When parents think about their child’s education, they probably focus on basic skills and exam results, the amount a child is trying and their wellbeing. But there is another significant factor influencing their success at school. This is metacognition. What is it? Why is it important? And how can you help your child develop this […] … learn more→

Many high school seniors across the country are in the throes of college applications – often a high-stakes, anxiety-ridden process. But the stress doesn’t necessarily stop once students are admitted. Emotional stress, mental health and tuition cost are the top three reasons that college students drop out, according to a 2023 Gallup poll of 14,032 students. By […] … learn more→

As artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT become an increasingly popular avenue for people seeking personal therapy and emotional support, the dangers that this can present – especially for young people – have made plenty of headlines. What hasn’t received as much attention is employers using generative AI to assess workers’ psychological well-being and provide emotional support in […] … learn more→

It is increasingly common for parents to decide to raise their children in a language that is neither their native tongue nor the language of the society in which they live. For example, in Spain it is increasingly common to hear Spanish parents speaking to their children in English in the park or after school. Often, these […] … learn more→

Imagine someone buying an appliance on installments, without understanding that they will pay double its value. A young couple using their first credit card as if it were extra money, without thinking about the accrued interest. Or a politician offering unlimited subsidies or nationalizing savings. In each case, ignorance weighs more heavily than a lack […] … learn more→

The Victorian government has announced it will send social workers to 20 of the state’s schools to try to reduce violent youth crime. It will spend A$5.6 million on “targeted” schools next year. The aim is to “intervene early in the lives of children who are heading down the wrong path […] drifting towards violence, crime and […] … learn more→

Since the release of ChatGPT in late 2022, millions of people have started using large language models to access knowledge. And it’s easy to understand their appeal: Ask a question, get a polished synthesis and move on – it feels like effortless learning. However, a new paper I co-authored offers experimental evidence that this ease […] … learn more→

Most research proposals, dissertations and funding bids start off with some kind of problem statement. A research/thesis problem statement needs to do several interconnected things to work well. At its core, it needs to articulate what specific issue or puzzle your research addresses. This is the “problem” part. But it’s not just about stating that […] … learn more→

Most research development models assume that time, energy, and executive functioning are equally distributed across scholars. They aren’t. Especially not for early career researchers in teaching-heavy roles, and certainly not for neurodivergent academics trying to survive in systems not designed for their minds. We need a better way to support scholarly growth—one that respects rhythm, […] … learn more→

Teenagers all over the world use social media and messaging apps as part of their daily lives. This is accompanied by growing concerns about negative effects of social media on youth mental health – and ongoing debates around limiting screen time and access to digital devices. What’s frequently missing in these conversations, though, is what teenagers […] … learn more→