Blog Archives

How game worlds are helping health-care workers practise compassionate clinical responses

How game worlds are helping health-care workers practise compassionate clinical responses

A game world is a fantasy universe based on a story and a theme. In learning contexts, such as in schools or professional continuing education, game worlds permit us to teach complex subjects in an engaging way by rehearsing competencies and roles in a fictional narrative. But games also invite game users into contemplation. In the […] … learn more→

Transforming teacher training through educational 'hackathon'

Transforming teacher training through educational ‘hackathon’

In an ever-evolving educational landscape, characterized by technological advancement and changing social and educational needs, traditional teaching approaches are facing increasing scrutiny. In the case of science education, the need for scientific literacy and the growing demand for professionals in STEM areas make it necessary to search for new teaching strategies so that future teachers can involve and inspire […] … learn more→

Compete or collaborate: what is better for learning?

Compete or collaborate: what is better for learning?

The Queen song We are the champions captures the options that competition offers: either you are the winner who achieves everything desirable or you are the loser who does not enjoy anyone’s sympathy. The question we must ask ourselves is whether the concept of competitiveness should be adapted or complemented in learning models to achieve better results […] … learn more→

An American flag, a pencil sharpener − and the 10 Commandments: Louisiana’s new bill to mandate biblical displays in classrooms is the latest to push limits of religion in public schools

An American flag, a pencil sharpener − and the 10 Commandments: Louisiana’s new bill to mandate biblical displays in classrooms is the latest to push limits of religion in public schools

Louisiana is not a stranger to controversy over religion in schools. In 2023, it joined almost 20 states that require or allow officials in public schools to post the national motto, “In God We Trust.” Now, the Bayou State could become the first in the nation to require the posting of the Ten Commandments in classrooms in public schools, […] … learn more→

Hydration is really important for learning. How much do kids need to drink?

Hydration is really important for learning. How much do kids need to drink?

Last month, Ballarat Clarendon College began a trial to ban water bottles in the classroom for students in Years 5 to 9. According to the school, “early feedback” indicated it had reduced noise and bathroom breaks during class time. Along with becoming a status symbol and fashion item, water bottles are now considered essential for school. So how much water do children […] … learn more→

Are bilinguals better at math?

Are bilinguals better at math?

Bilingualism can impact cognitive functioning , including executive functions such as logic, strategizing, planning, problem solving, and reasoning. Associated with the prefrontal areas of the brain, these allow the management of our social behaviors, the adaptation to new situations and the regulation of our emotions. Executive functions therefore allow us, on a daily basis, to manage situations that […] … learn more→

‘It’s between us and gangs’: teachers are on the front line against youth violence

‘It’s between us and gangs’: teachers are on the front line against youth violence

Gang violence and knife crime threaten the lives and future of young people. Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that in London, knife crime increased by 22% in the year up to September 2023. County line gangs have capitalised on reductions in youth services, such as cuts to funding for after school clubs, to recruit an increasing […] … learn more→

Using AI in the classroom to recommend exercises to students: what is the benefit, what are the biases?

Using AI in the classroom to recommend exercises to students: what is the benefit, what are the biases?

Since the 1950s, computer-assisted instruction and then intelligent tutoring systems have helped improve learning experiences. Today, the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) opens up new perspectives, affirming the growing role of digital technology in education, as in other sectors. The arrival of generative AI , accessible to the general public from the end of 2022, is […] … learn more→

How our brain learns to read: from reading mechanics to comprehension

How our brain learns to read: from reading mechanics to comprehension

Reading is determined biologically, like speech. It is the result of a complex learning process. The first signs of language could have appeared with Homo Erectus around 1.9 million years ago . Instead, the first writings date back to around 4,000 years before Jesus Christ . The brain has had almost two million years to develop the neural network […] … learn more→