Screen-based devices have increasingly become part of our human experience – even more so since the pandemic began. This trend includes watching more and more videos. For example, before COVID-19, the average American watched about six hours of videos a day on devices ranging from televisions to desktop computers and mobile phones. By one estimate, this figure has “surged” more than 40% […] … learn more→
Why too many recorded lecture videos may be bad for maths students’ learning
Academic writers as readers
Many academic writers are avid readers. That’s because there is a strong connection – not causal, but surely correlated, she says hastily – between reading and writing. Reading and writing are mutually beneficial, they feed each other. I was thinking about the read-write connection just this morning as I sat reading the books section of […] … learn more→
9 in 10 LGBTQ+ students say they hear homophobic language at school, and 1 in 3 hear it almost every day
Bills in the federal and New South Wales parliaments have sought to stop teachers talking about gender and sexuality diversity in the name of either religious freedom or parents’ rights. If passed in its current form, the NSW Education Legislation Amendment (Parental Rights) Bill 2020 would prohibit teachers from discussing gender and sexuality diversity. It would also make offering targeted, requested […] … learn more→
Sweets, a way to create social links between schoolchildren?
One might think that candy is not found in secondary schools, that it is “childish” foods, eaten on birthdays or other celebrations. However, these sweets, which, according to many parents must remain on the order of the occasional, are invited daily to college. Although they are very often prohibited in the internal regulations of schools, students […] … learn more→
In this ‘job-ready’ era, it’s worth looking at how a US-style broader education can benefit uni students
The Job-Ready Graduates Package is nearing the end of its first full semester of implementation. Its basic premise is that the main reason the modern Australian university exists is to train the next generation in areas of economic need. “Universities must teach Australians the skills needed to succeed in the jobs of the future,” said the then federal education […] … learn more→
Philosophy: three keys to learning to overcome failure
With the first verdicts from the Parcoursup post-baccalaureate orientation site , the period for competition and exam results begins. Many young people will see their wishes come true. But many others will be disappointed. The impossibility of integrating the school for which they were preparing, or the course which seemed ideal to them to carry out their personal projects represents […] … learn more→
Choosing a PhD lab: should we fix the advice or fix the system?
It can be a real challenge for PhD students to decide on a lab to do their research. I began reflecting on this a few months ago after advising a mentee. I had offered the standard advice that you can find all over the internet: “Talk to the people from the lab.” Yet I soon […] … learn more→
5 ways to use hip-hop in the classroom to build better understanding of science
Back when I attended M.S. 101 in the Bronx, I tuned out the science teacher because I didn’t think science was for me. I viewed the subject as something distant and inaccessible. I never saw myself becoming a scientist. Things changed, however, when my physics teacher at Marie Curie High School used hip-hop to make […] … learn more→
Universities’ relevance hinges on academic freedom
Academic freedom is widely championed as the foundation of a good university. It is seen as vital in speaking “truth to power” – to borrow from influential political philosopher Hannah Arendt – and in ensuring universities are oriented towards the common good, not select elite interests. Academic freedom also ensures universities can lead research, education and public debates […] … learn more→
School nurses have a big job – is 1 for every 750 kids really enough?
When many people think of a school nurse, they imagine a person who hands out Band-Aids for boo-boos. But school nurses do so much more. They are school leaders who address the physical, mental and emotional health needs of students. As the COVID-19 pandemic played out, many school nurses took on even greater responsibilities. These […] … learn more→