Blog Archives

School suspensions entrench disadvantage. What are the alternatives and how have they worked overseas?

School suspensions entrench disadvantage. What are the alternatives and how have they worked overseas?

Suspension from school is meant to be a last resort for serious problem behaviour. Despite that, an alarming number of children are suspended every year, often at young ages, for minor reasons. Indigenous children, those with a disability, and/or those living in out-of-home care are grossly over-represented. So what are the alternatives to suspension and how have they worked […] … learn more→

Why do school books hide Spain's slave past in America?

Why do school books hide Spain’s slave past in America?

There are mythical stories that constitute an essential part of the master narratives and the national imagination. And there are historical investigations that have great difficulty finding their place in education and in public memory . This is the case of Spain’s role in the slave economy from 1500 to 1886, which still struggles to tear down the wall […] … learn more→

Fewer students, more quality in education?

Fewer students, more quality in education?

For the fourth consecutive year, demographic data indicate a notable drop in birth rates in Spain . If this represents a long-term structural trend, can we think that education budgets will suffer a significant decrease? Can some logic be established between spending on education and the number of schoolchildren? Would it be acceptable that a decrease in the number of […] … learn more→

Students understand calculus better when the lessons are active

Students understand calculus better when the lessons are active

College students learn more calculus in an active learning course in which students solve problems during class than in a traditional lecture-based course. That’s according to a peer-reviewed study my colleagues and I published in Science. We also found that college students better understood complex calculus concepts and earned better grades in the active learning course. The […] … learn more→

Children in care: digital technology, a means of “creating family”?

Children in care: digital technology, a means of “creating family”?

The widespread use of screens is raising many concerns in the public space about the development of children as well as the risky practices of adolescents. Social reactions linked to their digital uses mainly focus on risks and dangers. Questions of juvenile sexuality are attracting attention, whether it concerns the accessibility of pornographic content online , the exchange […] … learn more→

Australia’s teacher workforce has a diversity problem. Here’s how we can fix it

Australia’s teacher workforce has a diversity problem. Here’s how we can fix it

Australia’s teaching workforce does not reflect the diversity of the Australian community, a situation that has far-reaching implications for our education system. As we outline in our new research, published today, teachers are predominantly Australian-born, female, and non-Indigenous. Most hail from middle-class backgrounds with urban upbringings, and are less likely to have disabilities. So why is […] … learn more→

Advanced British Standard: Sunak’s proposed replacement for A-levels and T-levels could make education less divisive

Advanced British Standard: Sunak’s proposed replacement for A-levels and T-levels could make education less divisive

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced plans to scrap A-levels and the recently introduced T-levels. He unveiled proposals for young people to instead study the new Advanced British Standard (ABS) at the Conservative party conference in Manchester. The proposed changes represent a major shake-up of post-16 education in England. Sunak intends to replace existing post-GCSE qualifications, such as […] … learn more→

Teachers can nurture students who care about the world: four approaches that would help them

Teachers can nurture students who care about the world: four approaches that would help them

Teachers wear many hats. They are expected to be subject matter experts, leaders, administrators, managers, lifelong learners – and not just in the classroom, but in their wider communities. It is crucial to cultivate teachers who are socially aware and critical, especially in today’s unequal society. This helps them to successfully prepare their learners to […] … learn more→

The benefits of peer tutoring in Math: How students learn from each other

The benefits of peer tutoring in Math: How students learn from each other

In the ever-evolving landscape of education, the traditional teacher-centered model is gradually making way for collaborative and student-driven approaches. Peer tutoring, a method where students assist each other in learning, has gained prominence, especially in disciplines like mathematics. This approach is not just a trend; it represents a paradigm shift in the way we perceive […] … learn more→

Avoid cramming and don’t just highlight bits of text: how to help your memory when preparing for exams

Avoid cramming and don’t just highlight bits of text: how to help your memory when preparing for exams

With school and university exams looming, students will be thinking about how they can maximise their learning. Memory is a key part of how we learn. If students understand how memory works, they can prioritise effective study habits. This will help for exams as well as their learning in the longer term. What is memory? […] … learn more→