Before “fake news”, we used to think that demonstrating the falsity of a claim consigned it to irrelevance for all but a delusional fringe. But perhaps it is time to accept that myths persist and mutate as malignantly as viruses. Academic research can have its own myths. Education research certainly does. Perhaps the most pervasive […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Learning styles are fake news
Going back to school to deal with hard times? For-profit schools could make things even harder
During recessions or times of high unemployment, there tends to be an increase in the number of people who enroll in college. Due to the economic fallout from COVID-19, it is expected many people are likely to return to college once again. Indeed, a survey from March found that one-third of American workers felt that if they lost their […] … learn more→
Children: critical thinking, an innate quality, to sharpen from an early age
The call for more critical thinking often hides a very pessimistic view of our mental capacities. We would be irreparably the prey of our “biases”, these influences which escape all control and make us act in an irrational way. And so we would be generally ready to believe everything. Thus, the critical spirit would be an ideal often […] … learn more→
Coronavirus and school exams: despite plan for grading pupils, there may be trouble ahead
Two weeks after the A-level and GCSE exams were cancelled, English assessment authority OFQUAL has decided how grades will be decided for these qualifications. They will be awarded by teachers in the first instance, and these recommendations will then be moderated by exam boards. The fact that this announcement was delayed twice suggests that the prime […] … learn more→
What will happen to school grades during the coronavirus pandemic?
COVID-19 has brought a tsunami of change and impacted every facet and sector of society, including the lives of children, parents and teachers. UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently said that the coronavirus pandemic is the biggest global challenge since the Second World War. When K-12 schools will reopen in Canada remains an open question, and hope […] … learn more→
6 ways to build motivation to do your schoolwork now that you’re forced to learn online at home
Even in normal circumstances, it can be hard to get motivated to do your schoolwork. But these are not normal circumstances. The switch to remote instruction caused by COVID-19 has been unsettling. Patterns have changed. Habits have been disrupted. Remote classes are simply different from classes that involve face-to-face instruction. As a researcher who looks at what it takes to […] … learn more→
US private schools often inflate student grades. This could happen in Australia if we cancel year 12 exams
The unfolding COVID-19 situation has brought many changes to school education. NAPLAN tests have been cancelled for 2020 and most children are learning online. Education minister Dan Tehan is meeting with the states on what to do with year 12 exams and criteria for university entry. One option flagged is for universities to look at a mixture of students’ […] … learn more→
7 things public schools do besides teach kids academic basics
1. Food The National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program provide school meals to at least 30 million kids each year – more than half of all public school students. This food is free or deeply discounted for students who qualify based on their family’s income. These meals are essential for many reasons, including the fact that hunger and food insecurity make it […] … learn more→
How to administer the digital migration
The global academic discussion about transitioning to online teaching in response to Covid-19 has already precipitated a blizzard of advice in the educational press on the technology and practice of online pedagogy. However, less attention has been given to how exactly to put everything together at an administrative level, taking all aspects of the student […] … learn more→
What to do now?
zoom zoom spotify what’s app email wix facetime zoom skype Instagram email twitter teams twitch zoom youtube skype email email email wix twitter zoom zoom I have put more apps on my screens during the last week than in the whole of last year. I usually try to keep my apps to an economical three […] … learn more→
