If you’ve followed mental health topics on TikTok or Instagram lately, you have probably heard the term emotional regulation. But emotional regulation isn’t just a trendy buzzword. It’s a nuanced concept that psychologists like me have been studying for decades. At its core, emotional regulation is how well someone can manage their emotions – whether positive ones like […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
What is emotional regulation? A child psychologist explains
Why geopolitics is deciding the future of universities today
For decades, educational institutions benefited from a rarely questioned notion: the world was moving toward greater integration and cooperation. International student mobility was growing, research collaboration was flourishing across borders, and academia was operating within a global marketplace of talent and ideas. Even as governments vied for economic and political influence, higher education was considered […] … learn more→
In the United States, universities are struggling to reverse the decline in reading.
Anyone who has recently spent any time on an American college campus has probably heard professors lamenting their students’ reading habits—or rather, the fact that they hardly read at all anymore. And these complaints aren’t simply nostalgia for a bygone golden age. Reading—not just any kind of reading, but reading long, complex, and demanding books— is rapidly disappearing from […] … learn more→
Students are anxious – and it’s no surprise, since we are teaching them to be that way
Temporary anxiety can often surface before the first day of school. Sometimes, that can help kids get in the right mindset for a big day. But when anxiety becomes a constant feature of children’s and teenagers’ days, that stress doesn’t switch off when they leave the classroom or finish an exam. It can become the body’s […] … learn more→
The special nature of research projects
Research projects come in many forms – applied, developmental, evaluative or data-driven inquiries – but regardless of type, they often operate in what might be called discovery mode. This mode is defined by open-ended exploration and inherently fuzzy deliverables. In discovery-oriented work, uncertainty isn’t an obstacle to be eliminated but a condition to be navigated. […] … learn more→
How to achieve a truly restorative vacation for our brain
Summer means vacation and a break for many workers: we turn off our computers, forget about email, meetings disappear, the boss vanishes, and, with a bit of luck, even that voice that tells us, “You should be productive.” We put our bodies on pause and go in search of relaxation and fun in generous doses. […] … learn more→
Schools are rethinking whether every student needs a laptop
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced in-person classroom instruction to go virtual, students suddenly needed to have their own laptops or tablets in order to interact with teachers and complete assignments. Most states used federal pandemic funding to address the digital divide. This refers to the gap between students and families who had their own tablets, computers and high-speed internet, and those who did not. […] … learn more→
Reflection and reflexivity: a strategy for academic writing
I wrote recently about the difference between reflection and reflexivity. Reflection looks back at what you have done and asks what you can learn from it. Reflexivity turns the lens on you, the person doing the work, and on the conditions under which you are making knowledge. What do you actually do with this distinction when you […] … learn more→
What really happens to your data when you click ‘delete’?
Deletion is a common part of modern life. We send files and folders to the recycle bin all the time, and often get rid of unwanted personal accounts. But do you know what really happens when you hit the “delete” button? The process of deletion is often poorly explained by tech providers. Lack of transparency around how requests are […] … learn more→
‘Critical thinking’ is all the rage: what does it really mean and how is it taught?
Any debate or reflection on the impact of artificial intelligence on education and intelligence inevitably leads to a discussion of critical thinking . This technology is changing how students learn and how teachers assess learning, and in the face of this transformation, critical thinking is often presented as the appropriate pedagogical response. But as AI changes the […] … learn more→
