Blog Archives

STEM learning should engage students’ minds, hands and hearts

STEM learning should engage students’ minds, hands and hearts

These unprecedented times are a reminder to all of us about the importance of science and its impact on society. Citizens face significant cognitive demands in evaluating scientific evidence, models and explanations presented online or in media reports about both our ongoing climate change crisis and COVID-19. In formal school settings, the important competencies to assess and evaluate […] … learn more→

With “puzzle classes”, promote cooperation between students

With “puzzle classes”, promote cooperation between students

Group work or “cooperative learning” is often used in education, whether in school, college, high school or university. In 2018, a survey by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on educational practices revealed that nearly one in two French teachers, out of 1400 people questioned, relied on work in small groups. within their class. […] … learn more→

Montessori, Steiner or Reggio Emilia: which childcare philosophy is best for your family?

Montessori, Steiner or Reggio Emilia: which childcare philosophy is best for your family?

Up to 90% of brain development occurs in the first five years of life. Early learning matters, and creates a solid foundation for future development. Philosophical underpinnings in early education matter too. They influence the interactions between teachers and children, the environment design and beliefs about how children learn. The demographic diversity of Australia means no single […] … learn more→

Anticapitalism wasn’t banned in English classrooms during the cold war – why is it now?

Anticapitalism wasn’t banned in English classrooms during the cold war – why is it now?

Materials produced by groups with “extreme political stances” have been barred from English classrooms by the UK government under new guidance for the relationships, sex, and health curriculum. Most of these extreme principles – racism, antisemitism and authoritarianism – are uncontroversial. But the list also includes opposition to capitalism: the “desire to overthrow democracy, capitalism, or the […] … learn more→

Uniform at school, the eternal debate?

Uniform at school, the eternal debate?

Under the hashtags #balancetonbahut and # 14septembre, middle school and high school girls have been claiming since the start of the school year the right to dress as they wish, pointing to the sexism of schools that are more strict with regard to the outfits worn by girls than by those of boys. Questioned on this subject […] … learn more→

Stop telling students to study STEM instead of humanities for the post-coronavirus world

Stop telling students to study STEM instead of humanities for the post-coronavirus world

Finally, someone has figured out how to put an end to students wasting their lives in the quixotic pursuit of knowledge associated with the humanities. The government of Australia announced in June a reform package that would lower fees for what are considered “job-relevant” university courses while raising the cost of some humanities courses. Under the proposed […] … learn more→

If we want brilliant English, history or geography teachers, why are we making humanities courses so costly?

If we want brilliant English, history or geography teachers, why are we making humanities courses so costly?

The government’s university funding reform package passed the lower house in early September and will pass the Senate if the Coalition succeeds in garnering enough crossbench support. The plan would see fees for some humanities degrees rise by as much as 113%, while fees for courses in fields such as teaching, nursing and STEM (science, technology, engineering […] … learn more→

Knowing the brain well teaches us to improve learning

Knowing the brain well teaches us to improve learning

As educators, parents or even as students, we have often wondered what are the ins and outs that lead to learning at certain times being presented with greater or lesser difficulty: why some students learn more than others when faced with the same content and methodologies of teaching, why more or less information is withheld, […] … learn more→