Tomorrow’s Headlines Today provides insight on the evolving world of education and how we prepare students to work together and shape a better future.
This comes from me, John Whalen, co-founder of Edtomorrow, and someone with a deep passion for K-12 education and the evolution of learning. I am a constant student of the field, reading widely to understand how proven wisdom about teaching connects with the shifts happening in our world. I want to help educators look ahead with imagination and purpose as we prepare our schools and the world of education for tomorrow.
I invite you to explore the three pieces we are sharing this week, each offering insights on student engagement, teens and their use of AI chatbots, and the human skills that matter more than ever.
Are Students ‘Quiet Quitting’? What the Workplace Trend Can Teach Us About K-12
By: Elizabeth Heubeck (EdWeek, 12/17/25)
We first started hearing the term “quiet quitting” in 2022 to describe professionals who were doing what their jobs required, but little more. The idea was less about quitting altogether and more about pulling back when work felt disconnected from purpose or well-being. In this Education Week article, that workplace concept is thoughtfully applied to K-12 education to explore student engagement.
The piece looks at recent data showing that many students are spending less time on homework and showing lower levels of participation than in previous years, particularly since the pandemic. Educators and researchers quoted in the article suggest this is not simply about effort or motivation, but about how students experience school. Changes in expectations, grading practices, and students’ sense of connection to learning all play a role. Rather than labeling students, the article uses quiet quitting as a lens to help schools think about how to move students from compliance to meaningful participation.
Teens, Social Media, and AI Chatbots
By: Michelle Faverio and Olivia Sidoti (Pew Research, 12/9/25)
A survey of almost 1,500 U.S. teenagers conducted by the Pew Research Center offers a snapshot of how deeply social media and AI chatbots are woven into teens’ daily lives. Released in December 2025, the report shows that online activity remains nearly constant for many young people, with platforms like YouTube and TikTok used daily or almost constantly by a significant share of teens.
The study also highlights the rapid adoption of AI chatbots. Nearly two-thirds of teens say they have used tools such as ChatGPT, Character.ai, or Gemini, and about three in ten report using them every day. ChatGPT is the most widely used chatbot among teens, with a majority saying they have interacted with it. The findings illustrate how both social media and AI are becoming routine parts of how students communicate, explore information, and solve problems, offering important context for educators thinking about digital literacy, attention, and learning in today’s classrooms.
Tomorrow’s Work Force Facing a “Soft Skills Tsunami”
By Martha E. Newton (Diplomatic Courier, 5/27/2025)
Imagine a wave quietly building beneath the surface of the workforce. In her article for Diplomatic Courier, Martha E. Newton describes what she calls a “soft skills tsunami,” a growing gap between the skills employers need and what many young workers bring. While today’s graduates are often digitally fluent and technically capable, employers report increasing challenges with communication, teamwork, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. Managers share that helping new employees develop these skills requires additional time and support and, in some cases, contributes to burnout and turnover.
The article suggests this challenge did not emerge overnight. A long-standing focus on technical achievement, combined with fewer opportunities for in-person collaboration during the pandemic, has limited many young people’s chances to practice essential interpersonal skills. Newton argues that as technology continues to advance, the human skills that help people work together, solve problems, and navigate uncertainty will matter more than ever. Preparing tomorrow’s workforce, she suggests, will require schools and employers to intentionally develop these abilities alongside academic and technical learning.
-John Whalen, Co-Founder of Edtomorrow