Many of us probably fondly remember that time of school, in the first days or even before classes started, when we bought or received our textbooks: brand new or inherited from siblings or family, for schoolchildren they represented access to everything we did not yet know. And for our parents, it often meant a significant financial […] … learn more→

How can I improve my English? This is a question I was often asked by my students when I was teaching in South Korea. My first recommendation was simple: you have to put in the time and effort. However, they and I could not be satisfied with this somewhat simplistic advice. As a Korean learner […] … learn more→

In Roman mythology, Janus was the god of doors, gates and transitions. Able to see in two directions, Janus was associated with passages, beginnings and endings. In January, the month named for him in the western calendar, it’s fitting to consider how, in many respects, compulsory education systems require new beginnings in terms of envisioning broader […] … learn more→

Students do better when lessons are tailored to individual learning styles – but not so much that it’s worth the investment of time and money. That’s the main finding of a recent peer-reviewed study I co-authored. There has been a big push to try to tailor a teacher’s instruction to a student’s preferred learning style. That’s because some people say they […] … learn more→

Entrepreneurs drive innovation, create jobs, and contribute to economic growth. But entrepreneurship is not just about having a brilliant idea. It requires skills that often must be learnt. Structured entrepreneurship education is designed to give people the knowledge they need to start and run their own businesses. It is typically provided through university courses, business […] … learn more→

Nearly half of young people aged between 13 and 17 who have been in a relationship in the past year have experienced violent or controlling behaviour, according to a recent survey from charity the Youth Endowment Fund. The finding comes from a survey of 10,000 young people in England and Wales, of which 27% had been in […] … learn more→

Is distance learning becoming the new norm in the world of adult education? In 2024, 60% of companies would have offered a training offer that is mainly distance learning (FAD) or hybrid. Even if this percentage shows a trend towards the digitalization of training, it should be noted that it is down compared to last year (64% […] … learn more→

Tracey, a high school teacher in the Philadelphia School District, remembers the hurtful comments she heard from parents when she started her career over a decade ago as a young Black teacher in what was then a predominantly white area of southwest Philly. “I can recall white parents making comments saying, ‘Oh, this young Black teacher who […] … learn more→

It’s almost the end of the school year. And that means it’s “awards season” for school students. Before the holidays, students, teachers and families will gather for speech days where awards will be handed out for academic performance, citizenship, leadership and extracurricular achievements in sport, art and music. Schools bill these awards as a way […] … learn more→

A major international test has revealed a concerning gender gap in maths among Australian school students. In the 2023 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), Australia’s boys did much better than girls. Year 4 boys outperformed girls by the equal highest margin out of 58 countries that did the test. The story is not much […] … learn more→