Blog Archives

More advice on advice

More advice on advice

I’ve been blogging since June 2010 – nearly nine years as I write this post. I started the blog, in part, because I wanted an online resource I could send to students. I’d been working as a research educator for about four years at that time and noticed PhD students asked me the same questions […] … learn more→

Should teachers love their students to help them succeed?

Should teachers love their students to help them succeed?

Despite the accumulation of data on the place of emotions and feelings in learning, many actors in the education system still consider that affects have no place in school. A standard remains strong in France: teachers must demonstrate professional distance with students. This standard, for lack of a clear conceptualization, often suggests that one should not establish an […] … learn more→

The continuing tragedy of student loan debt

The continuing tragedy of student loan debt

Bradley Ritter has a fascinating series of videos on YouTube. He’s a chemical engineer, but has many relevant things to say about higher education. He also often gives advice for kids coming out of school, though usually it’s along the lines of “study very hard and be an engineer.” It’s not bad advice, mind you, […] … learn more→

Beware the couch! Reflections on academic reading

Beware the couch! Reflections on academic reading

Over the years, I’ve learned a few things about reading journal articles. One of the most important things that I’ve discovered is that spending time thinking about how and why I read, and practicing ways to become a better reader, is time well spent. After all, the ability to critically read journal articles—and lots of […] … learn more→

Average College freshman reads at 7th Grade level

Average College freshman reads at 7th Grade level

In the old days, getting into college was a big deal—you had to be a good student, have some solid extracurricular activities and generally pass an entrance exam as well as demonstrate you can write a decent “Why I Want To Go To College” essay. When the Federal government decided to back student loans, giving […] … learn more→

Chinese students are not Australia’s enemy within

Chinese students are not Australia’s enemy within

Chinese international students are a huge presence on Australian university campuses, and nowhere more so than at the University of Sydney. Their exact number is hard to pin down; the university is very proud that it draws students “from over 130 countries” but quite coy about the distribution of their nationalities. However, estimates suggest that […] … learn more→

Missing school is a given for children of migrant farmworkers

Missing school is a given for children of migrant farmworkers

In the summer of his junior year, Luis Miguel was struggling to stay in high school. He and his family of four – who work various agricultural jobs from picking blueberries and cherries to pruning grapes and canning tomatoes – live in one of California’s 24 migrant family housing centers. As a documentary filmmaker, I have been […] … learn more→

Proven tips to have an effective study break

Proven tips to have an effective study break

Studying hard and going through revisions to prepare for the upcoming exam season? Then you must be experiencing tough times due to long reading sessions. Ironically, a lot of students face hard times understanding what they read even after reading the same paragraph several times. However, you can make the most out of revisions and reading sessions […] … learn more→