A New York City mother said she kept her son in remote schooling during the pandemic because she believes city education officials “lie a lot.” “These buildings are old and don’t have proper ventilation,” she explained to journalist Melinda Anderson. “They don’t have the supplies they need, and they don’t even have nurses.” One of the […] … learn more→
Building trust among parents and teachers is key to reopening schools
Critical thinking or memorization? This is the education that comes
It is fully accepted that we are in an information society (they also say that of knowledge , a doubtful statement if it refers to the entire population). We receive news of all kinds from very different media, more or less traditional: press, radio, television, internet or social networks. This results in the possibility of accessing any type of […] … learn more→
Insisting on in-person classes post-Covid is not a line we can hold
Every day, when I pass my campus’ empty parking garages and dark, deserted buildings, I cannot help but think of the Maginot Line. It is not so much the visual impact of so many concrete outposts that reminds me of the series of defensive fortifications built by France after the First World War. Nor is […] … learn more→
Information indigestion: The search for a perfect note taking system
For the last 20 years I’ve been on a quest to find the perfect academic note taking system. I abandoned paper in 2005 when I realised my notebooks were the place my ideas went to die. Although writing into a notebook felt useful at the time it was hard to find stuff later. Flipping fruitlessly […] … learn more→
Post-baccalaureate orientation : coming from a private high school, is that an asset for selective courses?
Beyond the social background alone, do the chances of entering a selective higher education course depend on the high school where you obtained your baccalaureate? Does coming from a private high school increase the chances of accessing selective establishments? While inequalities based on students’ social and academic characteristics are widely documented by research , those related to […] … learn more→
How social media turns online arguments between teens into real-world violence
The deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in January exposed the power of social media to influence real-world behavior and incite violence. But many adolescents, who spend more time on social media than all other age groups, have known this for years. “On social media, when you argue, something so small can turn into something so big so fast,” said Justin, […] … learn more→
Why did educational television disappear?
José Manuel Pérez Tornero has recently been appointed president of Radio Televisión Española. This has reminded us that he was a great guru of media literacy and an icon in the studies on educational television in Spain and in the world. He still maintains a theory that has not expired in time: “Audiences learn in an entertainment program and also in a fiction program. That […] … learn more→
As unis eye more ‘Instagram-worthy’ campus experiences, they shouldn’t treat online teaching as a cheap and easy option
The times they are a-changin’ for higher education. Or so say a growing number of commentators. They see COVID-19 disruptions as a tipping point for universities, accelerating sweeping changes across institutions. These include not just a shift to online teaching and learning, but also a greater focus on industry links and employability skills, and accompanying campus design upgrades. Many of these […] … learn more→
Ghosts in the text
Pentimento is the term used to describe the traces of an earlier work glimpsed through layers of paint on a canvas. Marks from the previous composition bleed through the newer surface, a reminder of what went before, a sign of the artist’s corrections and/or new thoughts. The presence of brushstrokes, images and/or forms intended to […] … learn more→
On antisemitism, universities should adopt the new Jerusalem Declaration
All forms of racism are a scourge, and they have to be vigorously addressed. Antisemitism is no exception. Yet, tragically, the fight against antisemitism has been the subject of controversy over the past few years, as a result of attempts to impose a definition of the phenomenon that is flawed and self-serving, seeking to equate […] … learn more→