Monthly Archives: October 2021

Sats – why bringing back tests for 14-year-olds could help disadvantaged students

Sats – why bringing back tests for 14-year-olds could help disadvantaged students

The UK government is reportedly considering bringing back national curriculum tests (known as Sats) for 14-year-olds in England. The reasons cited were that, without formal assessment to mark the end of key stage three (KS3 – years seven, eight and nine of secondary school) children were at risk of losing focus, and losing out. The KS3 Sats were […] … learn more→

How do I know if I suffer from 'nomophobia', an irrational fear of not having a mobile phone (or WhatsApp)?

How do I know if I suffer from ‘nomophobia’, an irrational fear of not having a mobile phone (or WhatsApp)?

In recent years, the use of mobile phones has grown exponentially, especially after the emergence of smart devices. These have become our pocket (and life) companions who accompany us wherever we go. However, excessive and non-rational use can cause problems of dependency, addiction and fear. Nomophobia (non-mobile-phone-phobia) can be understood as an extreme fear or anxiety of an irrational […] … learn more→

Teachers' Day: achievements and challenges of a profession in constant change

Teachers’ Day: achievements and challenges of a profession in constant change

In Spain there are a little more than three-quarters of a million non-university professors (specifically, 755,242). It is a very important group in the workforce. Teachers’ Day, established by UNESCO in 1994, is a perfect occasion to reflect on what these hundreds of thousands of professionals do and how they work. Being a teacher has always been a laborious […] … learn more→

Why improvisation is the future in an AI-dominated world

Why improvisation is the future in an AI-dominated world

In his autobiography, Miles Davis complained that classical musicians were like robots. He spoke from experience – he’d studied classical music at Juilliard and recorded with classical musicians even after becoming a world-renowned jazz artist. As a music professor at the University of Florida, which is transforming itself into an “AI university,” I often think […] … learn more→

Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Understanding EDS, symptoms, management and treatment

Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Understanding EDS, symptoms, management and treatment

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or EDS refers to a group of health conditions affecting the human body’s connective tissues, including blood, fat, bone, and cartilage. The connective tissues are in charge of supporting other tissues and organs throughout the body. EDS is classified into 13 types of health and medical conditions based on the parts of the […] … learn more→

Beyond Oxbridge and Yale: popular stories bring universities to life — we need more of them in Australia

Beyond Oxbridge and Yale: popular stories bring universities to life — we need more of them in Australia

A new campus novel suggests the story of the university in Australia might be almost in vogue, if only as a backdrop for big questions about navigating human failings and representations of truth, and the topical issue of sexual consent. Diana Reid’s new campus novel, Love and Virtue, is set in Sydney. Reid is a graduate […] … learn more→

Children on individual education plans: What parents need to know, and 4 questions they should ask

Children on individual education plans: What parents need to know, and 4 questions they should ask

Already a month into the school year, and after two years of disrupted learning by COVID-19, students with special education needs have been deeply affected. Individual education plans (IEPs) have become a crucial part of the education system. And the number of students on IEPs is growing across Ontario public schools. IEPs are created for students who are defined […] … learn more→

Why some college sports are often out of reach for students from low-income families

Why some college sports are often out of reach for students from low-income families

When it comes to landing a spot on a college sports team, a student’s chances are profoundly affected by their parents’ wealth and education. Even college sports recruitment favors white suburban athletes. Those two findings come from our collective research as sport sociology and education scholars. As former college athletes, we have lived and studied what it takes to become a […] … learn more→

Ruthlessly realistic with annual plans

Ruthlessly realistic with annual plans

Ah, another new academic year. Time to make plans. Take stock. Write goals. Start filling up the diary. Given the disruption we’ve experienced over the last eighteen months, it’s really tempting to think that it’ll be possible to get back to something like our usual routine. This year there’ll finally be time to catch up […] … learn more→