This fall, students headed to university campuses aren’t only dealing with the usual transitions. Students are facing unique transitions to post-secondary life because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both new and returning university students are preparing to study in-person for the first time since the pandemic began. Some may be looking for clinics to get vaccinated. At […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Universities need to prepare for student binge drinking after COVID-19 shutdowns
Up to 80% of uni students don’t read their assigned readings. Here are 6 helpful tips for teachers
University course readings are pivotal to advance student knowledge and prepare them for class discussions. Despite this, only 20-30% of students read the assigned materials. Drawing on research findings that help explain this alarmingly low rate, this article offers some strategies to help students engage with their required readings. Over the past two decades educators have raised […] … learn more→
Should you publish during your PhD?
So you are not doing PhD by publication. You’re not in a country and/or discipline which expects you to publish during your PhD – yes really, some do. And you hear conflicting advice about whether publishing during your PhD is a good idea or not. Some people say that writing a paper for publication (or a book chapter), while […] … learn more→
Feedback from supervisors can be a good or bad experience. Here’s how to get it right
Giving good feedback is an art. It can be challenging for supervisors and managers, whether in an educational setting or any other workplace. Our newly published review of the past decade’s research on this issue confirms the key elements of improving feedback are to make it meaningful, constructive, timely and regular. Feedback is centred on giving information about actual […] … learn more→
5 issues that could affect the future of campus police
Since the May 2020 murder of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, much of the attention on police reform has been directed at municipal police departments. But there has also been a noticeable uptick in protests against the practices of campus police. Protests have occurred at, among other schools, Yale University, the University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins […] … learn more→
Students who are more adaptable do best in remote learning – and it’s a skill we can teach
The speed and scale of the shift to remote online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has really tested students’ adaptability. Our study of more than 1,500 students at nine Australian high schools during 2020 found strong links between their level of adaptability and how they fared with online learning. Students with higher adaptability were more confident about online learning […] … learn more→
Does a thesis conclusion have “recommendations”?
I’ve seen many a thesis which concludes with a set of recommendations that arise from the research. This practice troubles me. I’ve got two basic concerns about putting recommendations in a thesis conclusion. My position may be a bit contentious – I don’t know whether or how much, as I can’t recollect reading much discussion […] … learn more→
A ‘return to normal’ on campus? 5 ways university students and faculty hope for better
Recent announcements by the B.C. and Ontario governments emphasize that institutions of higher education should plan a familiar return to campuses over the next month. Their recommendations call for a return to normal with an eye on backup plans and transitions. But the research my colleagues and I have done suggests that faculty and students hope for better […] … learn more→
Plagues and classical history – what the humanities will tell us about COVID in years to come
After almost two years – and an extraordinary global hiatus whose impact remains as yet unclear – it is inevitable that many will write about COVID-19 for decades to come. Indeed, one of the first books – Spike, by Jeremy Farrar, one of the UK’s leading scientists and a member of the Sage emergency committee – has just […] … learn more→
GCSE and A-level results have seen record grade inflation – here’s why that doesn’t matter
Exam results are upon us. After the 2020 debacle which saw exams cancelled due to COVID and the first set of algorithm-generated results quickly overturned following complaints of unfairness, what teachers and young people really needed in 2021 was confidence in the grading system. The process for awarding marks was duly announced in March. And this time, as Education […] … learn more→
