The concept of gamification ( gamification as proposed Fundéu) was introduced widely by game developer Nick Pelling in 2010 to the conduct a research on teamwork for a development company hardware . In the author’s words, gamification consists in the application of characteristic elements of games in non-playful contexts. Since then, various fields such as labor, business and, of course, education, have taken advantage of their potential to influence […] … learn more→
Monthly Archives: February 2020
What is ‘gamification’ and why its effectiveness in the classroom is not clear
Five surprising benefits of a plant-based diet
Many of the important benefits of a plant-based diet – particularly for climate health and animals – are well known. Yet despite the science being very clear, there remains confusion about the impact on human health. We have long known for example, that a diet centred around whole plant-foods – fruits, vegetables, whole-grains, beans, nuts and seeds […] … learn more→
Video of 6-year-old girl’s arrest shows the perils of putting police in primary schools
When states like Florida pass laws to put more police officers in schools, the idea is to keep kids safe. The recent release of body camera footage from the arrest of a 6-year-old in a Florida school, however, shows that sometimes one threat to the students is the officers themselves. The video shows two police officers placing a 6-year-old […] … learn more→
Canada’s high schools are underfunded and turning to international tuition to help
Despite months of work to rule and weeks of concentrated job actions, the Progressive Conservative government in Ontario has failed to negotiate a deal with teachers to date. Amid news about negotiation sticking points, such as class size and mandatory e-learning, a key issue at stake is that education has been chronically underfunded at the tax base. […] … learn more→
How to make universities more inclusive? Hire more working-class academics
For several years, higher education institutions have been putting in place widening participation initiatives. These are designed to help address low levels of under-represented students applying to university. Such initiatives have led to increasing numbers of working-class students going on to higher education. Often, these students are the first in their family to go to university. Not knowing […] … learn more→
Female academics need to embrace competition
It is well known that women are under-represented in senior academic positions in most if not all countries. In UK business and management fields, for instance, only 20 per cent of senior academics are women, and this proportion is far from an outlier. A number of academic institutions have responded by trying to reduce bias in […] … learn more→
Your chances of getting an internship are better if you’ve already had one
When summer approaches, many college students (and their parents) wonder how they can land the perfect internship. But what kind of résumé really impresses firms looking for interns? And how are the internships connected to the broader job market? We are researchers who specialize in issues of labor economics and employment, particularly for interns and recent college graduates. In […] … learn more→
The importance of nutritional education in schools
The benefits of nutrition on growing school kids cannot be overemphasized, as it plays a significant role in improving the health of the students. Every school should have a Nutrition Program where students are taught extensively on nutrition and are given foods based on nutritional standards. With an improved knowledge of nutrition and consistently making […] … learn more→
Are you writing a grant application or announcing the Second Coming?
In the past 18 months, I have spent more time on research grant applications than I have on actual research. Like so many others, I am trapped in a paradox. To produce high-quality publications, we need to be supported by a grant, but in order to win the grant we need a solid publication record […] … learn more→
Science in the village: children who helped discover a medieval monastery
“Prof! Here is something! Will it be the “peace ring”? Will it be the grave of a monk? “. Primary school students in the public school of Belmonte de Miranda (in the council of Balmonte ) get excited with the first discoveries in the archaeological excavation of the monastery from his town. The long-awaited jewel they speak of is the “abbot’s ring.” It […] … learn more→