“In a recent debate with Stephen Downes, I spent some time going through dozens of papers and meta-studies showing that the lecture is a largely disastrous pedagogic technique, devoid of formative assessment, diagnosis of student understanding, actual teaching or inspiration. I wasn’t surprised at the qualitative nature of Stephen’s response …” (more)
[Donald Clark Plan B, 15 May]
“John Hennessy, chairperson of the Higher Education Authority and former head of Ericsson Ireland, has taken another swipe at the working conditions and freedom of academics, as reported in last Thursday’s Irish Times. No doubt many academics and researchers will see in this another attempt to extend private sector rationalities to the university, forcing researchers and teachers into meaningless competition and undermining the autonomy upon which both research and learning rests. Yet, while it may not be popular in ‘left’ circles to argue this, things look quite different from the perspective of undergraduate and, to an extent, post-graduate students …” (more)
[University in Crisis, 15 May]
“Two things prompted this note … First, there is an interesting report in the current issue of Nature on the ‘online image’ or ‘online reputation’ of researchers and what their attitude is to it and to managing it. More of this later. Second, I have recently returned from Bangkok where I participated in the 9th Annual Library Leadership Institute organised by the University of Hong Kong Libraries …” (more)
[Lorcan Dempsey's Weblog, 15 May]
“The outgoing president of Waterford IT, Professor Kieran Byrne, oversaw an incredible €6.7m splurge by his office, according to documents released by the college. Prof Byrne’s position was said to be untenable by a government spokesman, following the publication of some of the detail of his expenses. However, today the full extent of his office’s excess is revealed by the Sunday Independent …” (more)
[Daniel McConnell, Independent, 15 May]
“Scotland’s Immigration Minister Damian Green admitted last week that there might be widespread abuses of a visa scheme that provides foreign students with the chance to enrol at UK institutions, after irregularities were found at a university …” (more)
[Kate Devlin, University World News, 15 May]
“A Spanish university has denied that disciplinary proceedings against one of its professors are a response to a book he wrote alleging corruption at the institution. José Penalva, professor of education at the University of Murcia, has been accused of absenteeism and could face dismissal …” (more)
[Paul Jump, University World News, 15 May]
“The holders of concealed handgun licences are set to be allowed to carry weapons into public college buildings and classrooms in Texas, after Republicans in the state senate approved the measure as part of a universities spending bill …” (more)
[University World News, 15 May]
“Our recently-published research report for the Institute of International Education and the AIFS Foundation aims to answer questions about students’ international mobility. It covers all physical movements across national boundaries for educational purposes, at all education stages, short-term as well as long-term. We find that international educational mobility is in good health with strong growth potential, but mobility patterns are changing and will continue to change …” (more)
[Caroline Macready and Clive Tucker, University World News, 15 May]
