Monthly Archives: February 2020

Three hidden costs of working multiple jobs

Three hidden costs of working multiple jobs

It’s important to be realistic when it comes to holding down more than one job. While the different career paths, new skills and additional income are all great incentives, having multiple commitments can be fairly stressful. Here are a few hidden costs to be aware of before saying yes to a greater workload. Maintaining a […] … learn more→

Reviewers should stop doing the market’s dirty work

Reviewers should stop doing the market’s dirty work

I’m planning some renovations in the house, so I’m learning about party wall surveyors. Their role is to resolve disputes between neighbours. But, strikingly, no matter who appoints them or pays for their services, party wall surveyors do not act on behalf of either neighbour. Rather, they act “for the wall”. Science, too, is a […] … learn more→

Is online education right for you? 5 questions answered

Is online education right for you? 5 questions answered

1. Is online education as easy and convenient as it seems? Online learning may give students a choice about when and where to study, but this flexibility should not be confused with being easy or fast. Learning is a process and it takes time. By studying online, you might be able to eliminate commute time […] … learn more→

Handwritten valentines create a legacy of love and literacy

Handwritten valentines create a legacy of love and literacy

Romantic love is a complex emotion thought to have ancient roots in human evolution, and associated with the need to pair-bond in stable relationships. Through songs, poems, diaries, journals, cards and artwork, love is celebrated for its ability to send both lover and beloved into the enthralment of passion, whether the feelings are lasting or as […] … learn more→

Plagiarism hunters, please lay down your weapons

Plagiarism hunters, please lay down your weapons

“Plagiarism” is the name of the collective neurosis of academic life – and it’s only getting worse. Academics worry endlessly about both being plagiarised and being accused of plagiarism. The concern has even extended to self-plagiarism, which in a saner world would be regarded as an ordinary exercise of the author’s copyright. Moreover, the neurosis […] … learn more→

Failing a subject isn’t just the student’s fault. Universities can and should help

Failing a subject isn’t just the student’s fault. Universities can and should help

As Australian students start university, failure is probably the last thing they want to think about. But university failure is depressingly common. Our study in a large Australian university found up to 52% of students in education, civil engineering, nursing and commerce failed at least one unit during their degree. Failure is painful and costly for students, […] … learn more→

The bestest of plans

The bestest of plans

Welcome to 2020! I hope you managed a break of some form because we know that rest and recuperation matter. For me, it was good to kick back and disconnect from the work-a-day load and anxieties, and focus on recharging in my own way – here’s how I went. Seeing the year out in 2019 with a […] … learn more→

Over-parenting teaches children to be entitled – let them fail and learn to be resilient instead

Over-parenting teaches children to be entitled – let them fail and learn to be resilient instead

During the last couple of decades, new types of parents have emerged. From the anxiously involved helicopter parents to the pushy tiger mums, these differing styles all have one thing in common: they tend to involve over-parenting. This is where parents micromanage their children’s lives – giving them little autonomy, putting too much pressure on them to achieve […] … learn more→