The threat of the rapid expansion of COVID-19 has forced governments to take drastic measures to ensure social distancing. In many parts of the world the order has been to stay at home, thus disrupting the daily lives of citizens and institutions. But attempts have also been made to minimize the effects of this confinement with […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
In times of pandemic, Venezuela’s digital divide brings new inequalities to education
Why are kids asking such big questions during the pandemic?
Why do people have to die? Are mistakes always bad? Can you be happy and sad at the same time? Kids often ask questions like these that are hard if not impossible to answer. When children raise uncomfortable questions or questions that seem to have no answers, adults tend to respond with explanations that try […] … learn more→
We can’t go back to ‘wild academism’ after this crisis
Speculation about what the future after Covid-19 may look like is echoing across the world. Possibly, for the first time, we are witnessing the beginning of a worldwide conversation. And it is my impression that the sentiment has shifted from an initial “try to adapt and stay safe” to “let’s grab this as an opportunity […] … learn more→
Reopening schools: first feedback
The reopening of schools in France is planned from May 11. Some countries have not closed their schools, others have already reopened them, some have decided to wait until the start of the school year in September and for some the debate is still ongoing. These different situations bear witness to the diversity of contexts: living […] … learn more→
Top football recruits bring in big money for colleges – COVID-19 could threaten revenue
Colleges and universities are spending more than ever to land the nation’s top football recruits, with some schools having boosted their recruiting budgets by more than 300% in the last five years. These budgets can surpass US$2 million for schools like the University of Tennessee. Is it worth it? I study economics. Research I recently did shows just how big the […] … learn more→
How will the class of COVID-19 get into university? Using year 11 results is only part of the answer
Several Australian universities (Australian National University, Swinburne and the University of Western Australia) have announced they will accept students based on their year 11 results. The rationale is that the disrupted 2020 year will affect year 12 results. So, it’s fairer to use their results from last year. It’s clear finishing school in the midst of a global pandemic […] … learn more→
Why are journals so obsessed by theory?
I recently heard about a rejection letter from a Chinese economics journal that was a bit too generous with the sugar vis-à-vis the pill. “If we were to publish your paper, it would be impossible for us to publish any work of lower standard,” the editor wrote, several decades ago. “And as it is unthinkable […] … learn more→
‘I spoke about Dreamtime, I ticked a box’: teachers say they lack confidence to teach Indigenous perspectives
The Australian government has allocated tens of millions of dollars to commemorate the anniversary of Cook’s voyage to the South Pacific and Australia in 1770. Though several events have now been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, others will take place online. This could also be an opportunity for teachers to disrupt the same white-washed versions of […] … learn more→
Homeostasis and coronavirus crisis
Homeostasis is a rare word, used in biology, but it could be useful in the context of the epidemic we are suffering from. Homeostasis has to do with balance and at the same time with imbalance. In short, it speaks of a balanced imbalance, or a stable imbalance. Life is a pure paradox. Human beings have always had […] … learn more→
EdTechs: what place in the next world?
The rise of the Internet and mobile applications has given birth to a new economic sector , around technologies dedicated to knowledge and transmission, known as “EdTechs”. Used in the United States from 2010, under the pen of American researchers , this name covers a whole variety of actors offering virtual classes, interactive exam preparations, language learning solutions or tutoring, orientation aids. […] … learn more→
