Every few years, an emerging technology shows up at the doorstep of schools and universities promising to transform education. The most recent? Technologies and apps that include or are powered by generative artificial intelligence, also known as GenAI. These technologies are sold on the potential they hold for education. For example, Khan Academy’s founder opened […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
5 questions schools and universities should ask before they purchase AI tech products
The hidden risk of letting AI decide – losing the skills to choose for ourselves
As artificial intelligence creeps further into people’s daily lives, so do worries about it. At the most alarmist are concerns about AI going rogue and terminating its human masters. But behind the calls for a pause on the development of AI is a suite of more tangible social ills. Among them are the risks AI poses to people’s privacy and […] … learn more→
Do we have competitiveness in our blood?
What is it that makes some want to stand out and call the shots, while others prefer to live in anonymity without hardly standing out? We have all met people who seem to have competitiveness in their blood and who take advantage of every opportunity to measure themselves against others. But can you really have […] … learn more→
New UK government guidance for PE lets teachers and pupils down
The UK government recently published guidance for physical education (PE) aimed at all schools in England. The guidance is non-statutory, meaning it is not compulsory by law for schools to follow. Instead, it is intended as inspiration to help schools change their PE provision to benefit all pupils. Initially, this document seems like a catalyst for positive […] … learn more→
Is reading on paper the same as reading on a screen?
Screens have become a constant in our daily lives. From dawn to dusk, we interact with digital devices for a variety of purposes, including work, study, and leisure. This shift towards an increasingly digitalized existence prompts us to reflect on how screens affect our ability to concentrate. Do we learn the same, do we retain […] … learn more→
‘Watch the ball!’: here’s why some sideline remarks are probably less helpful to your kids than you think
The winter sports season is about to begin. This means parents will soon find themselves on cold weekends, watching their kids on the sidelines of soccer, netball and footy matches. As they stamp their feet to stay warm, they may find themselves wanting to offer encouragement or guidance. They may also find themselves expressing views […] … learn more→
From side hustles to sleeping streams: The truth behind the passive income hype
A growing cohort of TikTok influencers have begun building platforms by promoting passive income to their followers. Thousands of users regularly share their expertise, tips and advice for how their followers can, theoretically, achieve the same level of passive income without lifting a finger. One influencer claimed to have tried “about every side hustle that exists” […] … learn more→
To understand the risks posed by AI, follow the money
Time and again, leading scientists, technologists, and philosophers have made spectacularly terrible guesses about the direction of innovation. Even Einstein was not immune, claiming, “There is not the slightest indication that nuclear energy will ever be obtainable,” just ten years before Enrico Fermi completed construction of the first fission reactor in Chicago. Shortly thereafter, the consensus switched to fears […] … learn more→
s this the dawn of a new era in women’s sports?
Though the college career of Iowa’s Caitlin Clark ended with a disappointing loss, the point guard’s record-breaking season helped fuel widespread interest in this year’s NCAA women’s college basketball tournament. The women’s Final Four garnered higher television ratings than the men’s Final Four. Then the women’s basketball championship game between South Carolina and Iowa didn’t just draw in more viewers (18.9 […] … learn more→
Is it a good idea to penalize spelling mistakes in university entrance tests?
Let’s imagine that an 18-year-old student writes the following sentence on his university entrance exam: “The text does not demonstrate an exhaustive analysis of the problem.” How should having written those misspelled lines affect your final grade? Should we only measure the level of their knowledge, or their ability to transmit it in writing in […] … learn more→
