Monthly Archives: April 2020

6 ways to build motivation to do your schoolwork now that you’re forced to learn online at home

6 ways to build motivation to do your schoolwork now that you’re forced to learn online at home

Even in normal circumstances, it can be hard to get motivated to do your schoolwork. But these are not normal circumstances. The switch to remote instruction caused by COVID-19 has been unsettling. Patterns have changed. Habits have been disrupted. Remote classes are simply different from classes that involve face-to-face instruction. As a researcher who looks at what it takes to […] … learn more→

US private schools often inflate student grades. This could happen in Australia if we cancel year 12 exams

US private schools often inflate student grades. This could happen in Australia if we cancel year 12 exams

The unfolding COVID-19 situation has brought many changes to school education. NAPLAN tests have been cancelled for 2020 and most children are learning online. Education minister Dan Tehan is meeting with the states on what to do with year 12 exams and criteria for university entry. One option flagged is for universities to look at a mixture of students’ […] … learn more→

Chloroquine and viral infections: what you need to know

Chloroquine and viral infections: what you need to know

Unknown to most people yesterday, hydroxychloroquine (trade name Plaquenil) is today at the heart of a medical, scientific and ethical issue. Due to the progression of the pandemic, these debates which started in France are now experiencing various developments abroad, notably in the USA where President Donald Trump and Professor Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergies and […] … learn more→

Being a PhD researcher in a digital world

Being a PhD researcher in a digital world

During last year, I found myself drawn to attend several workshops run by the research education and development team at my university. They had topics such as blogging and developing a digital profile. My interests sprang from a desire to get my research and writing on girl internees in Changi during World War II – […] … learn more→

Getting by and getting on

Getting by and getting on

I’ve spent a lot of time online shopping these last two weeks. Shopping for food. Before we went to Australia we’d let the store cupboard run down as we didn’t want to come home to rats, mice or moths. When we arrived home it was to a literally empty freezer and cupboard. So getting ourselves […] … learn more→

Degree apprenticeships can improve access for disadvantaged students

Degree apprenticeships can improve access for disadvantaged students

According to government figures, students from deprived backgrounds are 41 per cent less likely to attend the UK’s top universities, while apprentices are twice as likely to come from the most deprived backgrounds as university students. There are different ways of looking at these statistics. On the one hand, since the proliferation of apprenticeship schemes […] … learn more→

7 things public schools do besides teach kids academic basics

7 things public schools do besides teach kids academic basics

1. Food The National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program provide school meals to at least 30 million kids each year – more than half of all public school students. This food is free or deeply discounted for students who qualify based on their family’s income. These meals are essential for many reasons, including the fact that hunger and food insecurity make it […] … learn more→