Category: Uncategorized
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Reposting from the British Psychological Society… When we are interested in cause and effect relationships (which is much of the time!) we have two options: We can simply observe the world to identify associations between X and Y, or we can randomise people to different levels of X and then measure Y. The former –…
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As technology advances, schools and universities are increasingly challenged to keep pace, but they are struggling. Technology affects learning, teaching, assessment, and… academic honesty. While digital tools, artificial intelligence, and online platforms may offer some benefits, they also raise questions about how schools (and colleges/universities) manage human behavior—especially when it comes to dishonesty. ChatGPT can…
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Thinking Thursday is our weekly slot for Theory of knowledge thinking. UN-truth? Was Orwell some kind of fortune teller? UN chief António Guterres (secretary-general of the United Nations) has said this week: “Digital platforms are being misused to subvert science and spread disinformation and hate to billions of people. This clear and present global threat…
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Research into how multilingual people manage multiple languages in their minds is fascinating and sometimes surprising. When a multilingual person speaks, all the languages they know can actually be active at once, even if only one language is being used. These languages can sometimes “intrude” unexpectedly, showing up not just in occasional vocabulary mix-ups, but…
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New Zealand has a school attendance problem. No, it’s not a problem, it’s a… Some have muttered ‘Covid-19 lockdowns’, but no, the crisis was apparent well before the grubby little virus appeared and way ahead of the lockdowns. Some think it has a lot more to do with New Zealand’s dumbed down curriculum, its decades-old…
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Italy has reinstated a “grades for conduct” policy, allowing schools to fail students based solely on their behavior. Middle and high school students who score five or less out of 10 on conduct will fail the year, regardless of their academic performance, while those scoring six will need to take a civic education test. This…
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From 2028, children in Sweden will begin school at age six, a year earlier than the current system, as part of a significant education reform. The Swedish government plans to replace the compulsory preschool year, known as förskoleklass, with an additional year in grundskola (primary school). This shift, initiated by the center-right government and supported…
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Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences, which claims that individuals possess distinct types of intelligence—such as linguistic, spatial, and interpersonal—has enjoyed widespread acceptance in education. However, the theory’s popularity has overshadowed its lack of empirical support. The Learning Styles myth, born out of Gardner’s theory, suggests that categorizing students as ‘visual’ or ‘kinesthetic’ learners enhances…
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The previous post stated that teachers are professionals. But what does that mean? Teachers should be considered professionals, because they bring significant expertise, ethical responsibility, and commitment to their role. At the heart of teaching is a profound level of knowledge and competence. Teachers are not merely conveyors of information; they are skilled educators who…
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The notion that teaching is merely a trade, best learned through an apprenticeship model, fundamentally misunderstands the essence of the profession. Teaching is not just about mastering classroom management or following a prescribed curriculum—it’s about fostering critical thinking, inspiring curiosity, and shaping future citizens. Reducing the preparation of teachers to an apprenticeship undercuts the complexity…
I think, therefore IB 