When we set out to study pandemic-related changes in schools, we thought wed find that learning management systems that rely on technology to improve teaching would make educators jobs easier. Instead, we found that teachers whose schools were using learning management systems had higher rates of burnout. Our findings were based on a survey of 779 U.S. teachers conducted in May 2022, along with subsequent focus groups that took place in the fall of that year. Our study was peer-reviewed and published in April 2024. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools across the country were under lockdown orders, schools adopted new technologies to facilitate remote learning during the crisis. These technologies included learning management systems, which are online platforms that help educators organize and keep track of their coursework.We were puzzled to find that teachers who used a learning management system such as Canvas or Schoology reported higher levels of burnout. Ideally, these tools should have simplified their jobs. We also thought these systems would improve teachers ability to organize documents and assignments, mainly because they would house everything digitally, and thus, reduce the need to print documents or bring piles of student work home to grade. But in the follow-up focus groups we conducted, the data told a different story. Instead of being used to replace old ways of completing tasks, the learning management systems were simply another thing on teachers plates.A telling example was seen in lesson planning. Before the pandemic, teachers typically submitted hard copies of lesson plans to administrators. However, once school systems introduced learning management systems, some teachers were expected to not only continue submitting paper plans but to also upload digital versions to the learning management system using a completely different format.Asking teachers to adopt new tools without removing old requirements is a recipe for burnout. Teachers who taught early elementary grades had the most complaints about learning management systems because the systems did not align with where their students were at. A kindergarten teacher from Las Vegas shared, Now granted my kids cannot really count to 10 when they first come in, but they have to learn a six digit student number to access Canvas. I definitely agree that it does lead to burnout.In addition to technology-related concerns, teachers identified other factors such as administrative support, teacher autonomy and mental health as predictors of burnout.Why it matters Teacher burnout has been a persistent issue in education, and one that became especially pronounced during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. If new technology is being adopted to help teachers do their jobs, then school leaders need to make sure it will not add extra work for them. If it adds to or increases teachers workloads, then adding technology increases the likelihood that a teacher will burn out. This likely compels more teachers to leave the field.Schools that implement new technologies should make sure that they are streamlining the job of being a teacher by offsetting other tasks, and not simply adding more work to their load. The broader lesson from this study is that teacher well-being should be a primary focus with the implementation of schoolwide changes.Whats next We believe our research is relevant for not only learning management systems but for other new technologies, including emerging artificial intelligence tools. We believe future research should identify schools and districts that effectively integrate new technologies and learn from their successes. The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work. David T. Marshall, Associate Professor of Educational Research, Auburn University; Teanna Moore, Associate Researcher at Accessible Teaching, Learning and Assessment Systems, University of Kansas, and Timothy Pressley, Associate Professor of Psychology, Christopher Newport UniversityThis article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Google Deep Research is powered by Gemini AI, not little cartoons. Image: DepositPhotosShareGoogle hasnt been shy in pushing out new AI tools and features in recent months, from Gemini in Gmail to AI-hosted podcasts. One of the latest innovations unveiled is Google Deep Research, which essentially lets Googles Gemini AI loose on the web, with a mission to thoroughly research a topic of your choice.Imagine theres something you need to do that would normally require a lot of Googling: It could be finding the best phone to upgrade to, for example, or trying to understand how a self-driving car is put together, or charting out the history of Scotland in the 17th century. Deep Research can take on any kind of challenge like this.Its whats known as an agentic featurea trending term in AI that basically means these bots get more agency and control over what theyre doing. The idea is theres less hand-holding and more of the AI working independently, which (in theory) should mean less work for you to do.Under your supervision, Deep Research does the hard work for you, Google explains. After you enter your question, it creates a multi-step research plan for you to either revise or approve. Once you approve, it begins deeply analyzing relevant information from across the web on your behalf.One caveat: You need to be signed up to the $20-per-month Gemini Advanced plan to try this out at the moment (which also gives you 2TB of Google One storage as well). Head to the Google One plans page, and you may be able to access a free trial of Gemini Advanced, if you havent previously signed up.Getting started with Google Deep ResearchYoull see a research plan, then the web searching will start. Screenshot: Google There are three main stages to Google Deep Research workflow: To get to the first, head to Gemini on the web, choose the 1.5 Pro with Deep Research option from the drop-down menu in the top-left corner, then tell the AI what you want to know about (you should see some suggestions appear if youre stuck for inspiration).What you search for is completely up to you, but this is a tool for comprehensive research: It needs to be above and beyond something youd get a standard AI chatbot answer for (like whats a good party game for 5-year-olds or how do you get wine stains out of a fabric couch). You could think about something you need help with for work or a side hustle, or just something youre interested in as a hobby.Enter your prompt into the boxit doesnt have to be long, but the more detail the better, if possibleand the first stage of Google Deep Research gets underway. The AI will think about the prompt youve given, mull over how best to approach the topic, and then present you with an overview of how its going to tackle the challenge.This research plan is presented to you, and you can make changes by clicking Edit plan: Youre then dropped back into a chat with the AI, so you can tell it to focus more on certain areas, or add in extra areas of research you want it to cover. Each time you make a suggestion, youll be given a revised plan.When you see a research plan on screen youre happy with, click Start research to move on to the next stage. Gemini gets to work, and will show you on screen the websites its looking at and the information its parsingyou can sit and watch, or you can get on with something else. You can even close down the Gemini app completely if you need to, and come back later to get your answers.Answers and reports from Google Deep ResearchYoure able to keep asking questions about the finished report. Screenshot: Google You shouldnt have to wait too long for your answersmany queries can be researched in just a few minutesand youre then presented with a detailed report, which should cover everything in your original prompt. If you asked any specific questions about a topic, they should be specifically addressed somewhere.This is the third stage of Google Deep Research, working your way through the report. It doesnt have to be the end of the research though: You can ask follow-up questions about anything in the report, just as you would in a normal conversation with Gemini. If you carry on the chat, the report itself gets minimized, but you can open it up again if needed.At the end of the responses, and the end of the report itself, you get references to the web: These can be useful to check the workings of Gemini and to look for further information yourself. Even in Deep Research mode, the Gemini can make mistakes message is displayed, and its important not to rely too heavily on AI reporting until youve made sure its all accurate.Another handy feature of Google Deep Research: You can convert your report into a Google Docs document, by clicking the Open in Docs button in the top right corner. This will present you with a rather plainly formatted document that you can edit or save as usual. If there are tables in your report, theyll be transferred over to Google Docs, and you still get all your web references at the bottom too.From testing out Google Gemini Research on a few tech topics, it seems to do a decent job at collating information and working out whats important and what isnthaving access to the web resources the AI has used really helps in digging deeper and checking facts. Your mileage may of course vary, depending on the topic and the information available, but the tool definitely has the potential to save you a substantial amount of research time.

Stack CommerceShareWe may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Heres some unsettling news for your Sunday: your VPN is overcharging you. It doesnt matter how much or little youre paying because you could be getting a better dealno fees at allwith this VPN router.With the same concept as your digital one, some argue the routers decentralized servers are even more private and secure. But you might care most about never having to pay for it ever, ever again. Today (January 12) is the last day its on sale for $149.97 with free shipping (reg. $219).How does it work? And what can it do?The setup is seamless, maybe more so than your existing one. Plug the routers USB-C plug into your laptop, where it gets power. Choose from over 150,000 servers then wirelessly pair up to five devicesall are compatible, including smart TVs.Each connected device is protected with military-grade encryption, whether youre at home, working from a cafe, or traveling the world.The VPN router is also an excellent choice to unblock content on streaming services. Simply choose a server in locations where content is available, connect the device you want to stream on and enjoy.This VPN also has built-in ad blocking at the server level. Imagine watching YouTube or reading articles without the usual distractions or annoyances plaguing the internet.If you want a VPN without fees, today is your last chance to order this router for $149.97 (reg. $219). Deal ends January 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT and no coupon is needed.StackSocial prices subject to change.Deeper Connect Air Portable VPN Travel Router $149.97See Deal

Welcome to the next iteration of Science News! Im thrilled to introduce a new look and format that includes everything you have always loved about this magazine, as well as new elements to enhance your experience. As our team embarked on this project, we knew we had to stay true to our 104-year-old mission of providing accurate, timely news about science to the public. So we proceeded carefully.We surveyed readers (thank you for your insights), explored magazine industry trends and weighed how best to honor our legacy while ensuring that Science News will continue to be relevant for years to come. Most importantly, we wanted to better serve our readers, who range from intellectually curious people to STEM professionals to students at almost 6,000 high schools.

Letters to the EditorReaders react to Betelgeuses buddy, the 2024 Nobels and small nuclear reactor wasteBy Science News Staff1 hour agoIts all relativeBetelgeuse may have a sun-sized companion starthat orbits it about once every 2,100 days, astronomy writer Lisa Grossman reported in Betelgeuses invisible buddy.The story describes Betelgeuse as the red giant that marks Orions left shoulder. Reader Chris JespersenThis is actually a matter of perspective, Grossman says. The ancient Greeks thought the Orion constellation resembled the figure of a hunter. Many people agree that this celestial hunter faces Earth. Betelgeuse represents whats considered the hunters right shoulder, which is on the figures left from the perspective of Earth, she says.

A mosasaur species with saw-like teeth that was described by scientists in 2021 may have been based on forged fossils, and researchers are now calling for CT scans to determine the creature's origin.

Even once researchers can reliably get more power out of a fusion reaction than they put in, they'll still need to overcome engineering challenges to scale up fusion energy.

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While Disney Dreamlight Valley has a big roster of heroes, players can also befriend some of the most wicked villains in Walt Disney Animation Studios' history. With villains available in both Disney Dreamlight Valleys base game and its two expansion passes, players can fine tune their games character roster for their best personal experience.

With the PlayStation 5 halfway through its estimated lifespan, it's clear to see why people are more than satisfied by this console's massive library of games. The lack of exclusives has irritated many fans, but this has more to do with the developing AAA landscape and how state-of-the-art video games have longer and more expensive development cycles than ever before.