Episode Notes What does it take to conduct autism research that reflects the needs and expertise of the individuals, families and educators it is designed to serve? For autism researcher Mandy Rispoli, it starts with who contributes to the research and how her research can be applied in the homes and classrooms of children with autism. The Quantitative Foundation Bicentennial Professor at the UVA School of Education and Human Development, Rispoli’s research recognizes and invites the family members, educators and community members that surround individuals with autism to share their immense wisdom and experiences, integrating those insights into her work. Keeping those families, classrooms and communities at the top of her mind is one way she and her team work to ensure the practices they ask caregivers and educators to adopt make a meaningful difference. In this episode of EdLab, Rispoli shares more about her work, including valuable lessons she has learned from her partners and how they have shaped her research. Resources Supporting Transformative Autism Research (STAR) Autism Drive website Caregivers for Autism Support and Training Program

Episode Notes Online education creates an avenue for many talented students to pursue graduate education who might not otherwise be able to access it. But when it comes to online learning, can students expect a connected and flourishing community, like the one you may get if you were learning in person? According to Associate Professor Anne Jewett, the answer to that question is a resounding, "Yes!" Jewett is an award-winning educator, who coordinates the fully-online Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction program. In this episode of EdLab, you will hear more about her commitment to discovering what it takes to create a thriving community between and among her online students. More information: M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction: https://education.virginia.edu/academics/programs/curriculum-instruction-med-master-education-online Online programs at the UVA School of Education and Human Development: https://education.virginia.edu/academics/online-programs How One UVA Professor is Turning Online Classrooms into Communities: https://education.virginia.edu/news-stories/how-one-uva-professor-turning-online-classrooms-communities

Episode Notes It has long been known that children’s academic learning increases over time. But before the groundbreaking work of Sara Rimm-Kaufman and her colleagues, we did not know if that was also the case with social and emotional skills like self-management or social awareness. Thanks to their research, we now know that when it comes to social and emotional skills, the middle school slump is real. Sara Rimm-Kaufman is the Commonwealth Professor of Education and is the chair of the department of Education Leadership, Foundations and Policy. Along with her UVA School of Education and Human Development colleague Jim Soland and research colleague Megan Kuhfeld, Rimm-Kaufman mapped the dips, slumps and climbs of social and emotional competencies from late elementary through high school. In this episode of EdLab, Rimm-Kaufman discusses the highs and lows of what they discovered.

Episode Notes How can exercise and nitric oxide support women's cardiovascular health after menopause? Jason Allen, a vascular and exercise physiologist and a professor in the department of kinesiology, has studied nitric oxide for decades. Recently, he and his team of graduate students have turned their attention to understanding how exercise and nitric oxide can support women's cardiovascular health after menopause.

Episode Notes Today we are going "back to the lab," where we revisit one of our most popular episodes from season 1. As April gives way to May, we move from Autism Awareness Month into Mental Health Awareness Month. Today, we are revisiting a conversation with Professor Micah Mazurek, whose work sits at the intersection of those very two things: autism and mental health. Autism often exists alongside co-occurring conditions, such as difficulties with sleep or gastrointestinal issues, as well as depression and anxiety. For individuals with autism seeking mental health care, medicine-based treatments can bring disruptive side effects that are not compatible with other challenges they experience. Mazurek and her team are working to better understand what specific mental health treatments best support individuals with autism. In this episode of EdLab, Mazurek explains the increase in autism diagnoses and discusses her research on mental health treatments for individuals with autism. Learn more at the Supporting Transformative Autism Research initiative website. EdLab is a production of WTJU 91.1FM and the UVA School of Education and Human Development. EdLab is produced by Audrey Breen. Our music is Palms Down by Blue Dot Sessions.

Episode Notes With artificial intelligence evolving at such a rapid pace, it can feel intimidating to try and keep up. But whether you're a teacher, a parent, a student, or an employee in nearly any field, understanding what AI is and how it is present in our lives is critical.  According to Associate Professor Natasha Heny, the rise of AI brings with it a need for each of us to think critically about how, when and where generative AI might be used responsibly—what she calls practicing AI literacy. In addition to teaching future middle and high school English teachers in our department of curriculum, instruction, and special education, Natasha serves as a University of Virginia AI guide. In that role, she works with faculty and students to explore the ethical and instructional implications of AI in education.  “We want to design learning environments that can keep human curiosity, voice and connection at the center. And I don't think that AI is excluded from that.” In this episode, Heny helps answer some basic questions about what artificial intelligence literacy means. She offers insights into some of the fears and misconceptions about AI and shares practical ways we can begin developing our own AI literacy. EdLab is a production of the University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development and WTJU 91.1 FM. EdLab is produced and hosted by Audrey Breen. Our music is Palms Down by Blue Dot Sessions. You can subscribe to EdLab wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

Episode Notes Today we are going "Back to the lab," where we revisit one of our most popular episodes from season 1. We are working on some great new episodes to share with you later this spring. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this conversation with our director of teacher education, Jillian McGraw. No matter where you are in your professional journey, if becoming a teacher is your goal, the UVA School of Education and Human Development has a pathway to help you make that happen. In this episode of EdLab, Teacher Education Director Jillian McGraw walks us through all the ways pre-service teachers find their way to the teacher education program to pursue their dream of one day leading a classroom of their own. Visit the Become a Teacher page for more information. EdLab is a production of WTJU 91.1FM and the UVA School of Education and Human Development. EdLab is produced by Audrey Breen. Our music is Palms Down by Blue Dot Sessions.

Episode Notes Did you know that some mental health problems are treatable with specific, relatively short-term evidence-based therapies? And if so, how do you know which providers practice these treatments? Today we're talking with Professor Peter Tuerk, a clinical psychologist who specializes in evidence-based treatments for anxiety spectrum disorders and who serves as director of the University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development’s Sheila C. Johnson Center for Clinical Services, a community-facing outpatient and training clinic. In our conversation, Peter helps us differentiate between general mental health care and evidence-based treatments for specific mental health problems, like the anxiety spectrum disorders he specializes in, that include obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. But according to Tuerk, not enough practitioners are trained in these treatments. As a practicing clinician who directs the clinic where our graduate students are training to become practitioners, Peter shares how the School of Education and Human Development programs are designed to launch new practitioners into the field well trained in these areas and discuss his efforts to support the learning of professionals already practicing. Peter Tuerk: https://education.virginia.edu/about/directory/peter-tuerk Shiela C. Johnson Center for Clinical Services: [https://education.virginia.edu/research-initiatives/sheila-c-johnson-center-clinical-services ](

Episode Notes Schools are regularly making important decisions that impact the quality of their students' education. Add technology like artificial intelligence that is advancing lightning fast into the mix and schools are at risk of implementing products that have little evidence of actually working. So how do they get their hands on the evidence they need to make informed decisions? That question is at the heart of the work conducted by education researchers like Vivian Wong. In this episode, Vivian shares why education research is so important and why now—with the rapid deployment of all kinds of technology, including AI—is a critical time for it to continue. November 14, 2025 Note: At the time of recording, the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) contract had been canceled along with many other Institute of Education Sciences (IES) research contracts. Since then, the U.S. Department of Education has begun reinstating a subset of those terminated contracts. Public disclosures indicate that the WWC contract has been approved for reinstatement in a limited form, including website operations but not yet the full research-review activities previously conducted. The status and scope of the reinstated WWC contract remain unclear. Vivian Wong:

Episode Notes For those in education, today’s guest likely needs no introduction. Carol Ann Tomlinson, the William Clay Parrish Professor Emerita at the UVA School of Education and Human Development, is a world-renowned expert in differentiation, an idea that connects to how teachers see and teach each student in their class.  In this conversation, Carol shares her definition of what exactly differentiation means and how her definition has evolved over time.   With 21 years of teaching experience, during which she was named Virginia’s Teacher of the Year, Tomlinson transitioned into academia, investing in a generation of future teachers at the UVA School of Education and Human Development. Her scholarship generated hundreds of publications, including books that have been translated into 14 languages. Though officially retired, Carol still works with educators across the US and around the world.  Looking back over her career, one principal reigns supreme for her when it comes to teaching:  the power of human connection. https://education.virginia.edu/about/directory/carol-ann-tomlinson