Massive open online courses (Moocs) have become notorious for their failure rates. Of those who register, considerably more than 50 per cent do not access even half the available material and under 5 per cent actually complete a course. While some commentators suggest how learners can still extract value from a Mooc, others see this as a sign of their complete failure or have called for Spocs […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
How can we save the Mooc?
Climate explained: could the world stop using fossil fuels today?
If we stopped oil, gas and coal extraction immediately – what would happen? What would we need to change about the way our economies and societies work in order to adjust to that resource no longer being available? Do alternatives already exist that mean it could be business as usual if we (governments and individuals) […] … learn more→
Why children need to be taught more about their human rights
Many children have an innate sense of equality, fairness and justice and know how these concepts relate to their day-to-day lives. A lot of children also have the confidence to voice their opinions when they feel a lack of justice. But unfortunately, this is not always that case – especially for children whose personal rights are violated […] … learn more→
Kids need physical education – even when they can’t get it at school
When I noticed my 12-year-old son was spending about seven hours a day doing his school work online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I immediately became concerned. As a researcher who focuses on how to get kids to be more physically active, I knew my son and his classmates were spending too much time sedentary. Being […] … learn more→
Militarization has fostered a policing culture that sets up protesters as ‘the enemy’
The unrest sparked by the death of George Floyd after being pinned to the ground by the knee of a Minneapolis police officer has left parts of U.S. cities looking like a battle zone. Night after night, angry protesters have taken to the street. So too have police officers dressed in full riot gear and backed by an […] … learn more→
Can students be assessed today as they were before the pandemic?
The global pandemic caused by the rapid spread of COVID-19 has brought about a change in the way of proceeding in every area imaginable; and the world of education has perhaps been one of the environments in which this social, professional and academic reorganization has had the most impact. One of the most surprising consequences that […] … learn more→
Don’t feed the bears! How parks get visitors to protect nature
After weeks of pandemic lockdown and closures, families keen on camping holidays and getting outdoors are relieved that many of our parks are reopening. Canada’s national parks partially open June 1 for day use; camping will be closed until at least June 21 while authorities assess safety. In Alberta, provincial parks are open for day use, and camping is […] … learn more→
Universities’ Covid planning must take account of age-related risk
As lockdowns around the world begin to be eased (even for people who aren’t government advisors), some universities are planning to re-open as physical spaces in September. But is this really wise? How much danger will that create for employees, and how should university leaders seek to minimise the risks? In our judgment, the most […] … learn more→
4 things a business degree can do for you
For students who may not know what they want to study, a business degree is often the first suggestion they will be given by family and friends. Business degrees are generic enough to open doors for graduates, but also given the many specialties within business degree programs, students often find their niche and can focus […] … learn more→
COVID-19 and virtual training: how to adopt digital skills in a matter of days
If they told us just six months ago that a pandemic was going to arrive that was going to force, without any excuse or anesthesia, that teachers go digital, we would not have believed it. When we said that “the university teacher is obliged to change to a techno-digital profile in which he integrates his competences with […] … learn more→
