Making Kids Smarter: Are We Up to the Task?
Reexamines what it means to be intelligent in a rapidly changing world, moving beyond traditional measures of academic achievement and IQ. Through research in neuroscience, psychology, and education, the issue explores creativity, compassion, critical thinking, and the learning experiences that prepare students for lifelong growth.
March 1, 2024
ElementsED brings researchers, educators, and institutional leaders into conversation about questions emerging from the work of education. Each issue explores a consequential topic through evidence, experience, and perspectives that invite readers to think further.
Creativity Is a Way of Life: An Interview with Scott Barry Kaufman
Explores the relationship between intelligence, creativity, and personal fulfillment, challenging narrow definitions of what it means to be smart. Kaufman discusses how curiosity, openness, and creative expression contribute to human development and self-actualization.
The Compassion Learning Spiral: A Case Study on How Students Develop Compassion
Examines how students develop compassion through a continuing process of awareness, reflection, and action. Drawing on student experiences, the researchers explore how schools can intentionally cultivate empathy and compassionate behavior.
Thinking Probabilistically in the Classroom
Explores how probabilistic reasoning helps students make informed decisions in situations involving uncertainty and incomplete information. The authors examine how educators can strengthen critical thinking by teaching students to evaluate evidence, consider possible outcomes, and revise their judgments.
Bridging the Divide: Neuroscience and the Learning Styles Debate
Examines the debate surrounding learning styles and the relationship between neuroscience research and educational practice. Oakley explores how scientific evidence can inform more effective teaching while challenging assumptions about how individuals learn.
Playing for Knowledge: Unlocking the Joy of Learning
Explores how purposeful play supports children's cognitive, social, and emotional development while making learning more engaging. The authors demonstrate how playful learning experiences can combine exploration and discovery with meaningful educational goals.
On Making Kids Smarter: An Interview with Tony Wagner
Challenges conventional definitions of academic success and explores how schools can develop the capabilities students need for an uncertain future. Wagner emphasizes purposeful learning, intrinsic motivation, and disciplined play as foundations for creativity, mastery, and lifelong growth.
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