Blog Archives

AI in education: what those buzzwords mean

AI in education: what those buzzwords mean

You’ll be hearing a great deal about artificial intelligence (AI) and education in 2025. The UK government unveiled its “AI opportunities action plan” in mid-January. As part of the plan it has awarded funding of £1 million (about US$1.2 million) to 16 educational technology companies to “build teacher AI tools for feedback and marking, driving high and […] … learn more→

Does school educate about emotions?

Does school educate about emotions?

In the collective imagination, school is often perceived as a neutral place, a setting where only the transmission of knowledge and the assessment of skills matter. This vision ignores an essential dimension: school is also a space for emotional socialization, a place where values, attitudes and representations are forged. Of course, we learn mathematics and […] … learn more→

Can (or should) social media be educational tools?

Can (or should) social media be educational tools?

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→

Technology is supposed to decrease teacher burnout – but we found it can sometimes make it worse

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→

The textbook market: how did we get here?

The textbook market: how did we get here?

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→

To boost your language level, rebalance your revisions!

To boost your language level, rebalance your revisions!

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 2025 and beyond, schools need to teach more than just ‘the basics’

In 2025 and beyond, schools need to teach more than just ‘the basics’

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→

Here’s what happens when teachers tailor their lessons to students’ individual learning styles

Here’s what happens when teachers tailor their lessons to students’ individual learning styles

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→

Learning to be an entrepreneur means building connections as well as studying business

Learning to be an entrepreneur means building connections as well as studying business

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→