Student evaluations, in the form of anonymous online surveys, are ubiquitous in Australian universities. Most students in most courses are offered the opportunity to rate the “quality” of their teachers and the course they take. The original intention of student surveys was to help improve the learning experience. But it’s now become much more. Student surveys are often […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
‘Lose some weight’, ‘stupid old hag’: universities should no longer ask students for anonymous feedback on their teachers
Benefits of studying for your Masters online
When it comes to choosing the next steps in your life, it can be a difficult decision to make. No matter what stage of your life you are at, there is a good chance you have a big decision ahead of you. For some people, this could mean starting a family. While for others, trying […] … learn more→
Trouble finding a writing angle? try cubing
You have research results. You want to write something – a book, a chapter, a paper. You’re in a field where there is already an active conversation. You’ve done an analysis which seems to repeat what is already out there. Noooo! You know that this probably isn’t going to be good enough; the publisher/editor is […] … learn more→
The hidden ways College can make you feel uneasy
College is an incredibly exciting time, during this period you are not only making an investment in your educational growth, but your personal growth as well. With growth, however, comes growing pains. Sometimes all the excitement can overshadow some of the ways that the college experience can give you pause. Instead of ignoring, or dwelling […] … learn more→
College students with young kids – especially mothers – find themselves in a time crunch
We found that college students who have children had significantly less time for college than their childless peers – about 4.3 hours less per week, to be specific – and that this “time poverty” is greatest for mothers of preschool-age children. That’s according to a 2021 study of 11,195 U.S. college students. Our study found other trends as well. Student […] … learn more→
How to win at academic tearoom conversations – even when there are no tearooms
Did you have a break over Christmas / New Years? I hope so. It’s summer here in Australia, so we are rolling into the quiet month of January. For the second year in a row, we have a low fire danger summer, instead of a repeat of the horror of 2019. In fact, it pretty much […] … learn more→
Volunteer on a dig for the thrill of digging up the past (you’ll also learn to hate buckets)
A few more brushstrokes and the student gasped with excitement. There in the dirt was a small, bronze statue of a calf, revealed for the first time in 3,000 years. The discovery could have been yours! In this article, I dip into the many opportunities for you to take part in an archaeological dig both […] … learn more→
3 creative ways to lower your debt from Medical school
It’s always interesting when you ask kids what they want to be when they grow up. Some children seem to come into the world with a definite idea of who they are meant to be. Knowing your path in life from an early age is quite amazing, when you think of it. Other kids seem […] … learn more→
Taking out a student loan for your child can hurt your own financial well-being December 17, 2021 8.27am EST
When people take out student loans for themselves, certain risks are involved. The debt can negatively affect a person’s mental, emotional and even physical well-being. It can also harm a person’s financial well-being. But when taking out a student loan for one’s child, the risk is even higher that the loan could be associated with lower financial well-being. This is what economics […] … learn more→
COVID has changed students’ needs and expectations. How do universities respond?
One could be forgiven for thinking moving lectures online is the only change to the higher education experience to come from the COVID-19 pandemic. Barely a day goes by without a headline that another university will conduct “lectures” in online mode only. But there is so much more potential for change in the wake of […] … learn more→
