A Mitchell Institute report shines a light on how quality teaching and innovation in universities can dramatically improve learning. The report found the Victoria University Block Model of teaching cut the fail rate for first-year students by around 40%. The model involves rearranging the timetable so students take one subject at a time in a four-week “block” of intensive […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Uni fail rate falls by 40% with block model of intensively learning 1 subject at a time
4 ways to help STEM majors stay the course
Black and Latino students who start out majoring in STEM – or science, technology, engineering or mathematics – are more likely than their white peers to switch fields or leave without a degree. Some students leave because they feel isolated on campus. Others may lack the type of technical skills, such as effective communication in science, needed to persist […] … learn more→
Our research offers a solution to answer the challenges of mothers who are pursuing master’s and doctoral studies
Masters and doctoral degrees can help advance careers and promote change in society , from protecting human rights, protecting the environment and gender equality to religious, racial and cultural solidarity. However, female students who have children face special challenges when it comes to pursuing higher education. Research conducted in the United Arab Emirates in 2017 explained that the dual […] … learn more→
International students are coming back and it’s not just universities sighing with relief
International students are returning to Australia after almost two years of closed borders. The number of international students in Australia increased by 29,856 in the first six weeks after the Australian government opened the border to them in mid-December. But there are still about 300,000 fewer international students in Australia than before the pandemic. Around 147,000 current student visa […] … learn more→
Universities had record job losses, but not as many as feared – and the worst may be over
Many universities, facing revenue losses due to COVID-19, announced major staff cuts over the past two years. Estimates of the job losses have ranged from 12,000 by October 2020 to as high as 35,000 in the year to May 2021. These estimates drew on university announcements and a general ABS labour force survey. I explain the problems with these estimates in more detail here. […] … learn more→
Dislodging stuck writing
Do you have a bit of writing that is stuck? I don’t mean you can’t get any words down on the page. I mean you have some writing where you just can’t work out what to do next. You think. You put the writing away for a bit. You go for a walk. You do […] … learn more→
How does open assessment renew the scientific conversation?
The polarization of the discussions but also the scale of the public health issues in the debate on the scientific reliability of preprints have not always allowed the general public to grasp the importance of the peer review process – also called “evaluation” – for the functioning of the scientific community. The publishing model in today’s academic […] … learn more→
Do you have to suffer to earn your doctorate?
Doctoral students represent the future of research, innovation and teaching within universities and other institutions. But it would seem that this future is threatened: research has revealed the fragility of their mental health . The study that I conducted with my colleagues among doctoral students in the United Kingdom shows that the latter meet the clinical criteria for depression and anxiety more than the working […] … learn more→
Why community college students quit despite being almost finished
Community colleges are designed to make college more accessible, yet 6 out of every 10 community college students cannot reap the full rewards of higher education because they do not earn their degree. For graduates, rewards often include making more money. For society, the reward is citizens who are more likely to vote, volunteer and pay more in taxes. Among community college […] … learn more→
The PhD supply chain problem
It’s been a funny old start to the year hey? As I write this, in mid January, the Omicron variant is raging here in Australia. Supply chain problems are resulting as key workers either get sick, or have to isolate. Every visit to the supermarket is an adventure – you don’t know what you are […] … learn more→
