Monthly Archives: January 2020

Coronavirus fears can trigger anti-Chinese prejudice. Here’s how schools can help

Coronavirus fears can trigger anti-Chinese prejudice. Here’s how schools can help

Every disease outbreak brings an accompanying outbreak of fear. Already we’re seeing coverage on the spread of coronavirus fear which leads to misinformation, an effect on the economy and, perhaps the most alarming, xenophobia . Social stigmatisation and xenophobia are, unfortunately, well known features of disease outbreaks. And there is potential for xenophobic sentiment to build in Australian schools. In an outbreak situation, xenophobia does not feel like […] … learn more→

How to make school traffic from primary to secondary more bearable

How to make school traffic from primary to secondary more bearable

There is no more delicate moment in compulsory education than the transition from primary education to secondary education. It is then when boys and girls have to carry out a complex process of psychological, social and academic adaptation to accommodate the new reality of their school environment, important changes in their interpersonal relationships and changes in their […] … learn more→

Does it matter if more and more students are getting firsts?

Does it matter if more and more students are getting firsts?

The Times of London recently predicted that, on current trends, all students at some British universities will obtain first-class degrees by the end of this new decade. The 2:2 will become extinct across the whole sector by 2033. And in 38 years’ time we will get to the point where all students receive firsts. There are few topics […] … learn more→

Kids learn best when you add a problem-solving boost to ‘back-to-basics’ instruction

Kids learn best when you add a problem-solving boost to ‘back-to-basics’ instruction

Last year there was substantial hand-wringing over Australia’s declining results in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests. Ideas for how to reverse this decline were coming from far and wide, thick and fast. Federal Minister for Education Dan Tehan declared Australian education needed to go “back-to-basics” while influential commentators pointed out PISA tests are focused […] … learn more→

From recognition to transformation: How digital technology can reduce mental illness stigma

From recognition to transformation: How digital technology can reduce mental illness stigma

When those with mental illness experience prejudice and discrimination in the form of stigma, it can make their suffering considerably worse. Spreading awareness and understanding through education is one of the strategies used to tackle the problem. Years of public education campaigns have helped open the conversation. Yet evidence suggests that stigma against people with […] … learn more→

‘Impostor syndrome’ trivialises the serious issue of feeling phoney in HE

‘Impostor syndrome’ trivialises the serious issue of feeling phoney in HE

Hardly a day goes by without the popular press featuring some celebrity or sportsperson recounting their supposed experience of “impostor syndrome”. Meanwhile, on social media, posting after posting suggests that “everyone has it” – but you can cure yours with this three-point action plan. Sadly, much of this material is both incorrect and belittling to those […] … learn more→