The idea that knowledge is infused with power and politics may sound abstract, so let me offer an example from my own life to illustrate. I was invited to a dinner proceeding a conference in an African capital city. I had expected to meet all the other speakers. But it turned out to be only […] … learn more→

Though the Department of Education released the College Scorecard update this morning with little fanfare, users who went to the site were pleasantly surprised by a new feature: a comparison tool that allows prospective students to compare up to 10 different colleges across a whole host of data measures. Here’s how it works, in three […] … learn more→

Whether we like it or not, published research remains one of the significant benchmarks by which academics are measured. So from the perspective of science and the social sciences, how does the postdoctoral researcher (or temporary lecturer) go about achieving this? I want to focus on three linked areas that are based around work, publication […] … learn more→

Are you a resident of Arkansas that is looking for a fun and profitable career path? If so, you just might want to consider becoming a nurse administrator. Just like in many other parts of the United States, this healthcare position is in high demand. There are simply not enough nurses with high-level degrees to […] … learn more→

A few weeks ago, you might have heard that somebody took a steamroller to novelist Terry Pratchett’s hard drive. At the Great Dorset Steam Fair, an industrial beast named Lord Jericho was tasked with executing the last wish of the Discworld creator, who died in 2015 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease: the utter obliteration of […] … learn more→

With literally hundreds of career paths available to those studying at colleges and universities, choosing the right one can be a challenge. After all, people’s tastes and interests change over time: some degrees and careers do not provide the flexibility necessary to branch out into new endeavors. As you grow and change over the course […] … learn more→

Employer: “Kid, everyone has a high school diploma. What else you got?” —over a century ago, a high school diploma meant something, but this is what it’s worth today. Part of what made a college degree valuable was scarcity—not everyone had one. Once government made high school “free” for everyone, our kids left high school […] … learn more→

Online learning is expanding in Canada at a rate of about 8.75 per cent every year. This shift to online environments has redefined the format of education. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), for example, have become wildly popular, with more than 700 universities offering 6,850 courses to 58 million students in 2016. Universities promote online […] … learn more→

When I started lecturing full-time a little over five years ago, I knew what everybody does: that we all learn better by doing. I knew that “active learning” – literally doing anything apart from just talking through a PowerPoint presentation – is the way to go. I’d also been introduced to the “flipped classroom” concept, […] … learn more→

Academic conferences can be full of networking opportunities and professional wisdom. For me, last month’s Society for the Study of Social Problems international conference was brimful of both. I had the privilege to attend talks given by prolific scholars and senior editors from across the country. I also had the opportunity to have one-on-one conversations […] … learn more→