The idea of the university classroom as a private setting sounds incredible and yet, strangely, systemic racism and inequalities mean that a student can – sometimes out of desire, sometimes not – remain hidden, passing through the higher education system virtually unnoticed. So while some students aim to attract attention with the confidence that often […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Online classrooms will expose inequalities, but this is an opportunity for change
Our forced migration to online classes is a time to rethink how we teach
During the Covid-19 pandemic, schools and universities around the world have been forced to convert in-person classes into online and digital courses. There is much to celebrate about how we, as educators, have pivoted quickly and effectively in this situation. Still, we need to consider how we can make educational experiences more resilient to future […] … learn more→
The only way to save Higher Education is to make it free
College was already a financial house of cards. Then coronavirus hit. In January 2020, while I was in New Hampshire canvassing for Elizabeth Warren, a campaign organizer urged me to tell voters why I supported her. For me, that was easy. “As a college teacher,” I said when someone answered the door, “I believe that […] … learn more→
Science curricula must be decolonised too
The murder of George Floyd has caused outrage across the US and the world, forcing everyone to confront the fact that the goal of racial equity remains a distant one. This is as true in the academy as it is in Minneapolis’ police service. In the past few years, we have seen a huge movement […] … learn more→
Here’s a new way to do study abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond
With the U.S. and much of the world engulfed in the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions and health risks have threatened to make study abroad difficult, if not impossible. But that doesn’t mean students won’t still want to learn about other cultures and see how people in other parts of the world approach different issues, such as climate […] … learn more→
How can we save the Mooc?
Massive open online courses (Moocs) have become notorious for their failure rates. Of those who register, considerably more than 50 per cent do not access even half the available material and under 5 per cent actually complete a course. While some commentators suggest how learners can still extract value from a Mooc, others see this as a sign of their complete failure or have called for Spocs […] … learn more→
4 things a business degree can do for you
For students who may not know what they want to study, a business degree is often the first suggestion they will be given by family and friends. Business degrees are generic enough to open doors for graduates, but also given the many specialties within business degree programs, students often find their niche and can focus […] … learn more→
COVID-19 and virtual training: how to adopt digital skills in a matter of days
If they told us just six months ago that a pandemic was going to arrive that was going to force, without any excuse or anesthesia, that teachers go digital, we would not have believed it. When we said that “the university teacher is obliged to change to a techno-digital profile in which he integrates his competences with […] … learn more→
The coronavirus can improve societal understanding of universities’ role
A few months ago, it would have been hard to believe that research-based knowledge at the forefront of science would soon become an everyday topic of conversation. Reproduction rate and theories of viral origin and spread are discussed at kitchen tables around the globe – but perhaps most urgently around the cabinet tables of national […] … learn more→
The online transition means high-quality HE for all is within our grasp
In a matter of weeks, universities have been forced to move their teaching from campuses to computer screens. While many are still struggling with this quantum leap, some have performed wonders and a more permanent shift at least to blended learning has been discussed. The question seems to be “not if but when” this will […] … learn more→
