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→
Blog Archives
Why are boys outperforming girls in maths?
Learning to translate: in the age of AI, do we still need to do theme and version exercises?
“If translation tools work miracles, why practice transposing texts from one language to another?” students ask themselves. Far from being trivial, this learning allows us to become truly aware of the subtleties and functioning of the language we are learning. “DeepL works miracles, so why should I learn to translate?” asks a student in a translation course . […] … learn more→
Too much noise in schools? Thinking about acoustics to support learning
If noise disrupts learning, the acoustic parameters of classrooms are still not taken into account enough. Some points of reference to understand what is at stake at the level of establishments, teachers and students. The conditions in which students study are the subject of many issues. This is reminiscent of the dilapidated conditions of certain […] … learn more→
What if instead of taking an exam, we talked? Conversation as an assessment tool
The day of the exam arrives and nerves creep in. Why? There could be many reasons. Some people think that the exam is worthless, because everything they have studied is forgotten sooner rather than later. Or it is worthless, because it is not possible to continue with the studies and obtain the longed-for degree without […] … learn more→
The beach is an amazing place to teach kids about science. Here are 3 things to try this summer
Summer is a wonderful time for families to go the beach and for small children to get to know the water and the sand. But aside from being a place to relax, my new research shows how the beach provides many ways to teach young children about science. My ‘beach kinder’ research I research science, technology, engineering […] … learn more→
Repeat to learn well: three keys to memorizing information in the long term
To retain information in the long term, we know that it is important to test our knowledge and repeat it. But what is the ideal frequency of revision to avoid memory lapses on exam day? Psychological research gives us some keys to better organize ourselves. The proverb “Practice makes perfect” reflects the importance of repeating […] … learn more→
What are threshold concepts and what role do they play in college success?
Imagine a chef at a trendy restaurant who doesn’t know how to make mayonnaise, or a pastry chef who works in a bakery and has never made a basic cake: do you think it’s possible? At university, students begin a path of specialization that requires a much more detailed study of academic subjects and disciplines. […] … learn more→
What would it mean if President-elect Trump dismantled the US Department of Education?
In her role as former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment, Linda McMahon oversaw an enterprise that popularized the “takedown” for millions of wrestling fans. But as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of education, the Trump loyalist may be tasked with taking down the very department Trump has asked her to lead. If Trump does dismantle the Department […] … learn more→
Why school police officers may not be the most effective way to prevent violence
In 1975, only 1% of public schools had their own police officers. Today, 44% do. A large reason for the increase is the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which led to the creation of the federal Community Oriented Policing Services to oversee funds for the hiring of police in schools. Another reason is the Columbine […] … learn more→
Waiting for exam results can be awful. Our research shows how best to manage the stress
It’s that time of year when students are waiting for school and university results that could change the course of their lives. Uncertain waiting periods are among our most emotionally challenging experiences. In fact, research shows students are more stressed while waiting for their results than after finding out they have failed. This is because dealing with an […] … learn more→
