With schools reopening after COVID-19 closures, concerns about the safety and certainty of public schooling have driven some parents to consider alternatives to sending kids back to brick-and-mortar classrooms. One option making headlines is the formation of “learning pods” also known as “pandemic pods.” Pandemic pods are small groups of children from different families who learn together outside of […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
‘Pandemic pods’ may undermine promises of public education
Philosophy: how Lyotard transforms our view of childhood
Contrary to what the title of his book The Postmodern Explained to Children (1986) suggests , Jean ‑ François Lyotard’s thinking is not the most accessible, a fortiori for our dear blond heads. A philosopher commonly associated with the motley and questionable movement that is French theory , he seems to have been eclipsed within it by the thoughts of Foucault, Deleuze or Derrida, whose […] … learn more→
Two avenues for reinventing MOOCs
When they first appeared in the 2010s, MOOCs raised a lot of hopes. From there to constituting a revolution in teaching, there is a step that has not been taken as already noted in 2018 in these columns Mathieu Cisel, teacher at CY University. But containment has brought these tools back to light, reminding us of how beneficial […] … learn more→
Are university leaders up to the challenges of the ‘phygital’ world?
It may not be poetry, but the neologism “phygital” captures the balancing act required as organisations dip their toes back into physical interaction, without abandoning hard-won digital capabilities. This is one of a handful of buzzwords that have emerged out of a series of educational webinars, called The McMaster Collaboratorium, that has taken a diverse […] … learn more→
5 tips on how unis can do more to design online learning that works for all students
The COVID-19 pandemic has driven a rapid shift to online learning at all Australian universities. This presents unique opportunities for both educators and students, but also new challenges. Recent media reports suggest online learning might not be meeting the needs of all students. In particular, university students with disabilities report they are struggling with online learning that […] … learn more→
Masters, doctorate: is plagiarism increasing at university?
In March 2019, the world of journalism was shaken by a case of plagiarism : the former editor-in-chief of the New York Times was accused of having used passages from existing sources for her book Merchants of Truth . A year later, it was the turn of the French academic world to be shaken by a scandal: faced with proven evidence of […] … learn more→
Is ‘cultural Marxism’ really taking over universities? I crunched some numbers to find out
“Cultural Marxism” is a term favoured by those on the right who argue the humanities are hopelessly out of touch with ordinary Australia. The criticism is that radical voices have captured the humanities, stifling free speech on campuses. The term has been used widely over the past decade. Most infamously, in former senator Fraser Anning’s 2018 “final solution” speech to parliament […] … learn more→
Does 4 years of college make students more liberal?
The big idea Over four years of college, students develop positive attitudes for political liberals but not conservatives. Why it matters Higher education needs support from conservatives – lawmakers as well as taxpayers. But conservative critics continue to fault higher education for making students more liberal. The central argument is that higher education does not value politically conservative perspectives. As […] … learn more→
How exercise can impact your memory and learning
What’s the secret to staying mentally sharp and physically fit well into old age? Well, as it turns out, exercise plays a huge role in this equation, especially if you want to be what renowned neuroscientist, Dr. Rhonda Patrick, calls a “super ager”. Science tells us that we start losing brain mass when we reach […] … learn more→
Have students evaluate lessons: a test for teachers?
An airport, in the boarding hall. At the exit of the toilets, in front of me, a small white box, a little worn, invites me to appreciate my user experience. Three options, no more, represented by three icons of different colors. I look at this box and I find myself thinking of the denunciation of the spirit of […] … learn more→
