Blog April 25, 2024

Bridging the pay gap: Caitlin Clark’s WNBA salary and how gender inequality in sports impacts student-athletes 

The Social Institute

Recently, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has been dominating students’ social media feeds, but not for points scored, number of assists, or even the exciting Women’s March Madness tournament that happened last month. Instead, the WNBA is trending because when the University of Iowa’s basketball star Caitlin Clark became the first pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, her rookie salary sparked major debate. At $76,535 for her first year, Clark will be paid less than some NBA mascots, such as the Denver Nuggets mascot, who gets paid $625,000 annually. 

Blog April 25, 2024

How Schools Fund Student Well-being Support and Address Social Media & Tech Use

How can school leaders ensure they are setting funds aside for supporting their students, faculty, and families as they navigate social media and tech’s impact on student learning and well-being – often one of the most critical expenses for any educational institution? Let’s explore the different ways that schools are funding resources for students, educators, and families to create strong school communities ready to learn and grow together.

Blog April 19, 2024

Stepping Into the Future: Virtual reality in education and what it means for students

The Social Institute

Meta recently announced its plans to bring VR into the classroom for students as young as 13. This change brings a new era of hands-on learning, from immersive history lessons to interactive science simulations. As schools look to implement this futuristic tool, it’s important to consider how VR can best serve educational goals while addressing the diverse needs of students. Let’s dive in.

Blog April 19, 2024

How the new social media app Airchat can help students play to their core and build connections 

The Social Institute

Airchat, the new, invite-only app offers asynchronous voice-only messaging: users can record themselves speaking and edit their recordings before posting them or sending them to friends, and their followers can comment or respond anytime. Airchat promises that the app can offer all of the benefits of voice messages, including more authentic conversations and social bonding, without the anxiety that real-time phone calls might bring. Keep reading to learn about Airchat and how educators can empower students to play to their core online.