Are you curious what the latest research reveals about everything from brain breaks to groundbreaking research on AI, cell phones, and handwriting in the classroom? Then you won’t want to miss this special year-end bonus episode based on one of our most popular feature articles of the year. 

In the latest episode of School of Practice, Edutopia’s research editor Youki Terada and editor-in-chief Stephen Merrill walk us through the latest research on the impact of cell phone bans on classroom learning, why more recess time is critical for learning, how adept problem solvers tackle thorny math word problems, and how microbreaks powerfully impact focus and attention. Plus, we’ll share practical tips for bringing these findings right into classrooms today. 

Related resources:

• The 10 Most Significant Education Studies of 2025


• Sustaining Student Concentration: The Effectiveness of Micro-Breaks in a Classroom Setting (2025) 


• Highlight, Write, Elaborate: Note-Taking Strategies to Master Reality-Based Mathematical Tasks (2025) 


• The Impact of Cellphone Bans in Schools on Student Outcomes: Evidence from Florida (2025) 


• Removing Phones from Classrooms Improves Academic Performance (2025) 


• Ill Communication: Technology, distraction & student performance (2016)


• The Impact of Recess on Chronic Stress Levels in Elementary School Children (2025) 


• The Impact of Handwriting and Typing Practice in Children’s Letter and Word Learning: Implications for Literacy Development (2025) 


• Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task (2025) 


• Generative AI Can Harm Learning (2024)


• IEPs in the Age of AI: Examining IEP Goals Written with and Without ChatGPT (2025)