Blog Archives

Distance education tutors don’t need any formal qualifications – we should make this role a career

Distance education tutors don’t need any formal qualifications – we should make this role a career

There are an estimated 24,000-plus students who study by distance education in Australia. While their lessons are delivered remotely, by law, all of these students still need to be supervised by somebody in person. This is the role of the “remote education tutor”, who is thelink betweenthe student and the teacher. Despite the vital work they do, […] … learn more→

Young children’s words predict reading ability — 5 ways parents and caregivers can help grow them

Young children’s words predict reading ability — 5 ways parents and caregivers can help grow them

Becoming a proficient reader holds endless possibilities for a child. These opportunties include long-term academic achievement and educational opportunities, daily life and eventual workplace success — and the magic of being transported to the world of fantasy and mystery, limited only by the imagination. It’s a complex process that unfolds gradually in recognizable stages. Young learners must see […] … learn more→

From whiteboard work to random groups, these simple fixes could get students thinking more in maths lessons

From whiteboard work to random groups, these simple fixes could get students thinking more in maths lessons

Australian students’ performance and engagement in mathematics is an ongoing issue. International studies show Australian students’ mean performance in maths has steadily declined since 2003. The latest Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2018 showed only 10% of Australian teenagers scored in the top two levels, compared to 44% in China and 37% in Singapore. Despite attempts to […] … learn more→

What it takes to become a spelling bee champ

What it takes to become a spelling bee champ

Whenever the Scripps National Spelling Bee takes place, parents and children may wonder: What does it take to become a champion? Is it worth the effort? But to the extent possible, competitive spellers, including several previous Scripps National Spelling Bee winners, have purchased special word lists to gain a competitive edge. These word lists, which may come in the form […] … learn more→

High school: overcoming clichés on the professional path

High school: overcoming clichés on the professional path

The latest reform of the professional path was presented on Thursday May 4, 2023 by President Macron. The press kit that accompanies these announcements highlights the need to make the sector attractive and to make it a path to success and excellence. Implicitly, it paints the portrait of a student in lack of success undergoing a default orientation and prone to […] … learn more→

Working with kids, being passionate about a subject, making a difference: what makes people switch careers to teaching?

Working with kids, being passionate about a subject, making a difference: what makes people switch careers to teaching?

Teacher shortages around Australia mean there is an ongoing debate about how to attract, retain and educate more teachers. One part of the push to increase teacher numbers is encouraging people to swap their current career for a teaching role. Mid-career or “career change” students are increasingly common in teacher education programs. The most recent Australian data shows as of 2017, one-third […] … learn more→

Neither high nor low capacities: let's bet on personalized teaching

Neither high nor low capacities: let’s bet on personalized teaching

People, students, are not highly capable: they have capacity to varying degrees, as occurs in other less elusive aspects such as weight, height or any other physical condition. Both ignoring it and trying to make categories based on measurements of whatever kind is to lose focus. To consider “high ability” as a dichotomous variable (“some are” […] … learn more→

New approach to teaching computer science could broaden the subject’s appeal

New approach to teaching computer science could broaden the subject’s appeal

Despite growing demand for computer science skills in professional careers and many areas of life, K-12 schools struggle to teach computer science to the next generation. However, a new approach to computer science education – called integrated computing – addresses the main barriers that schools face when adding computer science education. These barriers include a lack of qualified computer science teachers, a […] … learn more→