Rodney King famously asked why we can’t all just get along. Believe it or not, there may be some good evolutionary and biological reasons for that. It might well be that getting along is not the best way for humans to progress. There is also a difference between getting along and being without conflict and […] … learn more→

I’m continuing to look at a thorough discussion of the main reasons higher education is such a mess today. The author cites four key problem areas, but as always I have some things to add. Students By all available metrics, student intellectual performance has declined precipitously as the university administration has ballooned…the takeaway numbers regarding […] … learn more→

Parents and teachers are interested in ensuring children perform their best in school. Some believe putting smart students together can improve educational outcomes. But evidence about the impact of classmate or schoolmate quality (as measured by, say, test scores) on individual performance in an educational setting is only just beginning to accumulate. Establishing the presence and size of peer effects in education […] … learn more→

Two college majors are better than one. That is the conclusion that researchers are beginning to reach. Prior research has already shown that students who double major can earn more than peers who majored in only one field. New research we conducted recently shows that double majors fare better in another way as well: They are more innovative. We […] … learn more→

It’s no secret we have a huge, huge, problem in higher education today. Between the riots, the proven lack of education, and the soaring tuition we’re seeing a system of such high cost, minimal stability, and low usefulness it’ll be surprising if higher education 20 years from now looks anything like the mess of today. […] … learn more→

If you are one of 2.2 billion Facebook users worldwide, you have probably been alarmed by the recent coverage of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, a story that began when The Guardian revealed 50 million (now thought to be 87 million) user profiles had been retrieved and shared without the consent of users. Though the #deletefacebook campaign has gained […] … learn more→

The idea of universities being a “safe space” was until recently an issue that was unique to the US. Now the UK has experienced an upswing in incidents in which so-called “safe space” policies have reportedly threatened the right to free speech in British universities. Closely tied to the concept of “no-platforming” – where speakers […] … learn more→

If reports in the media can be trusted, then “knowing” isn’t what it used to be. It seems that we are all caught in a rip, being swept helplessly from a knowledge-based world into a post-truth society, where robots will take all the best jobs. The latest edition of the Innovating Pedagogy report, published annually by […] … learn more→

Technological innovations permeate nearly every facet of society and are changing the shape of major institutions such as computing infrastructure, the criminal justice system, the economy and the educational system. For each major change, ethical and accountability questions come to the forefront of discussion among public advocates, legislators and citizens. All parties agree that newfound […] … learn more→

The grand orator at today’s graduation couldn’t be bothered to take out her facial piercings! Gross! What a slob!” This tweet, written last November, was clearly designed to be offensive, and it hit home, blindsiding me and briefly knocking my confidence. I had gone for the role as public orator because it troubled me that […] … learn more→