July 7 to August 5, 2025
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 9:00 am-12:00 pm
Location:
Center for Education Research at Stanford (CERAS)
On Campus at Stanford University
Program Overview
This summer program invites rising 10th and 11th graders to explore how advances in technology are reshaping education and society—and how we might harness these developments in ways that promote both individual and collective well-being. Over the past three decades, the expansion of information and communication tools has radically altered daily life, offering unprecedented opportunities for connection and learning alongside formidable challenges. Participants will examine how to navigate the pervasive presence of new technologies within families and communities, explore ways to support parents and youth in using these tools constructively while avoiding negative physical, social, emotional, or intellectual effects, and reflect on how our own practices and attitudes toward technology might contribute to the betterment of our families, communities, and society.
To address such questions, the program draws on insights from science as well as morality and ethics. Students will engage with assigned readings and delve into influential academic papers that shed light on device usage, social media, artificial intelligence (AI), and the broader role of technology in social and economic development.
Program Format
Participants will meet in person on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. During each session, participants will study selected portions of the workbook “Children, Youth and Technology” and review additional academic papers that illuminate how technology affects individuals, families, and communities. Group discussions and reflections offer an opportunity to connect the reading materials with real-life experiences, and guest speakers will share insights concerning technology and society.
Small-Group and Plenary Sessions: Trained facilitators—often college students or recent graduates—will guide small-group breakouts where participants analyze the material in greater depth, exchange perspectives, and apply new concepts to their everyday lives. Periodically, the entire group will reconvene in plenary sessions to integrate what has been learnt, raise new questions, and develop a broader understanding of technology’s role in society.
Group Projects: Teams of 3-4 participants will select a particular topic—such as social media, artificial intelligence, or device usage—and explore recent scientific literature to inform their work. With help from the facilitators, they will also prepare for and be accompanied on short visits with families or community members to learn about their real-life experiences, consult, and share insights. After synthesizing their findings, each group will present its conclusions at a special event at the end of the program (in which families and friends are invited).
All participants are expected to attend and actively participate in each session from July 7 to August 5, arriving on time (they can arrive as early as 8:50 AM). At the start of class, everyone will be asked to “turn in” their electronic devices so that we can maintain a focused environment. Additional time outside the sessions are often required each week to coordinate group research and prepare for the final presentation. While each participant may request a brief evaluation of their engagement in the program, we regret that we are unable to provide formal college recommendation letters due to the number of students involved.
Successful applicants will be individually notified of their acceptance on a rolling basis.
About the Program Instructor
Prashant Loyalka is an Associate Professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Education and a Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. His research focuses on addressing inequalities in the education of children and youth, and improving the quality of education in multiple countries, including Bangladesh, China, India, Russia, and the United States. He has conducted many large-scale evaluations of programs and policies aimed at improving student outcomes, including those concerned with the use of technology in education and society.
Nafis Zebarjadi is a serial entrepreneur and current product manager at Google focused on identity, security and privacy initiatives. He actively contributes to cross-industry initiatives that address issues at the intersection of technology and society: protecting Internet users in high-risk situations like war zones; developing global standards to combat online scams, fraud, and abuse; and designing new protocols that allow AI agents to operate safely. Nafis is a frequent speaker at industry events, and his work has been cited and featured in numerous publications including The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Techcrunch, and CNN.
Please note that although the sessions take place at the Stanford campus, this initiative is run independently by the instructors, including a Stanford professor, and is not an official Stanford program.