China is now the largest higher education system in the world: it awards more university degrees than the US and India combined. But its not just volume, its quality and growth too. China has identified education as a priority and invested in its education system so that in a few years it has transformed itself …
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Category:Education
School governors denigrate tests and league tables
The UK’s National Governors’ Association is calling for an end to the current system of league tables and national tests, saying the tables held information that was too narrow and misrepresented what happened in schools. Instead it wants schools to be given a grade based on comparisons with others in similar circumstances, and tests that …
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Transport more important to us than children?
There are now three times more cars than children in the UK says a report commissioned by Play England who say that the disappearance of places where children can play demands a “robust and urgent response”. While the statistic in itself may be a bit misleading, since it does not reflect car ownership per family, …
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Global Text Project coming
A new website that make available open content electronic textbooks facilitating learning. Still in its early stages it also accepts contributions: Global Text Project
Testing students retards achievement, again
Further evidence that an education system that requires students to pass tests at certain ages is detrimental to learning was produced by a Manchester University study. Emphasising mathematics and English at primary school in order to pass tests, detracts from other subjects resulting in less learning and more narrow learning. And readers of this blog …
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UK government to legislate compulsory education till 18, but where’s the money?
The UK Queen’s Speech outlining parliamentary intentions for 2008, indicated that the UK government wishes to legislate compulsory schooling or technical training for all till the age of 18. Even parents will be required to encourage their children to comply. While it is commendable to be supporting education, the approach is questionable. In contrast to …
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Business schools waste resources.
From Higher Aims to Hired Hands analyses the development of business schools over the past year and shows clearly that rather than develop minds and skills they (as BusinessWeek summarises) only serve two functions: a signal to employers that grads are committed and productive, and to provide a network of contacts. What they have lost …
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You Tube for scientists
If you want to complement your video browsing with something a bit more scientific, check out SciVee. It has two main types of video: those accompanied by documentation for peer review and those without peer reviewed papers. For example, there’s a video of 6 science bloggers discussing their blogs or a lighthearted look at transgenic …
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Executive certificate in sustainability – more please
In an effort to meet the growing demand for leaders in sustainable business, the Presidio School of Management has expanded its offerings to include an executive education certificate program targeted at senior executives. The school’s Sustainable Management Executive Certificate program will launch in January 2008 in partnership with the San Francisco-based Hanson Bridgett law firm. …
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How to build a better education system – lessons from around the world
A new report by McKinsey examines the common characteristics of school systems producing students who perform well on international tests. How the World’s Best Performing School Systems Come Out on Top (9.46 MB pdf). Their conclusions are not rocket science but do help clarify myths and reality. Getting good teachers depends more on how you …
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