The educational community has been focusing on the potential of social networks to implement training proposals since the spectacular development of the so-called Web 2.0 began in the early 2000s. Resources for interaction between users, i.e. social networks, were enhanced. The creation of Facebook in 2004 marked a momentous moment. The success of the platform triggered a […] … learn more→
Can (or should) social media be educational tools?
Rethinking school assessment to combat the fear of making mistakes
“For a long time, I dragged the trace of this shame behind me. Hatred and the need for affection had taken hold of me at the same time from my first failures. It was a question of taming the school ogre. Doing everything so that he would not devour my heart.” How many students in […] … learn more→
Hydroclimatic whiplash, the new face of climate change
\ Just as we had begun to grasp the concept of sixth-generation fires , megafires that are practically inextinguishable, we are now faced with a new concept that seems to apply well to the devastating fires of January 2025 in California. Although the signal of climate change in these fires is unequivocal, being responsible for conditions around 5°C warmer, 15% drier […] … learn more→
Don’t rely on social media users for fact-checking. Many don’t care much about the common good
In the wake of Donald Trump’s election victory, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg fired the fact-checking team for his company’s social media platforms. At the same time, he reversed Facebook’s turn away from political content. The decision is widely viewed as placating an incoming president with a known penchant for mangling the truth. Meta will replace its fact-checkers with the “community […] … learn more→
What should I do if I can’t see a psychiatrist?
People presenting at emergency with mental health concerns are experiencing the longest wait times in Australia for admission to a ward, according to a new report from the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine. The amount of time Australians are waiting in hospital emergency departments is increasing with the average wait time for admission now between 12 and […] … learn more→
Films can change the world – why universities and film schools should teach impact strategies
When was the last time a film changed the way you saw the world? Or the way you behaved? Miners Shot Down (2014) countered mainstream media narratives to reveal how striking mine workers were gunned down by police at Marikana in South Africa. Black Fish (2013) made US theme park SeaWorld’s stock prices plummet. And Virunga (2014) stopped the British […] … learn more→
Authorship for post/PhDers – author order
Author order is a pretty self-evident term. It simply describes the order in which authors appear on a publication. Who goes first, second and who is et al. Now author order might also seem like a pretty trivial topic. However, it sadly isn’t. And it might appear to be a straightforward process, but tussling over […] … learn more→
International university grads speak about aspirations and barriers
For the first time in nearly 30 years, a majority of Canadians believe there is too much immigration, with international students becoming a focal point of public scrutiny. A 2024 survey by the Environics Institute showed that only 27 per cent of Canadians view international post-secondary students as a high priority among immigration categories. International students are often […] … learn more→
Meta’s factchecker cut has sparked controversy – but the real threat is AI and neurotechnology
Mark Zuckerberg’s recent decision to remove factcheckers from Meta’s platforms – including Facebook, Instagram and Threads – has sparked heated debate. Critics argue it may undermine efforts to combat misinformation and maintain credibility on social media platforms. Yet, while much attention is directed at this move, a far more profound challenge looms. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) that processes […] … learn more→
Technology is supposed to decrease teacher burnout – but we found it can sometimes make it worse
When we set out to study pandemic-related changes in schools, we thought we’d find that learning management systems that rely on technology to improve teaching would make educators’ jobs easier. Instead, we found that teachers whose schools were using learning management systems had higher rates of burnout. Our findings were based on a survey of 779 […] … learn more→