraine have integrated media literacy techniques within their lessons to help students better assess the Read More...
These artists used old IKEA furniture to make funky habitats for wild animals
Although putting IKEA furniture together is known to cause immense stress for humans, the giant Swedish furniture store has now found a way to bring some peace to the world’s smallest critters. The company has just kicked off a collaboration with London–based artists, architects and designers Read More...
Trade schools in America are losing the stigma and attracting more students
There’s an immense amount of social pressure on graduating high school students to enroll in expensive four-year universities, which creates a glut of people all applying to the same white-collar jobs. No wonder university graduates are struggling to find jobs. Meanwhile, graduates of trade Read More...
This artist creates stunning artwork by repurposing discarded fabrics
The beautiful thing about art is that it can inspire us in ways that news articles and public service campaigns cannot. That's why the work of Brooklyn-based textile artist Bisa Butler is so special. What she does is repurpose discarded garments into amazingly intricate quilted tapestries to raise Read More...
Academic publishing is absurdly expensive—but soon it could be free
The University of California (UC), the largest public academic system in the US, is ending its $11 million subscription to Elsevier, the world’s biggest and most influential publisher of academic researcher. Perhaps this seems like an insane move by such a renowned university, but it’s a move Read More...
Here’s why parrots can talk like humans
Our closest mammal relatives haven’t been able to replicate human speech, and yet, parrots do so easily. Have you ever wondered why that is? First, get the “bird brain” out of your head. Parrots are actually smart animals, and have been known to create unique songs so their mate will Read More...
Got junk? Here are 25 brilliant ways to repurpose your old stuff
They say all good things come to an end, and that’s certainly the case when it comes to everyday items such as light bulbs and bottle caps. But instead of throwing your worn-out items away, you can give them a second life with a few basic tools and a little imagination. In fact, just about any Read More...