AR mumps outbreak, Brigham Young changes assault policy, open data, Penn State, and more: Required Readings, 11.05.16
Four of Arkansas’ largest school districts have reported students having the mumps, part of a larger outbreak being investigated by the state Department of Health with more than 500 suspected cases, with 71% of them children. As a follow-up to a story we’ve discussed before, Brigham Young University announced last week that students …
Sex Ed: Teaching consent
Trigger warnings: Sexual abuse of children As unexpectedly as a virgin giving birth I found myself in charge of teaching sex ed to 6th graders. It’s been an interesting (and sometimes depressing) experience. We don’t have any of that “Abstinence Only” crap over here and while the parents were …
Teaching MLK, information about information, historic images, IT in higher ed, copyright restrictions in Europe: Required Readings, 01.18.16
I’m a day late with this one: Teaching MLK’s Life The past week saw a variety of stories relevant to anyone interested in learning, critical thinking, scientific literacy, and information: A resource for instructors in need of ideas for research assignments: Project CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments) A look at …
Sinister lefties, distracting Mohawks, college expense, ended strikes, cancelled clinics, and more: Required Readings, 09.20.15
Welcome to a slightly tardy edition of Required Readings. The dog didn’t eat my homework, but the computer did. An Oklahoma pre-K teacher, after allegedly making a 4-year-old leftie switch to using his right hand, sent an article home to his parents that called left-handedness “unlucky,” “evil,” and “sinister.” I thought …
Better sex ed, #saidnoschoolever, exceptional U.S. history, Salaita updates, and more: Required Readings, 08.09.15
Let’s begin this week’s Required Readings with an entry that doesn’t actually require reading and that you probably shouldn’t view at work. On a recent episode of Last Week Tonight, comedian John Oliver skewered the sad state of sex education in the United States—noting “There is no way we’d allow …
Towards Better Sexual Assault Prevention Tips?
It is no secret that colleges and universities are paying more attention to sexual assault on their campuses. This school year, The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act went into effect with a look towards better prevention and accountability for instances of campus sexual assault. The media and opinionated onlookers have …
Homework benefits, student loan protest, teacher turnover, Rolling Stone smackdown, and more: Required Readings, 04.05.15
Good morning Required Readers! Spanish researchers found that more is not necessarily better regarding math and science homework, as measured by standardized test scores. The point at which time spent on homework began to negatively correlate to scores, generally speaking: about 70 minutes. To protest what they see as fraudulent practices, …
College sport myths, science un-fairs, student power, no more biblical thoughts for the day, SXSWedu, and more: Required Readings, 03.15.15
In honor of yesterday’s release of the NCAA men’s basketball brackets, we’d like to begin today’s RR with 5 myths about college sports. This idea probably won’t come as a surprise to many of our readers, but many believe that Science Fairs Aren’t So Fair. Why Do American Students Have So …
Free community college, NCLB changes, Israeli science books sans ladyparts, Young Skeptics, and more: Required Readings, 1.11.15
Welcome to the “my computer was acting up, so my assignment is late, Professor” edition of Required Readings! The biggest news in education, in the United States at least, was President Obama’s announcement of a new initiative to make 2 years of tuition-free community college education available to millions of …
Peer-reviewed expletives, error-filled ed data, frat bans, college costs, and the Newtown shooter: Required Readings, 11.23.14
Wondering about whether that journal asking you to submit a manuscript is a legit open access resource? Well, if it accepts an article titled “Get me off your f^[#ing mailing list” consisting of nothing but that phrase written over and over, you might want to send your research elsewhere. Data-driven education …