Professor Michael Shayer of King’s College London looked at how 800 secondary pupils performed in problem-solving tests. Today’s 14-year-old pupils are better at quick-fire answers, but much worse at complex questions than teenagers in the 1970s. The findings reflect that children now live in an environment of text messaging, Wiis and talkback which favours instant …
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Category:Education
Compulsory relationship education – a step in the right direction
The UK announced that it will make sex and relationship education compulsory for all pupils aged 5 to 16. While the details are not clear, and sex education for the youngest groups is not advisable (and is not proposed), this kind of practical education is critical if people are to develop emotional intelligence and life …
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Biomimicry wins Nobel prize
Biomimicry involves emulating nature in technology. A clever trick borrowed from jellyfish has earned two Americans and one Japanese scientist a share of the chemistry Nobel Prize. Read the report here.
IMD MBA top of EIU ranking
OK, so there’s a vested interest … but its nice to see my alma mater, IMD, top of the list 🙂 Also, it is good to see HKUST high up the rankings (11). Here’s the list.
Numeracy is built in to the brain.
A study appearing in the Proceedings of the US National Academy of Sciences demonstrates that numberacy is built in to the brain, in a similar way that we have the ability to recognise colour. This finding should encourage those afraid of numbers that there is no need to fear them and embracing them will simply …
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Humanity has been wiping out other species for millenia
Humanity has been wiping out other species for millennia, we’re just doing it faster now. New research using the latest technology shows that large animals of prehistoric times were made extinct by over hunting by humans. Back then it might have been excusable to wipe out a species because we did not have the experience …
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Don’t stop children from playing!
Another report has been published which shows the sad increase in over-protectiveness by parents of their children. Parents are increasingly denying children the opportunity to learn naturally, to enjoy life and to be children. The consequences for those children are not just a more boring life today, but also less enjoyable and successful life as …
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Charles Darwin on-line
Some of the notes of Charles Darwin were first put on-line in October 2006. Today they become more complete with the addition of the first draft of the book which changed the world’s attitude to evolution. The draft notes are among 20,000 archive items created by the 19th Century naturalist during his lifetime, which include …
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Cooperative learning
Cooperative learning is an idea that is gaining traction. The approach is more productive and efficient than competitive learning, which is the staple of most schools. Below is a useful introduction from the Georgia Educational Technology Training Center. Cooperative Learning Cooperative learning is a successful teaching strategy in which small teams, each with students of …
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Home education Q and A
Tracy Culleton has published a well written and useful Q&A on home education. Those interested in home education or expanding their engagment with their children may get some useful perspectives from it. Here below are reproduced a few paragraphs. Her site also has useful links to home education resources. Q: Why are you home-educating? A: …
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