Pupils who have access to physical educational resources, such as books and computers at home, tend to perform better in science than those who don’t. This has been proved by a great deal of international research. It’s true in South Africa, too, but our research has found that less tangible factors also play a role […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
When it comes to school science, language can determine success
Citing yourself – in the text
Writing about your own work is sometimes tricky. There are ‘secretarial’ text issues involved in using your own work. I’ll talk here about how you refer to yourself and the work, and the vexed question of self-plagiarism. writing your work into the text The advice on self citation often suggests that you refer to yourself by […] … learn more→
You can’t cure students’ ills by typing on your computer
Recently, I found myself in my doctor’s office with an ever-growing list of concerns. My doctor spent most of the consultations asking me questions while facing her laptop, typing out what I said. Then one morning, I woke in excruciating pain and was unable to stand. When I called my doctor, the person who answered […] … learn more→
Parachuting in courses from the West does African entrepreneurs no good
Growing youth unemployment remains a socio-economic challenge in Africa. Several initiatives, including foreign development aid programmes, are being deployed to address this. Many come with noble intentions. But they are undermined by the flawed approach of parachuting solutions made in the West. A study focusing on a seven year old multi-million dollar programme from the […] … learn more→
Beating the AP class scam
With college tuition perpetually increasing, parents are highly motivated to cut costs. One way to cut costs is to enroll kids into “AP courses” in high school. Advanced Placement courses provide college credit, at least if the students can pass the AP exam…and there’s the rub, as that test costs around $100 to take. Because […] … learn more→
6 traits of life-changing teachers
Michael Foley, my high school Shakespeare teacher, was a known tyrant. As underclassmen, my friends and I would walk past his closed door, peer in the narrow vertical window, and see him gesticulating wildly at some hapless senior, blood vessels popping in his forehead. We were genuinely terrified. I would eventually discover that Foley wasn’t […] … learn more→
PhD career capital
My sister is fond of reminding me that, in 1992, after returning from my first overseas trip to Europe, I told her I wanted a career where I could “get on and off planes and talk to people for a living”. It’s appropriate then, that I write this post while flying high above the red […] … learn more→
Dear sir/madam — how to write a winning cover letter
In his wonderful collection of correspondence, Letters of Note, editor Shaun Usher includes one from Robert Pirosh, a New York copywriter. Pirosh wanted a job as a screenwriter and in an attempt to secure such a post he composed what Usher describes as: One of the greatest, most effective cover letters ever to be written. […] … learn more→
Has the print book trumped digital? Beware of glib conclusions
While just a few years ago, headlines predicted eBook supremacy and the demise of the paper book, that’s now reversed. They’re now saying the Kindle is clunky and unhip and paper books are cool and selling well as eBook sales crash. But are today’s claims any more accurate than those of 2012? The latest round […] … learn more→
Citing yourself – how much is too much?
Should you cite yourself? Ever? Never? Sometimes, and if sometimes, when? And how much? When does sometimes become just too much altogether? There are mixed views on self-citation. Some people think that it’s quite unseemly to cite yourself at all – it’s nothing but ruthless self-promotion and bragging. And of course, there are people who do […] … learn more→
