Blog Archives

Why children should be taught to build a positive online presence

Why children should be taught to build a positive online presence

Rather than just teaching children about internet safety and reducing their digital footprint, we should also encourage them to curate a positive digital footprint which will be an asset for them in their future. Today’s children are prolific users of the internet. Concern has been raised about the future impact of the digital footprints they […] … learn more→

Study habits for success: tips for students

Study habits for success: tips for students

Right now, thousands of Australian school children and university students are taking a well-earned break from the classroom. Long breaks like this help us clear our minds, but they can also provide an opportunity to prepare for the learning year ahead. If you’re a student, this might mean thinking about your study habits. Here are […] … learn more→

Why your child’s preschool teacher should have a college degree

Why your child’s preschool teacher should have a college degree

How much education does a preschool teacher need? When the District of Columbia announced in March that it would require an associate’s degree for all lead teachers at child care centers who work with children up to age 5, the reaction was widely negative. Journalist Matthew Yglesias tweeted that the requirement seemed “ill-advised,” while Sen. Ben Sasse, a […] … learn more→

‘Career ready’ out of high school? Why the nation needs to let go of that myth

‘Career ready’ out of high school? Why the nation needs to let go of that myth

Unlike old-fashioned vocational education, high school-level career and technical education doesn’t really prepare people for jobs directly after high school. While the stated end goal of K-12 education in America is for students to be “college and career ready,” the reality is the existence of career-ready high school graduates is a myth. The expectation that […] … learn more→

Education technology: what does 2018 have in store?

Education technology: what does 2018 have in store?

Blockchain with everything Like Ubik, the entropy-reversing spray from Philip K. Dick’s cult novel of the same name, blockchain is everywhere right now. The technology that underpins the bitcoin cryptocurrency and lots of other zeitgeisty developments, blockchain crops up as a miracle solution so often that you could be forgiven for thinking that it was […] … learn more→

How to teach children morals

How to teach children morals

Schools in England are legally required to promote the moral development of pupils. Unfortunately though, there is little agreement on what this involves. Most people recognise that morality is important and needs to be taught – but when it comes to saying what it is and how to teach it, the consensus soon breaks down. The […] … learn more→

By casting teachers as informants, British counter-extremism policy is promoting violence

By casting teachers as informants, British counter-extremism policy is promoting violence

The Muslim children in my classroom withdrew from political debate when the Prevent counter-terrorism strategy cast me as an informant. Prevent infers a duty on all teachers and doctors in England, Scotland and Wales to report signs of so-called “extremism” and “radicalisation” in their pupils and patients. Applying this duty is particularly difficult as “extremism” has not […] … learn more→