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Podcasts episode·Dec 9, 2025

Chat2Learn: Using Simple Conversation Prompts to Boost Early Childhood Development

Tess Vigeland and Ariel Kalil
Large gaps in language skills between children from different socioeconomic backgrounds emerge early and persist throughout schooling. In this episode, Ariel Kalil, Professor of Public Policy at UChicago’s Harris School, discusses her research on “Chat2Learn,” a technology intervention that sends...
Topics: Early Childhood Education
Podcasts episode·Oct 7, 2025

The Economics of Early Childhood: Why the First Five Years Matter Most

Tess Vigeland and James Heckman
Nobel laureate James Heckman explains why ages zero to five are critical for brain development and lifelong outcomes. He discusses the Perry Preschool Program’s surprising health benefits 35 years later, why low-cost home-visiting programs that engage parents outperform expensive institutional...
Topics: Early Childhood Education
Podcasts episode·Jul 22, 2025

Decoding Educational Content: A Computational Comparison Between Public and Religious School Textbooks

Tess Vigeland and Anjali Adukia
Textbooks don’t just teach facts, they shape how children understand the world and their place in it. In this episode, UChicago economist Anjali Adukia discusses her study of textbooks across public schools, religious private schools, and homeschools. Using advanced AI...
Topics: Early Childhood Education