As a new spring semester begins in Canada, all-online teaching continues. In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, universities and colleges replaced classroom instruction with online teaching. UNESCO estimates that more than 1.5 billion students in 165 countries are affected by a move to online learning. With campus libraries still closed, instructors have had to place more course materials online. […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
What is fair dealing in copyright? Here’s why it matters when moving classes online due to coronavirus
Blue-sky research rarely casts the most light
The recent resignation of Mauro Ferrari as president of the European Research Council has thrown into sharp relief the distinction between “basic” and “applied” research, as understood today. In the UK, this is particularly topical given that it coincides with the start of parliamentary scrutiny over the role that the government’s proposed “high risk, high […] … learn more→
‘Online’ education versus face-to-face: there is no place like school to learn
Among the angles of analysis that these times of pandemic offer us, it is necessary to stop at one that, for those of us dedicated to the world of education, offers its own nuances. Suddenly, in the middle of the academic year, we have had to change the way we relate to our students, with our […] … learn more→
When is a Zoom not a Zoom?
I was on Day 42 of living the #isolife when I commented that I was starting to note the difference in Zoom experiences: Day 42: Understanding better the pacing between types of vid-conf experiences – facilitating vs participating vs webinar-ing vs dropping in. Quite differently textured instances. Hmmm… Sally Purcell (@ResourcefulHDR on Twitter) asked for […] … learn more→
We need to talk about Zoom
There’s a peculiar kind of exhaustion which comes from spending an afternoon staring at Zoom. I’m mentally drained but I would be if I’d spent a few hours in face to face meetings. My back hurts but it probably would have after a long meeting in an uncomfortable chair. I’ve got a vague headache but […] … learn more→
5 things college students should include in a plan for their wellness
As a psychologist and the mother of two college-aged students, I am concerned about my children’s future emotional well-being. I know that the late teens to early 20s are a time when the majority of many lifetime mental health disorders take hold. Given all the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic – from isolation to limited job opportunities […] … learn more→
In Africa, university proliferation is not an unqualified good
It may be odd to criticise the creation of Africa’s first transportation university. After all, who could object to an institution that will train thousands of railway and infrastructure engineers once it opens next year, particularly as it is funded by $50 million (£38 million) of Chinese money? However, once you know that the University […] … learn more→
Kids’ math at home: Think dice games, cooking fractions and ratios with chocolate milk
In the COVID-19 pandemic, children are just as concerned as their parents about what is happening. The closure of schools is a huge upset in children’s lives. As parents support children and consider their learning, this can be an opportunity for both parents and kids to question, explore, think and learn mathematics together through everyday […] … learn more→
Dropshipping 101: The best way to track packages arriving from China
We’ve all heard stories about packages getting lost in the mail or long waits for parcels coming from China. Can you really trust your Chinese suppliers? You probably heard of the so-called “free shipping” options offered by various Chinese marketplaces, suppliers and shopify stores. This is the slowest and the cheapest method available, which often […] … learn more→
Universities should be spaces for democratic innovation
Amid the failures of traditional politics, the world has seen the emergence of a“deliberative wave”.Ordinary people are being selected by lottery to take part in citizens’ assemblies, citizens’ juries and other “mini-publics”. The Irish Citizens’ Assembly in 2018, which led to liberalisation in the constitutional status of abortion, is one prominent example, although a variety […] … learn more→
