As voice-activated devices transition from homes to classrooms, dozens of teachers now lead spelling practice, present history lessons and interact with their students in new ways.

After the 2016 presidential election, teachers across the country reported they were seeing increased name-calling and bullying. Now, research shows junior high school student in Virginia areas that favored Trump reported bullying rates in spring 2017 that were 18 percent higher than students living in areas that went for Clinton.

With a three-year, $1.2 million National Science Foundation grant, North Carolina State College of Education will develop and test an e-mentoring program that pairs underrepresented high school students with engineering majors of similar background, race, gender and experiences studying at at the college in an effort to improve students' attitudes about and participation in STEM.

Could the same devices that some people blame for contributing to tech-age angst also be used to detect it? The idea has sparked a race to develop apps that warn of impending mental health crises. Changes in typing speed, voice tone, word choice and how often kids stay home could signal trouble, according to preliminary studies.