The UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak, is putting measures in place to restrict student numbers on what he has termed “rip-off degrees”: university courses that have high drop-out rates and are unlikely to lead to highly skilled jobs. Instead, the government is promoting apprenticeships, through which young people train for a specific career while in employment. Ucas, […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
How 25 years of education policy led us to believe we can only succeed in life with a degree
Despite giving students chances to cheat, unsupervised online exams gauge student learning comparably to in-person exams
Students don’t have to be supervised during online exams. That’s because unsupervised online exams can accurately assess student learning, according to our study published in July 2023 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Our data set comprised nearly 2,000 students from a public university in the Midwest. We analyzed exam scores from the first […] … learn more→
I have too many words – why is this a problem?
It’s time for a look at the problem of too many words. Is this really a widespread problem I hear you ask? In a word, yes. You see, despite the worries about whether we will write enough, the reality is that a lot of us write too much, rather than write too little. Often far too […] … learn more→
Rhyme and reason – why a university professor uses poetry to teach math
Title of course: The Ways Math and Poetry Can Open Your Eyes to the World What prompted the idea for the course? I have always enjoyed writing poetry. As a high school mathematics teacher, I recall telling my students that everything is and can be connected to math, even creative writing. Then, as a graduate […] … learn more→
Help to settle in and friendships beyond class: what makes students feel like they belong at uni
Belonging is about feeling accepted, included and valued. If students feel like they belong at their university, research shows it plays a crucial role in their overall wellbeing, self-esteem, and motivation to study. As the Universities Accord interim report says, universities have an “obligation to students to foster belonging”. The draft report also notes “too few” Australians are completing […] … learn more→
3 ways higher education can become more hopeful in the post-pandemic, post-AI era
We live at a time when universities and colleges are facing multiplying crises, pressures and changes. From the COVID-19 pandemic and budgetary pressures to generative artificial intelligence (AI) and climate catastrophe, the future of higher education seems murky and fragmented — even gloomy. Student mental health is in crisis. University faculty in our own research from […] … learn more→
The wheel approach to literatures work
The “wheel” is one way to approach literatures work. The wheel brings different literatures together and helps you write about them. The wheel is not the only way to do complex literatures work. It’s A way. Think of the wheel as an old fashioned cart wheel. There is a spindle in the middle – or […] … learn more→
The dangers of infantilization in the university stage
Up to what age should a father or mother attend tutoring sessions with their children’s teachers or have a direct dialogue with their teachers? When is the time to stop “defending” them before the teaching staff and allow them to manage reviews, claims or doubts themselves? Bearing in mind that at the university the students are […] … learn more→
What are enabling programs? How do they help Australians get to uni?
One of Education Minister Jason Clare’s top priorities for the Universities Accord is encouraging more Australians to go to university. As he notes, “more jobs are going to require a university qualification in the years ahead”. Alongside this call is the recognition we need to improve access for people from equity cohorts – including Indigenous Australians, those from […] … learn more→
Academic and vocational education divides students – radical change could make education more equal
Politicians across parties are proposing ways to promote vocational education in England. Rishi Sunak has pledged to limit “rip-off” university courses and boost apprenticeships – diverting school students away from university and towards vocational education. Labour leader Keir Starmer has spoken of his desire to end “the snobbery that looks down on vocational education” through curriculum reform. […] … learn more→
