Education Now Lab

Flyer: Are you seeking a postdoc position? Help make high school science more accessible to blind and low-vision students. Join Dr. Shaheen's lab at Illinois State University as a Postdoctoral Scholar starting Fall 2026. nlshahe@ilstu.edu https://jobsearch.illinoisstate.edu/cw/en-us/job/521173?lApplicationSubSourceID=

Are you seeking a postdoc position? Help make high school science more accessible to blind and low-vision students. Join Dr. Shaheen's lab at @illinoisstateu.bsky.social (also affiliated with @edunowlab.bsky.social --see above) as a Postdoctoral Scholar starting Fall 2026.

Education Now Lab receives ARCS Tier II grant to build an inclusive future for teaching and learning A team with the Education Now Lab is exploring how emerging technologies can be used to better understand and address longstanding educational dilemmas.

Need a little bright spot in your doomscrolling? Thanks to the team in the School of Teaching & Learning at @illinoisstateu.bsky.social for this story about our @edunowlab.bsky.social's ARCs grant! news.illinoisstate.edu/2026/01/educ...

A group of people smiling and stacking their hands together in front of a large rainbow Pride flag. The image sets a tone of connection and collective care. Overlaid text introduces Mollie V. Blackburn’s ideas about fostering talk across differences. A dotted yellow path leads toward a “next” arrow. Several hands raise a small rainbow Pride flag against a soft sky background. The image visually supports the idea of inviting, affirming, and bolstering talk across differences. Decorative dotted arrows point toward the text explaining what this kind of talk is.

An illustrated background filled with diverse faces. The image functions as a visual metaphor for ideological diversity. Overlaid text defines “listening” and “wavering” in the context of fostering talk. A small dotted arrow marks the transition to the section. The same illustrated crowd of diverse faces used as a backdrop. The image continues the metaphor of ideological plurality while the overlaid text explains “pushing” as another conversational stance. A dotted loop guides attention toward the navigation arrow.

A child draped in a large Pride flag stands outdoors. The image underscores the stakes of students’ identities and the importance of careful, consequential conversations. Yellow dotted accents move across the slide to connect visually with the text. The back of a person wrapped in a rainbow flag facing an outdoor gathering. The image supports the message about approaching difficult conversations gradually and thoughtfully. A dotted arrow signals movement through the carousel.

Two hands holding each other, one wearing a rainbow wristband. The image reinforces the theme of care and thoughtful engagement. Overlaid text lists what educators should provide to students before engaging in these conversations. A gradient background featuring a large QR code that links to Mollie V. Blackburn’s full article. The slide also includes LRTMP’s social media icons and the Education Now Lab logo. This slide functions as the call-to-action for readers to learn more.

🗣️How can meaningful learning happen when we foster talk across differences?

💬 In this carousel for teachers and teacher educators, Dr. Mollie V. Blackburn shares the why and how of creating classroom spaces that invite, affirm, and support careful, nuanced dialogue. 1/2

📖 To read Mollie V. Blackburn’s Invited Address given at the 2024 Literacy Research Association Conference, visit: doi.org/10.1177/2381...

🤝Created in partnership with @edunowlab.bsky.social

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Final call! We have to manually send out the invite, so sign up sooner than later! We'll do one last send out tomorrow afternoon.

flyer with photo of Dr. Cynthia Bennett with the text November 19, 2025 @ 6:30 pm Opportunities and Challenges at the Intersection of AI, Disability, and Accessibility with Dr. Cynthia Bennett, Google Research

Our final speaker in the Creatively Critical Tech virtual speaker series this fall is Dr. Cynthia Bennett, Google Research
"Opportunities and Challenges at the Intersection of AI, Disability, and Accessibility" on November 19, 2025 @ 6:30 pm
Don't miss it! Register today: tinyurl.com/CreativelyCr...

Prospective students should email Dr. Shaheen (nlshahe@ilstu.edu) before January 4, 2026 to discuss their research interests and potential projects.
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The opening begins fall of 2026 and concludes spring of 2029. This 3 year graduate research assistantship includes full tuition remission and monthly stipends all year (12 months).
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As part of Shaheen’s Lab, the student can pursue an Ed.D in either special education or teaching and learning at Illinois State University.
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Dr. Natalie L. Shaheen is recruiting a doctoral student for the 2026–2027 academic year. The student will work on the A11y in Sci project, conducting research and creating professional development for teachers.
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A flyer that reads: Help make science more accessible to blind and low-vision students. Join Dr. Shaheen’s Lab as a graduate research assistant at Illinois State University starting fall 2026. nlshahe@ilstu.edu.

Are you considering a doctoral degree in education? Are you interested in making high school science more accessible to blind and low-vision students?
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Event flyer with profile picture of Audrey Waters and the text: The Education Now Lab Presents Creatively Critical Tech: Research + Design + Practice November 12, 2025 @ 6:30 pm CT AI Grief Observed: On the Death of Education with Audrey Watters Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/CreativelyCritical Hosted by Dr. Anna Smith & the Education Now Lab An Initiative of the Advancing Research and Creative Scholarship from the Office of Research at Illinois State University

Next in our Creatively Critical Tech virtual speaker series is Audrey Watters @audreywatters.bsky.social on "AI Grief Observed: On the Death of Education."

Don't miss it on November 12, 2025, @ 6:30 pm CT!
Register today at tinyurl.com/CreativelyCr...

Event flyer with profile picture of Audrey Waters and the text: The Education Now Lab Presents Creatively Critical Tech: Research + Design + Practice November 12, 2025 @ 6:30 pm CT AI Grief Observed: On the Death of Education with Audrey Watters Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/CreativelyCritical Hosted by Dr. Anna Smith & the Education Now Lab An Initiative of the Advancing Research and Creative Scholarship from the Office of Research at Illinois State University

Next in our Creatively Critical Tech virtual speaker series is Audrey Watters @audreywatters.bsky.social on "AI Grief Observed: On the Death of Education."

Don't miss it on November 12, 2025, @ 6:30 pm CT!
Register today at tinyurl.com/CreativelyCr...

Announcement flyer of a talk with profile picture of Dr. Roderic Crooks Text reads The Education Now Lab Presents Creatively Critical Tech Research + Design + Practice Access is Capture: How Edtech Reproduces Racial Inequality Dr. Roderic Crooks University of califoria Irvine October 15, 2025, @ 7:00 pm CT Register today at https://tinyurl.com/CreativelyCritical

Don't miss our next outstanding speaker, Dr. Roderic Crooks, on October 15, 2025, @ 7:00 pm CT. He will speak on his book "Access is Capture: How Edtech Reproduces Racial Inequality." Register today at tinyurl.com/CreativelyCr...

Talk announcement flyer with profile picture of Dr. Kate Hennessy. Text says "Research-Creation between Art and Anthropology" with Dr. Kate Hennessy, Simon Fraser University October 7, 2025 @ 10:00 am CT Register Today at https://tinyurl.com/CreativelyCritical

Don't miss the upcoming talk "Research-Creation between Art and Anthropology" with Dr. Kate Hennessy, Simon Fraser University on October 7, 2025 @ 10:00 am CT. Register today: tinyurl.com/CreativelyCr... Please share!

Would you please help us share this awesome, upcoming series?

Would you please help us share this awesome, upcoming series?

A photograph of me holding the book "Digital Degrowth: Radically Rethinking Our Digital Futures" by Neil Selwyn.

New @civicsoftech.bsky.social book club!

I'm leading a discussion of @neilselwyn.bsky.social's new book "Digital Degrowth: Radically Rethinking Our Digital Futures" on Tues, Nov 11, from 8-9pm ET. Dr. Selwyn will be joining us too.

Register at our events page: www.civicsoftechnology.org/events

The Creatively Critical Tech speaker line-up includes...

November 19, 2025 @ 6:30 pm Opportunities and Challenges at the Intersection of AI, Disability, and Accessibility with Dr. Cynthia Bennett, Google Research

Sign up at tinyurl.com/CreativelyCr...

The Creatively Critical Tech speaker line-up includes...

November 12, 2025 @ 6:30 pm CT AI Grief Observed: On the Death of Education with @audreywatters.bsky.social

Sign up at tinyurl.com/CreativelyCr...

The Creatively Critical Tech speaker line-up includes...

October 15, 2025 @ 7:00 pm CT Access is Capture: How Edtech Reproduces Racial Inequality with Dr. Roderic N. Crooks, University of California Irvine

Sign up at tinyurl.com/CreativelyCr...

The Creatively Critical Tech speaker line-up includes...

October 7, 2025 @ 10:00 am CT Research-Creation between Art and Anthropology with Dr. Kate Hennesy, Simon Fraser University

Sign up at tinyurl.com/CreativelyCr...

Profile images of each speaker and the text: The Education Now Lab Presents Creatively Critical Tech: Research + Design + Practice October 7, 2025 @ 10:00 am CT Research-Creation between Art and Anthropology with Dr. Kate Hennesy, Simon Fraser University October 15, 2025 @ 7:00 pm CT Access is Capture: How Edtech Reproduces Racial Inequality with Dr. Roderic N. Crooks, University of California Irvine November 12, 2025 @ 6:30 pm CT AI Grief Observed: On the Death of Education with Audrey Watters November 19, 2025 @ 6:30 pm Opportunities and Challenges at the Intersection of AI, Disability, and Accessibility with Dr. Cynthia Bennett, Google Research Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/CreativelyCritical Hosted by Dr. Anna Smith & the Education Now Lab An Initiative of the Advancing Research and Creative Scholarship from the Office of Research at Illinois State University Logos for Illinois State University and the Education Now Lab

The Education Now Lab presents the 2025 Creatively Critical Tech: Research + Design + Practice free, webinar speaker series! Please share widely!

Sign up at tinyurl.com/CreativelyCr...

Education Now Lab presents Creatively Critical Tech Research + Design + Practice

Friends! Pencil in these dates for @edunowlab.bsky.social's Creatively Critical Tech series! #literacies
10/6 or 7 Kate Hennessy www.makingculturelab.com
10/15 6:30CT Roderic Crooks www.rncrooks.info
11/12 6:30CT Audrey Watters audreywatters.com
11/19 6:30CT Cynthia Bennett www.bennettc.com

And….*Exciting News* Our course will be hosting another round of the Creatively Critical Tech: Design + Research + Practice free, virtual speaker series! Follow @edunowlab.bsky.social for updates! Check out the 2023 speakers too: about.illinoisstate.edu/edunowlab/cr...

Final call! Join us tomorrow!

Event flyer with profile pictures of the speakers and the text: Hosted by Dr. Anna Smith & the Education Now Lab at Illinois State University Sponsored by the ISU Office of Research and Graduate Studies The Education Now Lab presents Creatively Critical Tech After the Capture of AI Literacy: Teaching Ecological Approaches to AI Charles Logan Northwestern University May 14, 2025 @ 6:00 pm CT Sign up @ https://tinyurl.com/CreativelyCritical Project Spotlights A11y in Sci Dr. Natalie Shaheen Illinois State University Ankara In Motion Fikayo Olutomiwa Illinois State University LRTMP Public Scholarship Initiative Viraj Patel Illinois State University

Join us on May 14 @ 6pm CT for the Creatively Critical Tech series with @charleswlogan.bsky.social on "After the Capture of AI Literacy: Teaching Ecological Approaches to AI" w/spotlights from Dr. Natalie Shaheen, Fikayo Olutomiwa & @boyfrombombay.bsky.social
Sign up -> tinyurl.com/CreativelyCr...

Please share!
Did you miss the presidential session at #AERA2025? Join us to take a "creatively critical" look at teaching ecological approaches to AI with @charleswlogan.bsky.social! Bonus project spotlights from Dr. Natalie Shaheen, Fikayo Olutomiwa & @boyfrombombay.bsky.social!

Event flyer with profile pictures of the speakers and the text: Hosted by Dr. Anna Smith & the Education Now Lab at Illinois State University Sponsored by the ISU Office of Research and Graduate Studies The Education Now Lab presents Creatively Critical Tech After the Capture of AI Literacy: Teaching Ecological Approaches to AI Charles Logan Northwestern University May 14, 2025 @ 6:00 pm CT Sign up @ https://tinyurl.com/CreativelyCritical Project Spotlights A11y in Sci Dr. Natalie Shaheen Illinois State University Ankara In Motion Fikayo Olutomiwa Illinois State University LRTMP Public Scholarship Initiative Viraj Patel Illinois State University

Join us on May 14 @ 6pm CT for the Creatively Critical Tech series with @charleswlogan.bsky.social on "After the Capture of AI Literacy: Teaching Ecological Approaches to AI" w/spotlights from Dr. Natalie Shaheen, Fikayo Olutomiwa & @boyfrombombay.bsky.social
Sign up -> tinyurl.com/CreativelyCr...

Check out our public scholarship initiative with @lrtmp.bsky.social and the authors of LRTMP Volume 73!
about.illinoisstate.edu/edunowlab/pu... #literacies