A park bench can be so much more than just a place to sit and wait. Perhaps it has a puzzle built into it, or weights that allow children to make measurements. As researchers who study the connections between play and development, we are interested in how reimagining public spaces can infuse playful learning opportunities into children’s time […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
How to design a public play space where kids practice reading and STEM skills
Australia can rebound to be international students’ destination of choice when borders reopen
The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the face of international higher education. The sector, previously dominated by the US, UK and Australia, is losing billions to falling international student enrolments. However, our research identifies a golden opportunity for Australia to rebound as a top international study destination – but that depends on an urgent and proactive response to the […] … learn more→
Data science education lacks a much-needed focus on ethics
Undergraduate training for data scientists – dubbed the sexiest job of the 21st century by Harvard Business Review – falls short in preparing students for the ethical use of data science, our new study found. Data science lies at the nexus of statistics and computer science applied to a particular field such as astronomy, linguistics, medicine, psychology […] … learn more→
How to rethink international comparisons in education?
How to know the level of the pupils of a country in mathematics or in reading, in problem solving? Is the level of the little English people going down? Does he go up? Everyone today has the benchmarks necessary to get a fairly accurate idea of the performance of education systems: the international comparison reports drawn up by […] … learn more→
The casual staff who do 80% of undergrad teaching need more support — here’s a way unis can help
Casual staff do an estimated 80% of undergraduate teaching in Australian universities. Research shows these staff are highly committed, going above and beyond their paid role to assist students. Yet, compared to full-time staff, casuals are often treated as second-class citizens. Casual staff have little institutional support. They lack job security. Casual staff are routinely denied professional development opportunities, which may hamper their […] … learn more→
What young kids say worked – and didn’t work – for them during virtual learning
On Aug. 30, 2021, my kid joined millions of children in walking through school doors as he began first grade. Despite the ongoing pandemic, school buildings are almost universally open. While there are many voices expressing health and safety concerns, policymakers have decided that the best choice for children’s well-being is for them to be in school, in person […] … learn more→
Self-esteem and academic difficulties, a vicious circle?
Research shows that we all have a strong and perennial need for self – esteem – that is, to think that we are valuable, that we are loved and approved. Students are not immune to this need. Because of the importance given by society, parents or teachers to academic success, students who face academic difficulties and failures see their self-esteem threatened. […] … learn more→
5 interesting trivia about the JEE examinations
When you plan to get into the top educational institutes in the country, like the CFTIs, NITs, and IITs; JEE is the gateway to success that you turn to. Every year, over seven lakh applicants sit for this examination to gain entry to a good college, and smooth out the path to their future. With […] … learn more→
Don’t try: kids don’t recognize sarcasm
“Let’s see if you can splash a little more!” He said to his daughter when he saw that the moment of the bath had turned the room into a pond. Little Olivia, with an incredulous smile, began to shake her arms happily with more intensity, enjoying the spectacle, before her father’s decomposed face. The irony uses […] … learn more→
These professional baccalaureate graduates who defy the forecasts
If admission procedures limit their chances of access to higher education, some vocational baccalaureate holders slip through the cracks. Like Thibaut, bachelor in carpentry, who validated his license in sciences and techniques of physical and sports activities (STAPS) in three years, before attempting the Certificate of Aptitude for the Professor of Physical and Sports Education in […] … learn more→
