Educhatter
@educhatter.bsky.social
Education commentator, author and gadfly. Founder of Schoolhouse Institute and researchED Canada, Paul W Bennett roams freely in K-12 education and specializes in decoding edubabble.
Cherishing Canada Day: Today CBC News is asking for "shout outs" for Canadians who deserve recognition. First and foremost, John A. Macdonald, who made it all possible. Then, of course, who would ever forget Mercy Coles, the 26-year-old woman who gave us her Confederation conference dairies.
Digital Safety and Kids: My latest for MLI makes the case that the Canadian Social Media Safety Act is a vital first step in safeguarding children up to age 16. It's not perfect, but draws the line & opens the door to design innovation making it safer for kids. macdonaldlaurier.ca/only-an-outr...
Only an outright social media ban can protect kids: Paul W. Bennett for Inside Policy | Macdonald-Laurier Institute
Social media use is so prevalent and entrenched across all age levels that only a blanket ban on social media can break the cycle of overuse and dependence.
macdonaldlaurier.ca
COUNTDOWN: Join Us for researchED Calgary (Sat May 9) for our first-ever conference in Alberta. Author of The Knowledge Gap Natalie Wexler leads the parade, featuring JUMP Math founder John Mighton, Mathematics wiz Dr Anna Stokke, and Literacy specialist Peter Bowers. Register today.
Alberta Bound: Join Me for #researchEDCalgary Sat May 9 at North Trail HS for Four Featured Speakers and Practical Teacher workshops with Dr Kristy Brown, Melinda Cameron, Una Malcolm, Dave Brown & the STEM Innovation Team, Dean Kokonas & Morgan Andrew. See you there!
Just Confirmed: researchED Canada is heading to Alberta! Join Us for researchED Calgary (May 9, 2026) and see our star-studded cast of featured speakers - Natalie Wexler, John Mighton, Anna Stokke and Joe Bowers. Ty Dr Jodi Nickel for stepping up to host our first conference in Alberta.
Raise the Banners: We're Welcoming Speakers and Registrants Tomorrow. Follow the Banners to researchED Atlantic Canada (Oct 24-25, 2025) at Saint Mary's University. The fog will clear and the sunwill shine. See you in Halifax
Getting Ready - to Welcome You! Excitement builds as researchED Atlantic Canada (Sat Oct 25/25) fast approaches. Our program says it all - six featured speakers, 20 in-depth sessions & a 28-page program. Ty #NicoleConrad for stepping up!
Conference Day at a Glance: Join Us for researchED Atlantic Canada (Oct 25/25) to take-in our star-studded cast of educators and researchers, headed by Amanda VanderHeyden, George Georgiou, Jamie Metsala, Leslie Laud, John Mighton and Kate Jones, but featuring 20 practical workshop sessions.
Big Reveal: A Sneak Peek at the researchED Atlantic Canada Conference Program (Sat Oct 25 at Saint Mary's University, Halifax, NS) What a Roster of Speakers and Inspiring Sessions for Educators, Researchers and Policy-Makers in K-12 Education. Style and Substance! It's One of a Kind here in Canada
Speaker Spotlight: Literacy instructor Melinda Cameron will be presenting at researchED Atlantic Canada (Oct 25/25) on "Building Automaticity for Struggling Readers." Join Us to see what Halifax Learning is doing to change the trajectory for kids
Restricting Cellphones in School: What is Needed to Make Nova Scotia's Ban Stick? My latest commentary in today's Halifax Chronicle Herald. For background, see my MLI report, Weapons of Mass Distraction (MLI, July 2024) saltwire.com/nova-scotia/...
Paul W. Bennett: What is needed to make Nova Scotia’s cellphone ban stick?
The lesson is clear: the ban’s success hinges on consistent, decisive leadership, says Paul Bennett.
saltwire.com
Remembering IN SCHOOL: Ken Dryden’s best-selling books are classics. Back in 1995, In School: Our Kids, Our Teachers, Our Classrooms, was a perfect example. His keen observational skills yielded deep insights into the human side of daily life in education #KenDryden #cdned #onted
Back to School News: researchED Atlantic Canada is now on the Horizon! Join Us to Learn What Works in Mathematics and Literacy. Our trio of stars Amanda VanDerHeyden, GeorgeGeorgiou, and LeslieLaud will be joined by 20 more presenters, incl John Mighton, JamieMetsala, Kim Lockhart and many others
Back to School News: researchED Atlantic Canada is now on the Horizon! Join Us on Oct 25/25 for "What Works in Mathematics and Literacy" Our trio of stars Amanda VanderHeyden, George Georgiou, & Leslie Laud will be joined by 20 more presenters, incl John Mighton,Jamie Metsala, and Kim Lockhart
Children and Playgrounds: Cape Breton professor Tom Urbaniak shares what he's learned introducing his son Oliver to local playgrounds. Absolutely delightful. A unique look at our public spaces. Ty Tom for adding to our knowlege of #Playgroundology www.saltwire.com/cape-breton/...
TOM URBANIAK: What makes a playground great?
The state of playgrounds says a lot about whether a community has caring leaders, proud advocates, creative citizens and motivated public servants.
saltwire.com
The Onslaught of AI: Is AI Eating Away at Brain Power? My latest Commentary for The National Post in Chronicle Herald, Aug 2/25. Ty to Barbara Oakley, Natalie Wexler, Carl Hendrick and Nidhi Sachdeva, all key suppoorters of @researchedcanada.bsky.social saltwire.pressreader.com/the-chronicl...
Generative AI and Learning: Why ChatGPT and comparable tools are leading us astray. Where's the room for original thought and ideas? My latest at The National Post tackles the proliferation of AI in and outside classrooms nationalpost.com/opinion/paul...
Paul W. Bennett: AI isn't revolutionizing learning. It's mimicking original thought
Little attention has been given to its long-term consequences, inside and outside of classrooms
nationalpost.com
Call for Submissions: researchED Atlantic Canada (Sat Oct 25/25) on "Better Together: What Works in Mathematics and Literacy" is on the horizon and we are looking for presenters to complete the #rEDATCan25 program. Submit using this link: forms.gle/S4YgGYk9oS7g...
Announcement: researchED Atlantic Canada (Sat. Oct 25, 2025), "Better Together," will feature three outstanding speakers, Amanda VanderHeyden, George Georgiou, and Leslie Laud, supported by an amazing cast of presenters. Tickets now LIVE! www.eventbrite.ca/e/researched...
The Last Stand for School Libraries: Disappearance of school libraries in Canada is latest sign of thtreat to book culture in rural and remote communities. My latest in the Education Beat series for Telegraph-Journal, Times & Transcript, and Daily Gleaner tj.news/new-brunswic...
Opinion: The last stand for school libraries
Paul Bennett:
tj.news
"Research Says" Strikes Again! New Brunswick EduMin Claire Johnson is the latest to use "research says" as a cover for "bad ideas." Giving Fridays off, 2 days a month, won't improve student results, curb absenteeism Ty to @rastokke.bsky.social @researchedcanada.bsky.social tj.news/new-brunswic...
Opinion: Liberals’ case for more PD days ‘completely without foundation’
Education expert Paul Bennett says evidence actually shows four-day weeks set kids 2-7 weeks behind
tj.news
“Generative AI is—without much acknowledgement—making all forms of student assessment, other than teacher-supervised term tests and examinations, virtually obsolete…Stick with exams, for now, until we have curbed the deleterious effects of the bots.” thehub.ca/2025/06/20/p...
Conference Lessons Learned: What dis researchED Toronto 2025 Accomplish? Looking beyond the Buzz - to see if it generated the momentum to effect change in pedagogical research, teaching, learning and policy reform. An invitation to join the discussion. educhatter.wordpress.com/2025/06/18/c...
Conference Lessons Learned: What did researchED Toronto 2025 Accomplish?
The school bell rang to open researchED Toronto in early June 2025 and there was a detectable a buzz in the air. With the school year winding down, the U.K.-inspired ‘polite revolution’ in educatio…
educhatter.wordpress.com
All Smiles: Our researchED Canada team welcomes UCL Institute of Education's Dylan Wiliam to our researchED Toronto Conference, June 7, 2025, at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church. Proud to share in the achievement with close colleagues Dr Jim Christopher, Jennifer Van Dommelen and Nidhi Sachdeva
AI in Education Alert: Generative AI is dulling students' critical-thinking capacities. New research from Michael Gerlich in Societies (2025) adds to evidence of its debilitating effects on writing and academic integrity www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
Is AI dulling critical-thinking skills? As tech companies court students, educators weigh the risks
Artificial intelligence is the latest technology stoking fears of human decline. Early studies stoke doubt about whether the fear is warranted
theglobeandmail.com
Retain and Restore Exams: Why and How Exams become the only truly reliable form of summative assessment. #AI has rendered most of the others obsolete Ty Daisy Christodoulou for the initial insight tj.news/new-brunswic...
Paul Bennett: AI and final exams: Why high schools should, for now, retain and restore exams
Paul Bennett:
tj.news
