Temporary anxiety can often surface before the first day of school. Sometimes, that can help kids get in the right mindset for a big day. But when anxiety becomes a constant feature of children’s and teenagers’ days, that stress doesn’t switch off when they leave the classroom or finish an exam. It can become the body’s […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
Students are anxious – and it’s no surprise, since we are teaching them to be that way
The special nature of research projects
Research projects come in many forms – applied, developmental, evaluative or data-driven inquiries – but regardless of type, they often operate in what might be called discovery mode. This mode is defined by open-ended exploration and inherently fuzzy deliverables. In discovery-oriented work, uncertainty isn’t an obstacle to be eliminated but a condition to be navigated. […] … learn more→
How to achieve a truly restorative vacation for our brain
Summer means vacation and a break for many workers: we turn off our computers, forget about email, meetings disappear, the boss vanishes, and, with a bit of luck, even that voice that tells us, “You should be productive.” We put our bodies on pause and go in search of relaxation and fun in generous doses. […] … learn more→
Schools are rethinking whether every student needs a laptop
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced in-person classroom instruction to go virtual, students suddenly needed to have their own laptops or tablets in order to interact with teachers and complete assignments. Most states used federal pandemic funding to address the digital divide. This refers to the gap between students and families who had their own tablets, computers and high-speed internet, and those who did not. […] … learn more→
Reflection and reflexivity: a strategy for academic writing
I wrote recently about the difference between reflection and reflexivity. Reflection looks back at what you have done and asks what you can learn from it. Reflexivity turns the lens on you, the person doing the work, and on the conditions under which you are making knowledge. What do you actually do with this distinction when you […] … learn more→
What really happens to your data when you click ‘delete’?
Deletion is a common part of modern life. We send files and folders to the recycle bin all the time, and often get rid of unwanted personal accounts. But do you know what really happens when you hit the “delete” button? The process of deletion is often poorly explained by tech providers. Lack of transparency around how requests are […] … learn more→
‘Critical thinking’ is all the rage: what does it really mean and how is it taught?
Any debate or reflection on the impact of artificial intelligence on education and intelligence inevitably leads to a discussion of critical thinking . This technology is changing how students learn and how teachers assess learning, and in the face of this transformation, critical thinking is often presented as the appropriate pedagogical response. But as AI changes the […] … learn more→
A lifelike robot called ‘Sally’ was going to teach in a US school. It’s not as weird as it sounds
A New York school district made global headlines this week for plans to trial a humanoid robot named “Sally” in high school classrooms. Sally has lifelike silicone skin, long brown hair, and the ability to move her arms, head, and face while seated. According to the manufacturer, she uses “natural conversation, facial expressions and real-time interaction”. She is […] … learn more→
Managing your research project
For us, a research project is any activity that involves at least one research task. It could be something small, like a literature review, some interviews or a quick online survey. Or it might be a bigger project like developing a new artifact, program, intervention or product. Research happens in every academic discipline: science, humanities, […] … learn more→
Can robots doubt themselves? This is robotic cognition today.
For a conversational AI, a chair might be a word, a definition, or an image. For a robot, a chair is an obstacle to avoid, an object to move, a surface on which someone can sit. We analyzed 40 scientific studies published in the last ten years on cognitive robotics and human-robot interaction, and the […] … learn more→
