Schools across the country encourage parents to help their children with homework. Parents are listening. Helping with homework is one of the most common things that parents say they do to support their children’s learning. Many experts have found that helping with homework cultivates positive learning behaviors, reinforces class material and signals to children that their education is important. The federal Department of […] … learn more→

In the past few years, it has become clear that the quality of published scientific research is not as good as it could and should be. It has been estimated that 50 per cent of published research across all scientific fields, including social science, is questionable – to varying degrees and for varying reasons. The […] … learn more→

Citizens and policymakers around the world are grappling with how to limit companies’ use of data about individuals – and how private various types of information should be. But anthropologists like me know that cultures vary widely in their views of what is private and who is responsible for protecting privacy. Just like online privacy, real-world privacy […] … learn more→

16.9 million. That’s how many students are going to college at the undergraduate level this fall. Of that number, roughly half – 46% – will take out federal student loans. It’s a decision that could bring certain rewards – not the least of which is a well-paying job – but it can also come with serious economic […] … learn more→

The nation’s wealthiest private colleges and universities have a new expense. Thanks to a provision in the tax reform package that President Donald Trump signed in late 2017, these schools are paying a 1.4% tax on their net investment income. This highly targeted tax only applies to schools with endowments worth at least US$500,000 per tuition-paying student. One aspect […] … learn more→

When I taught at a community college or questionable state university, one of the things which surprised me was how many of my students did not want to be there. I don’t mean simply didn’t want to do homework, or study, or take tests…but even being on campus was a chore for them, something that […] … learn more→

Finally, the message came. Friends had warned you but you couldn’t help feeling disappointed when the request finally arrived. The dean of your school has asked you (and everyone else) to apply for external funding in the next few months. You have nowhere to hide – stress and sleepless nights loom ahead. Maybe if you […] … learn more→

Immortality has been a topic of discussion since the legend of the Holy Grail. Some people have gone as far as cryogenic freezing after death in the hope that one day science will have advanced enough to resurrect them. Others believe the route to immortality lies in the digital realm. The theory that humans can be digitised and […] … learn more→

Since an interview given at the end of 2014 by Maurice Lévy to the Financial Times , the expression “uberiser” is flourishing. The question was even invited in the debates of the last presidential election, that is to say. According to Wikipedia , this term, taken from the name of the Californian company of passenger vehicles with drivers, Uber, refers to “A recent […] … learn more→

Last summer, a friend gave me a copy of The Slow Professor: Challenging the Culture of Speed in the Academy by Maggie Berg and Barbara K. Seeber, professors of English language and literature respectively at Queen’s University and Brock University. It gave me lots of food for thought. Working at a university, after several years of […] … learn more→