Adults over the age of 25, called non-traditional students among academia, are returning to school in increasing numbers. In 2015, 8.1 million non-traditional students were actively enrolled in courses at higher learning institutions in America. To some extent, the rise in non-traditional student college and university enrollment is driven by the hasty evolution of business […] … learn more→
5 reasons I went back to school (& why you should too)
How to make an index for your book or dissertation
The index is the elder sibling of the glossary, who has grown up, moved to the big city and started doing drugs. Anyone who has been asked to write one will tremble a little in their boots, at least the first time. Basically, an index is a quick look up list of terms that appear in […] … learn more→
Six myths about the prevent duty in UK universities
The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 has aroused great controversy by imposing a legal duty upon schools, universities, the NHS and other institutions to “have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. Last month, a new report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights called for an independent review […] … learn more→
Making the grade: Why high achievers require competition
Rodney King famously asked why we can’t all just get along. Believe it or not, there may be some good evolutionary and biological reasons for that. It might well be that getting along is not the best way for humans to progress. There is also a difference between getting along and being without conflict and […] … learn more→
Take down the administrative University, Part 2
I’m continuing to look at a thorough discussion of the main reasons higher education is such a mess today. The author cites four key problem areas, but as always I have some things to add. Students By all available metrics, student intellectual performance has declined precipitously as the university administration has ballooned…the takeaway numbers regarding […] … learn more→
Will sorting classrooms by ability improve marks? It depends on the mix
Parents and teachers are interested in ensuring children perform their best in school. Some believe putting smart students together can improve educational outcomes. But evidence about the impact of classmate or schoolmate quality (as measured by, say, test scores) on individual performance in an educational setting is only just beginning to accumulate. Establishing the presence and size of peer effects in education […] … learn more→
Why double-majors might beat you out of a job
Two college majors are better than one. That is the conclusion that researchers are beginning to reach. Prior research has already shown that students who double major can earn more than peers who majored in only one field. New research we conducted recently shows that double majors fare better in another way as well: They are more innovative. We […] … learn more→
Takedown of the all-administration University
It’s no secret we have a huge, huge, problem in higher education today. Between the riots, the proven lack of education, and the soaring tuition we’re seeing a system of such high cost, minimal stability, and low usefulness it’ll be surprising if higher education 20 years from now looks anything like the mess of today. […] … learn more→
How to stop haemorrhaging data on Facebook
If you are one of 2.2 billion Facebook users worldwide, you have probably been alarmed by the recent coverage of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, a story that began when The Guardian revealed 50 million (now thought to be 87 million) user profiles had been retrieved and shared without the consent of users. Though the #deletefacebook campaign has gained […] … learn more→
Why ‘safe spaces’ at universities are a threat to free speech
The idea of universities being a “safe space” was until recently an issue that was unique to the US. Now the UK has experienced an upswing in incidents in which so-called “safe space” policies have reportedly threatened the right to free speech in British universities. Closely tied to the concept of “no-platforming” – where speakers […] … learn more→