Blog Archives

Universities: towards a decline of the American empire?

Universities: towards a decline of the American empire?

Described in turn as a tragedy, a counterrevolution, and the collapse of democracy, the recent occupation of the Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump in reaction to the results of the presidential elections has been seen as the revealing of an older malaise and deep. World public opinion seems to be discovering the definitive break between the enlightened, […] … learn more→

Digital storytelling jobs could revolutionize learning in college

Digital storytelling jobs could revolutionize learning in college

Using video projects – in this case, a collaborative digital storytelling project – is an effective way to engage college students in a social studies class. The combination of collaborative learning with technological advances offers better opportunities for the development of active knowledge of students. It is crucial that they have 21st century skills such as the ability […] … learn more→

Learning with digital objects?

Learning with digital objects?

Since his book Petite Poucette published in 2012, the recently deceased philosopher Michel Serres has never ceased to retrace the movement which, from the appearance of the book until today, would offer the possibility of outsourcing one of our essential faculties: memory. We would thus have, he said, the possibility of thinking, learning, transmitting, by holding our […] … learn more→

Through her divisive rhetoric, Education Secretary DeVos leaves a troubled legacy of her own

Through her divisive rhetoric, Education Secretary DeVos leaves a troubled legacy of her own

Mark Hlavacik, associate professor of communication studies, University of North Texas: In her resignation letter, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos explained that her sudden departure from the administration was motivated by President Donald Trump’s incendiary words to the crowd that went on to ransack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. “There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on […] … learn more→

Why does grammar matter?

Why does grammar matter?

After 20 years of teaching academic writing to both native speakers and English language learners, I can attest that at some point, just about everyone asks me why, or even whether, grammar matters. There is more than one way to define grammar. Linguists – the people who study language – define “grammar” as a description […] … learn more→

Writing argument – it’s not (always) a contest

Writing argument – it’s not (always) a contest

We all know the word argument. By argument, we usually mean that people have some kind of quarrel. People take opposing positions about something and then each proceeds to try to convince the other(s) that they are right. When arguments are heated, participants aim to demolish all objections and perhaps even the people who make […] … learn more→

How do students interpret differences in classroom achievement?

How do students interpret differences in classroom achievement?

Léa, Nina and Jules have been in first grade for 2 months already. Today, their mistress tells them that they are going to discover a new sound. The teacher writes the letter “s” on the board, turns around and asks the children “What does this letter sound like?” “. Immediately, a small hand is raised. It’s Léa’s. It is quickly followed […] … learn more→

The body at school: a forgotten dimension

The body at school: a forgotten dimension

At the end of November 2020, the Ministry of National Education launched the 30 minutes of sport per day operation at school in order to fight against children’s sedentary lifestyle. An important problem already before the Covid-19 epidemic, and that the periods of generalized confinement made even more glaring, as first scientific studies have shown . Beyond this measure, and the […] … learn more→

School budgets have held up better than expected in some states, but looming cuts will hurt learning long after pandemic ends

School budgets have held up better than expected in some states, but looming cuts will hurt learning long after pandemic ends

The year 2020 may prove to be pivotal in the history of U.S. public education. Many children have gone missing from school completely since March, and millions more are struggling with wholly inadequate online learning experiences. Lower-income and minority children are particularly hard-hit. The pandemic has exposed and exacerbated deep inequities across our public schools. Merely restoring school budgets to their […] … learn more→