When it comes to the news these days, what we choose to regard as trustworthy has more to do with our own world view than what kinds of news practices are worthy of trust. Many people are seeking out news that aligns with their politics. But there’s just one problem with this: we are not always good judges […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Information literacy courses can help students tackle confirmation bias and misinformation
What is the ethical and social responsibility of teachers and how to transmit it in the classroom
The pandemic has undermined possibly prosperous dreams and has even put an end to stories that have not had a chance to begin. Poverty, injustices and inequalities have increased. Faced with this situation, as humanity, we must follow the ethical horizon proposed in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It defines 17 objectives and 169 goals that challenge us […] … learn more→
How to make post-secondary study more accessible? Collaboration between instructors and disability counsellors
Forty years after the enactment of Canada’s first children’s special education laws, universities and colleges have made significant strides in accessible education for adult students with disabilities. But positive change is not coming fast enough. And accessibility issues are not about some small minority of students. Twenty-two per cent of Canadians aged 15 years or older have at […] … learn more→
What exactly is ‘neurodiversity?’ Using accurate language about disability matters in schools
The connection between language and meaning has been well established. The language we use is directly related to the way we view and treat others. Inclusive language is imperative to achieve equitable change, grounded in human rights and social justice. Many countries today have laws protecting against the use of any language that incites or wilfully promotes hatred against […] … learn more→
New year, new Bullet Journal!
Happy new year friends! They say how you spend NYE night sets the tone for the year. If that’s the case, I’ll be eating Indian takeaway with my girlfriends and going to bed at 9:30pm. I’m VERY ok with this plan after the eventful couple of years we’ve had. I followed up the quiet start with […] … learn more→
Student and teacher involvement in reforming schooling matters — how Montréal schools are tackling this
If you could redesign high school, what might you change? How could the schedule be more flexible? What if teachers worked together as teams? What if groups of students were combined based on interest and given the opportunity to connect learning to their everyday lives? Noel Burke, the founder of an educational reform initiative in […] … learn more→
The importance of knowing starting skills for teaching writing
What do we think when someone asks us how we write? Probably, if our handwriting is legible or if we follow the spelling rules… but writing goes much further. Writing is representing thought through graphic symbols in a coherent, orderly and meaningful way, following a common thread and using language appropriate to the reader. Thus, the difficult […] … learn more→
Exploring the mathematical universe – connections, contradictions, and kale
Science and maths skills are widely celebrated as keys to economic and technological progress, but abstract mathematics may seem bafflingly far from industrial optimisation or medical imaging. Pure mathematics often yields unanticipated applications, but without a time machine to look into the future, how do mathematicians like me choose what to study? Over Thai noodles, […] … learn more→
The history and mystery of Tangram, the children’s puzzle game that harbours a mathematical paradox or two
Have you played the puzzle game Tangram? I remember, as a child, being fascinated by how just seven simple wooden triangles and other shapes could offer endless entertainment. Unlike LEGO, the Tangram pieces do not snap together, and unlike the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, they do not form a painted picture. Instead, Tangram invites […] … learn more→
Teaching in the Pleistocene: lessons for today’s school
Teaching, in its broadest meaning, is a uniquely human phenomenon and linked to our nature as cultural beings. Natural selection shaped our cognitive structure so that we could take advantage of the knowledge possessed by our fellow humans. Humans are capable of generating a cumulative cultural inheritance system thanks to which we have managed to spread across […] … learn more→