The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the university sector under greater scrutiny. In some cases, this has prompted new conversations about the purpose of higher education. These have included the extent to which universities are upholding their commitment to public service, and whether the current institutional adjustments in universities will change the way higher education is delivered. But […] … learn more→
What’s the purpose of university? Your answer may depend on how much it costs you
What the ‘doctor’ title means for women of color with doctorates
What is your experience being a woman of color with a doctoral degree? I am not only a woman who holds a Ph.D. in a male-dominated field, but a woman of mixed heritage (Irish and Native American). There was never a time during my Ph.D. studies that I was not made aware that I was […] … learn more→
COVID-19: Maintaining normalcy at an abnormal time
The world has been living with coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19, for the better part of a year now. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. We were originally told that shutting down and staying home for a couple of weeks would be all that was necessary to contain the virus. And yet, […] … learn more→
How do students interpret differences in classroom achievement?
Léa, Nina and Jules have been in first grade for 2 months already. Today, their mistress tells them that they are going to discover a new sound. The teacher writes the letter “s” on the board, turns around and asks the children “What does this letter sound like?” “. Immediately, a small hand is raised. It’s Léa’s. It is quickly followed […] … learn more→
New global ranking system shows Australian universities are ahead of the pack
Whether it’s purchasing power parity or the Happiness Index, global comparisons require benchmarking. Sport does this well with World Cups and the Olympics, or better still the single ranking familiar to tennis and golf aficionados. The problem with universities is there are around a dozen rankings. Each is a variable mix of research, reputation and teaching metrics, leading […] … learn more→
Restraining and secluding students with disabilities is an urgent human rights issue
Across Canada, children with disabilities are disadvantaged when it comes to the support they receive in schools. While Canada espouses a commitment to inclusive education, the right to it remains elusive for some students. Our research team at the University of Manitoba revealed another grave problem that needs redress: The shocking use of physical restraint and seclusion spaces, which […] … learn more→
Faculty information systems: The benefits
Ask any university or higher education provider in general and they will tell you the same: Their faculty is the most important and invaluable resource at their disposal. Nevertheless, higher education institutions continue to encounter difficulties with the creation and maintenance of centralized information systems that meet the needs of their faculty members. According to […] … learn more→
The body at school: a forgotten dimension
At the end of November 2020, the Ministry of National Education launched the 30 minutes of sport per day operation at school in order to fight against children’s sedentary lifestyle. An important problem already before the Covid-19 epidemic, and that the periods of generalized confinement made even more glaring, as first scientific studies have shown . Beyond this measure, and the […] … learn more→
School budgets have held up better than expected in some states, but looming cuts will hurt learning long after pandemic ends
The year 2020 may prove to be pivotal in the history of U.S. public education. Many children have gone missing from school completely since March, and millions more are struggling with wholly inadequate online learning experiences. Lower-income and minority children are particularly hard-hit. The pandemic has exposed and exacerbated deep inequities across our public schools. Merely restoring school budgets to their […] … learn more→
Outdoor education at universities can be a positive legacy of COVID-19
Universities have faced major planning challenges due to COVID-19. While there has been significant media coverage about universities offering students online learning, what has been less discussed is how some activities have continued in face-to-face settings. My research is concerned with outdoor science education so I have long been engaged in studying outdoor learning. At the Université de Sherbrooke, among […] … learn more→