The hottest Curriculum Development Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Education Topics

AI has Educators Polarized

In My Tribe • 561 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. AI has split opinions in education, with some saying it helps and others claiming it harms learning. Understanding these views depends on how one sees the relationship between teachers and students.
  2. If you believe students resist learning, you might think AI makes education worse because it allows for shortcuts. On the other hand, if you see students as eager learners, you might view AI as a helpful tool that offers personalized support.
  3. Educators should consider the positive potential of AI. Instead of rejecting it outright, they should explore ways it can enhance teaching while also adapting their methods to address any challenges it presents.

✨🧠 Teaching students to think, not just scroll, in the Age of AI

Faster, Please! • 639 implied HN points • 02 Dec 25
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. AI can help personalize learning for each student, making education more effective. It aims to provide a tailored experience that meets individual needs and sparks curiosity.
  2. Instead of just giving answers, AI can help students build real thinking skills. This approach encourages deeper understanding and critical thinking.
  3. Schools need to adapt to new technologies like AI to avoid past mistakes made during the smartphone era. It’s important to teach students how to think critically in this new digital age.

Mathematical Maturity in Elementary School

Kids Who Love Math • 419 implied HN points • 14 Nov 25
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. Mathematical maturity starts with curiosity, connection, and persistence. Kids need to explore math by asking questions and playing with ideas to develop a deeper understanding.
  2. There are four stages of mathematical maturity: Exposure, Pattern Recognition, Internalization, and Creative Mastery. Each stage helps kids build their confidence and skills in math.
  3. It's important to normalize getting stuck and encourage kids to embrace challenges. Learning is about asking better questions and exploring different ways to solve problems, not just getting the right answers.

How to teach science

The Bell Ringer • 219 implied HN points • 21 Jun 24
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. Learning science should be fun, but it's important to share the complete story behind science and math. This helps students understand its real value.
  2. Teachers should balance fun activities with serious discussions about scientific concepts. This approach encourages deeper understanding.
  3. Engaging students effectively means showing them how science relates to the real world. This makes learning more relevant and interesting for them.

Why isn't every child using Mastery Learning?

In My Tribe • 455 implied HN points • 12 Aug 25
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. Mastery learning is a teaching method that focuses on ensuring students truly understand a skill before moving on to the next one. By mastering each part of a subject, students learn faster and perform better.
  2. Many schools do not fully adopt mastery learning, possibly due to traditional teaching methods and pressures for students to enjoy learning. This resistance might mean students are missing out on effective educational strategies.
  3. There's a debate on whether mastery learning is beneficial or if it only works in motivated environments. Some believe it’s undervalued in education, while others think its success is limited to certain settings.
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Should teachers grade students’ homework?

The Bell Ringer • 99 implied HN points • 14 Jun 24
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. Teachers should consider if grading homework really helps students learn better. Sometimes, no grades can encourage kids to focus on understanding rather than just getting a good score.
  2. There is a debate among educators about whether homework should be graded or not. This discussion can impact how students feel about their work and their motivation.
  3. Finding the right balance in grading can make a big difference. Teachers might want to explore different methods to see what works best for their students.

How Thomas Sowell Thankfully Made Me A Contrarian Educator

Journal of Free Black Thought • 48 implied HN points • 01 Dec 25
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. Education quality shouldn't depend on the racial makeup of a school. A good education is about standards and hard work, not just the presence of different races.
  2. Objective standards in education are important. They give students the chance to prove themselves and build confidence, showing that anyone can succeed regardless of their background.
  3. Thomas Sowell highlights historical examples of successful black schools, teaching us that excellence can exist in all contexts if we focus on the right values and standards.

Academia & MAMLMs: The Seven Labors of the Academic East-African Plains Ape

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 215 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. Higher education has always aimed to help people become effective thinkers and communicators. This means teaching students how to research, analyze, and share their knowledge.
  2. New technologies like AI are not a threat to education but rather another change in how we learn. History has shown that every new tool can enhance our learning process instead of replacing it.
  3. The main focus in education should remain on guiding students through the learning process while adapting to new teaching tools. This can lead to a more engaging and fun learning experience.

This week in the science of learning, May 19, 2024

The Bell Ringer • 59 implied HN points • 19 May 24
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. Schools need better data on how students read and what materials they are using. This helps to improve teaching methods.
  2. There's a strong interest in sharing stories and research about learning methods. People want to hear what works and what doesn't.
  3. The community is encouraged to provide feedback on topics of interest, which can lead to more personalized and engaging discussions.

From the principal's desk, a slow burn

The Bell Ringer • 99 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. It's important for schools to adopt the science of learning to help students succeed. This means using research-based strategies that really work in classrooms.
  2. Getting everyone in the school on board takes time and effort. The principal emphasizes the value of patience in making these big changes happen.
  3. Collaboration among teachers, parents, and students is key for improving education. Working together can create a better learning environment for everyone.

This week in the science of learning, April 28, 2024

The Bell Ringer • 59 implied HN points • 28 Apr 24
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. New approaches to math can help students understand concepts better. It's important to make math engaging and relatable.
  2. More homework in college may help students grasp subjects thoroughly. This suggests that practice is key to learning effectively.
  3. Student journalism plays a crucial role in education. It encourages critical thinking and helps students express their viewpoints.

Social Theory for the Mid-21st Century: Part I. What Do I Ask My Students to Read so That They Will Understand the World of 2055?

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 415 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. Teaching students about human affairs is essential to prepare them for their future. We need to help them understand how to navigate their lives and the society they'll be part of.
  2. History provides valuable lessons and analogies, but it's important to synthesize these into useful theories. Good theories help us learn from the past and think about the future.
  3. It's necessary to adapt our teaching to current and future realities, rather than relying only on past approaches. Students need knowledge that applies to the world of 2055, not just what was relevant 40 years ago.

Sunday Listens: Talking math instruction

The Bell Ringer • 39 implied HN points • 24 Mar 24
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. Podcasts can be a great way to learn about math instruction and research. They offer discussions that can inspire teachers and parents alike.
  2. Listening to experienced educators helps us understand new strategies in teaching math. This can improve how we approach learning in schools.
  3. The focus on elementary math is essential for building a strong foundation. Early math skills are important for students' future success.

Ready for anything

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 139 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. Students need to learn how to adapt to constant change, especially with the rise of digital technology. Traditional teaching methods focused on stable information aren't enough anymore.
  2. Digital proficiency isn't about mastering specific technologies but developing skills to understand and respond to changes. This means being able to identify problems, evaluate sources of information, and think flexibly.
  3. Teaching these skills effectively can happen in any subject, not just in standalone courses. Teachers can use creative methods to build critical thinking while covering standard curriculum content.

sunday school pool

bad cattitude • 142 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. Modern education often lacks excitement and doesn’t focus on interesting topics.
  2. There seems to be a gap between what’s taught and what actually engages students.
  3. This lack of engaging content makes learning less enjoyable for many.

What Had I Hoped to Teach This Just-Past Semester?

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 130 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. Understanding history is crucial for making sense of current and future human affairs. It helps us to see patterns and learn from past mistakes.
  2. Students should learn to think critically about economic issues. This includes analyzing how economic instability relates to political decisions and vice versa.
  3. History teaches us to look both backward and forward in time, which is a valuable skill. It allows us to make better decisions by using past examples to inform our understanding of present circumstances.

Liberal Arts Will Save The World!

Polymathic Being • 85 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. The Liberal Arts include important subjects like grammar, logic, arithmetic, and music. These subjects are key to helping us think critically and communicate well.
  2. Many modern education systems have stopped teaching these fundamental arts, which affects how we think and understand the world around us. This gap can lead to confusion and polarization in society.
  3. By reintroducing the Liberal Arts into education, we could improve our discussions, mental health, and understanding of complex topics like technology and ethics.

What's gone wrong at university

Theory Matters • 5 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. Universities are becoming more focused on producing workers rather than promoting true learning. Students are often funneled into narrow paths instead of exploring a wide range of ideas and subjects.
  2. The pressure on universities to grow is leading to bigger class sizes and less individual attention for students. This results in a decline in the quality of education and weakens the relationships between students and teachers.
  3. There's a shared responsibility between the institutions and students for the decline in education standards. Everyone needs to push for better learning experiences instead of taking the easy way out.

Should we teach children to memorize the multiplication tables?

The Science of Learning • 4 HN points • 26 Jun 23
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. Children benefit from memorizing multiplication tables because it helps them solve math problems more easily. When students know their math facts, they can focus on more complex thinking instead of getting stuck on basic calculations.
  2. Research shows that students who memorize math facts do better in math overall. This memorization builds a strong foundation for advanced math skills later on.
  3. It's important to strike a balance between memorization and understanding in math education. Teaching kids to remember math facts can actually support their overall learning and make problem-solving easier.

How to Teach Textual Criticism To Fifth-Graders

Nephew Jonathan • 1 implied HN point • 22 Jul 25
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. Teaching textual criticism to fifth-graders can be fun and engaging. Using creative methods helps students understand complex topics.
  2. It's possible to teach historical concepts using simple activities, like recreating manuscript copying. This hands-on approach encourages participation and learning.
  3. While students may question the relevance of what they learn, introducing unique subjects helps them appreciate history and critical thinking skills.

The educational system is producing scions of machine anthropomorphism

Top Carbon Chauvinist • 0 implied HN points • 20 Aug 24
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. Educational systems are mixing up science and engineering, which can cause confusion. We should focus on understanding how things work and how to build better tools without merging the two ideas.
  2. Anthropomorphism, or giving machines human-like traits, is not helpful for technological progress. It's better to design machines for their specific tasks without trying to make them act like humans.
  3. Universities are continuing to teach outdated and incorrect ideas about machines. Educators need to correct these misconceptions rather than just pass them on to students.

Lessons learned, unlearned and relearned: A semester of online class

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 07 May 12
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. Discipline is really important for both teachers and students. Teachers need to stay organized, and students must manage their time well to keep up.
  2. Students come from different backgrounds, which can make learning hard for some. It's good to offer extra resources for those who need a bit more help.
  3. Technology can be tricky! There can be issues with recordings and bandwidth, so it's important to keep improving the tools we use for online classes.

A new semester begins: Valuation class online

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 07 Sep 12
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. The Valuation class covers how to value various assets like stocks and businesses. It starts with intrinsic valuation and includes topics like multiples and real options.
  2. Students can access the class materials through multiple platforms, including the Stern website, Lore, Apple iTunes U, and YouTube, making it flexible for different preferences.
  3. The first class was on September 5, and new students can catch up easily before the next session. Webcasts of the classes will be available shortly after each session.

The MOOC stumble: Lessons from Napster and the Music Business!

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 27 Jan 14
🚌 Education Curriculum Development
  1. MOOCs have high dropout rates and often don't provide the interactive, hands-on experience people need for effective learning. They started with the wrong idea, thinking content was the most important part of education.
  2. The value of a college education goes beyond just classes. Things like networking, career advice, and even entertainment play a big role in what you get from college.
  3. If you’re in college or thinking about it, ask yourself if it’s worth the money and time. Identify what parts of your education are helping you the most and consider what you really need from your college experience.