Australia Twitter: Education

Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts

Friday, March 5, 2021

Why educators are rethinking the importance of handwriting

How good is your handwriting? And did you ever learn cursive writing?

Times have certainly changed in our classrooms, the part-replacement of pens and pencils with keyboards has seen our educators have a rethink on the importance of handwriting.

Australian schools now even have the option to type the writing response in the Naplan test.

A ‘gobsmacking number’ of students in need aren’t applying to college. Are we missing 'an entire generation'?

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A few weeks ago, ahead of a nor’easter that unleashed biting winds and snow across New England, Alyssa Washington, a high school senior who wants to be a nurse, made her big college decision: Not to go next fall.

There was no single reason. Rather, mounting obstacles led Washington, a senior at Metropolitan Business Academy, a public school in New Haven, to hit pause.

Six weeks into the Biden administration and there still has been no solo press conference from the president. That is the longest stretch of silence from any new president in at least a century. By refusing to speak directly to the media, Joe Biden is attacking our most cherished democratic norms. Even CNN is complaining about it.

We would echo those complaints if we really cared, but we’re happy to listen to Joe Biden’s flacks and mouthpieces explain why he bombed Syria, why he blocked the passage of a $15 minimum wage, and why Dr. Seuss is racist.

Will new school reopening plan work?

Good morning, California. It’s Tuesday, March 2. Third time’s the charm?

The school reopening deal Gov. Gavin Newsom and top lawmakers unveiled Monday stops short of requiring campuses to reopen — raising questions about whether it will actually accelerate students’ return to the classroom.

Will CA's New School Reopening Plan Work? https://t.co/eCOPMfccSd
— Orange County Patch (@OCountyPatch) March 2, 2021

The $6.6 billion proposal would incentivize schools to bring their youngest and most vulnerable students back by April 1 while financially penalizing campuses

California teachers' union president is blasted as a 'hypocrite' as he's filmed dropping off his 2-year-old daughter at her private preschool for in-person lessons - despite leading the charge that it's UNSAFE to open public schools

The president of a California teacher's union has been branded a hypocrite after he was caught dropping off his two-year-old daughter at her private preschool - despite saying it was unsafe for kids to be in classrooms.

California teachers' union president is blasted as a 'hypocrite' for dropping daughter off at private school, while keeping public schools closed. #WhiteGuyWithDreads https://t.co/Tqsx0ZYGeL
— Bart Marcois (@bmarcois) March 3, 2021

Matt Meyer, president of the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, has fought for what he called the 'gold standard' for educators in his district - insisting public schools should reopen for in-person learning only when the teachers are vaccinated, among other criteria, according to KQED.

CA teachers union president who led school closure charge seen dropping daughter off at in-person preschool

A group known as Guerilla Momz is calling Berkeley Federation of Teachers president Matt Meyer a hypocrite after spotting him dropping his two year old daughter off for in-person instruction at a private pre-school.

"Meet Matt Meyer. White man with dreads and president of the local teachers' union," the group wrote in a tweet on Saturday along with video footage of Meyer. "He's been saying it is unsafe for *your kid* to be back at school, all the while dropping his kid off at private

Meet Matt Meyer. White man with dreads and president of the local teachers' union. He's been saying it is unsafe for *your kid* to be back at school, all the while dropping his kid off at private school:https://t.co/BAIR5xH8LY #OpenSchoolsNow
— guerillaMomz (@GuerillaMomz) February 28, 2021

told Fox News in a statement that the video, which blurred out his child's face, was "very inappropriate" and an intrusion of his child's privacy. He added that there were "no public options for kids her age."

Mental health: The rise in student suicides is just the tip of the pandemic iceberg

In late January, reports emerged of a surge in student suicides in Las Vegas, noting that Clark County reported 18 suicides over nine months of school closure — double the number of the entire previous year.

Many of my female friends share my concerns about the impact of COVID on their school-aged children for reasons ranging from:

Lack of physical contact with friends at school and elsewhere.

Growing inability for parents to balance work responsibilities with adequate oversight of younger children.

When Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump for the presidency in 2020, many of our nation’s pandemic-weary educators had reason for optimism. The change in leadership meant an exit for the spectacularly unpopular Betsy DeVos, a secretary of Education whose lack of ed credentials and support for privatization had galled public school teachers for four years. It meant we’d have a real teacher as first lady in Dr. Jill Biden, someone with first-hand knowledge of the plight of educators who could hopefully encourage President Biden to live up to his lofty campaign promises about education.

Fiji deports Australian university professor during 'incredibly damaging' day for Pacific unity

The Fiji Government has deported a leading Australian university professor, in a move being described as "dictatorial" and as placing Pacific regionalism in doubt. Fiji Government officials descended on Pal Ahluwalia's house last night after declaring

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Friday, January 29, 2021

Chicago teachers union to defy order to return to classroom due to Coronavirus concerns

CHICAGO (Reuters): Chicago teachers are poised to defy an order to return to classrooms on Wednesday, claiming the school system has failed to put in place Coronavirus protocols necessary for a safe reopening of in-person learning after a year-long hiatus.

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Friday, January 15, 2021

What our kids should know after the Capitol Hill riot

Three days after the attack on the U.S. Capitol, my family - including three elementary and middle school students - discussed what happened, what everyone thought about it, and the conversations that had taken place in their online classrooms about the Capitol Hill riot.

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International student accommodation almost empty as sector battles with COVID-19 quarantine and border restrictions

On Melbourne's Swanston Street, the final touches are being put on a $100 million tower for as many as 750 university students. With a pool hall, cinema and a rooftop with incredible city views, the building's creators had visions

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Free school meals: What £15 and £30 really gets you as outcry sparks U-turn

This is how much £15 and £30 can really get you at the shops - if free school meals cash was handed directly to struggling parents. A scandal erupted this week as a disabled mum-of-two's shocking picture of her measly free school meals parcel ignited controversy.

LA Schools Chief: Kids Must Get Coronavirus Vaccine to Return

ONCE A coronavirus vaccine is widely available for children, immunization will be required for students in Los Angeles to attend classes, the district's superintendent said. "The short answer is yes," Austin Beutner, head of the country's second

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Study: In School Talks, Pay Attention to Pediatric Hospitalizations for COVID-19

MORE THAN 5,300 children or teenagers in 22 states were hospitalized for COVID-19 between May and November with dramatically varying rates of growth between states, a new study shows. Researchers say such data could prove important amid ongoing discussions about whether kids should be in school.

ANTI-MASKER Little Kid Schools Him ... 'DON'T BE A JERK!!!'

Even kids have an eye now for anti-mask madness 10 months into the pandemic ... so, ya gotta see this mini Dr. Fauci lay down the law as police kick an anti-masker outta Walmart. Our little hero here hails from North Carolina,

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Friday, June 1, 2012

Snigdha Nandipati spells 'guetapens' to win 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee

OXON HILL, Md. — Snigdha Nandipati heard a few words she didn't know during the National Spelling Bee, but never when she stepped to the microphone.

Calm and collected throughout, the 14-year-old from San Diego spelled "guetapens," a French-derived word that means ambush, snare or trap, to win the 85th Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday night. She beat out eight other finalists in the nerve-wracking, brain-busting competition.

After she spelled the word, she looked from side to side, as if unsure her accomplishment was real, and, oddly, she was not immediately announced as the winner. Applause built slowly, and a few pieces of confetti trickled out before showering her. Then her 10-year-old brother ran on stage and embraced her, and she beamed.

"I knew it. I'd seen it before," Nandipati said of the winning word. "I just wanted to ask everything I could before I started spelling."

A coin collector and Sherlock Holmes fan, Nandipati aspires to become a physician or neurosurgeon. She also plays violin and is fluent in Telugu, a language spoken in southeastern India.

A semifinalist last year, Nandipati became the fifth consecutive Indian-American winner and 10th in the last 14 years, a run that began in 1999 when Nupur Lala won and was later featured in the documentary "Spellbound."

Wearing a white polo shirt with a gold necklace peeking out of the collar, the bespectacled, braces-wearing teen never showed much emotion while spelling, working her way meticulously through each word. Only a few of the words given to other spellers were unfamiliar to her,

The bee came down to two female spellers, Nandipati and Stuti Mishra, who misspelled "schwarmerei" in Round 12, leaving the door open for Nandipati if she spelled her next word correctly.

Nandipati is an aspiring psychiatrist or neurosurgeon and is the 5th consecutive Indian-American winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Her prizes include $30,000 in cash, a trophy, a $2,500 savings bond, a $5,000 scholarship, $2,600 in reference works from the Encyclopedia Britannica and an online language course.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Questions over PNG literacy

Literacy in Papua New Guinea has fallen below 50 per cent of the population, the PNG National Research Institute says.

The figures, obtained from national census data, show a 6 per cent drop since 2000.

The Institute is calling on the government to do more to curb the literacy rate.

Director Thomas Webster told Pacific Beat the statistics were based on surveys and did not test "functionary literacy".

The institute says the government should do more to ensure basic education is available.

Institute director Dr Thomas Webster said analysis of census figures found the literacy rate was 56 per cent but a recent study has found the actual rates are much lower.

"The reason being that the census questionnaire was based on asking people: can you read and write in English or Tok Pisin or Motu?

"And if people said yes they were ticked off and if they said no they were considered illiterate and so it was based on that question.

"There wasn't any real test to determine whether they had any functional literacy rate or not.

Central Queensland University

CQUniversity is an Australian public university based in Queensland. Its main campus is in North Rockhampton Queensland. However, it also has campuses in Bundaberg, Emerald, Gladstone and Mackay, as well as operations throughout Asia-Pacific. For instance, Melior Business School is one of its offshore delivery-sites outside of Australia. There are international campuses located in Melbourne, Sydney, the Gold Coast, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

History

CQUniversity started out as the Queensland Institute of Technology (Capricornia) in 1967, and after two years under the name of the University College of Central Queensland, in 1992 became an official university named the University of Central Queensland. In 1994 it adopted the name Central Queensland University. In 2008 it became CQUniversity in an effort to help the University remain an attractive career option.

Organisation

Governance

CQUniversity is governed by the CQUniversity Council, comprising the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor and various elected and appointed representatives. Operationally, CQU is managed by the Vice-Chancellor. Faculties are managed by Executive Deans.

CQUniversity students are represented by the CQU Student Association (CQUSA) which is governed by a board of elected students from across the CQU campus network. The CQUSA provides academic advocacy and support and a range of campus support services for students based at the CQU regional and international campuses. Postgraduate representation is provided by the CQUniversity Student Association's, CQUniversity Postgraduate Research Students Committee.

Faculties

CQUniversity has two faculties - Arts, Business, Informatics & Education and Sciences, Engineering and Health. Prior to a restructure (into three faculties) during late 2005, the university had five faculties. In late 2008, the Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Education and the Faculty of Business & Informatics were merged into the Faculty of Arts, Business, Informatics & Education.

Major areas of study

CQUniversity runs programs in a wide range of disciplines. The programs are generally grouped into the following sections: Built Environment and Design; Business and Tourism; Creative and Performing Arts; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Recreation; Humanities and Social Sciences; Information Technology; Primary Industries and Environment; Sciences; Double degrees; and Dual degrees. Information on the programs and courses available at CQUniversity is available in the CQU Student Handbook.

Campuses

CQUniversity has a variety of campuses and learning centres in different areas. At present there are five campuses that are within Central Queensland, delivery sites on the Sunshine Coast, capital city campuses in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, a campus on the Gold Coast and five overseas locations.

In addition to Rockhampton the Central Queensland campuses service students in Bundaberg, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay and surrounding communities. With these various locations, these regional campuses can cater for students who want to stay close to home. CQU also offers programs at delivery sites on the Sunshine Coast.

There are also campuses which cater to international students in such areas as Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne and Sydney. CQUniversity also delivers programs in Hong Kong, New Zealand, Shanghai and Singapore. There was a campus located in Fiji which has shut down as of February 2007. A further international campus was also built on a custom campus in New Zealand, but this campus was shut down at the end of 2008.

The Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne and Sydney campuses are run by a privately held entity called C.Management Services (CMS). Originally, this commercial entity was owned 50% by CQU and 50% by a private company Campus Group Holdings, which runs many educational institutions in its portfolio. As of early 2008, CQU is now a 100% stakeholder in CMS, with CMS still being kept and run as a private commercial enterprise, only fully owned by the university. The CMS operation is now being run as a 'government owned private corporation' due to being owned by CQU via a takeover funded by a Queensland Treasury loan.

Research Centres

CQU has numerous research centres, research institutes and programs including:

Centre for Environmental Management

Centre for Plant and Water Science

Centre for Railway Engineering

Centre for Social Science Research

Primary Industries Research Centre

Institute for Sustainable Regional Development

International Program of Psycho-Social Health Research

Criticism

In 2006, CQU came under criticism by international students at the Melbourne campus describing themselves as "Cash cow" students after a majority of them failed a tax and accounting postgraduate subject. They complained of inadequate facilities, and an inability to dispute their grading. The claims were disputed by the university who suggested that the subject was "tough". Former Victorian premier John Cain is quoted as saying that the Melbourne CQU campus lacks the appropriate facilities expected in a tertiary institution, as it is run by a private company.

University ratings

CQU received seven five star ratings from the Good Universities Guide (GUG) in 2003, giving it the most top ratings of any regional university in Australia. This made it more highly rated than some older, traditional universities. In 2007, GUG awarded CQU five separate 5-star ratings, including for "Positive Graduate Outcomes" for the fourth year in a row.

In the Melbourne Institute's 2006 rankings of Australian universities, CQU was ranked thirty-second of 38 Universities ranked in Arts and Humanities, thirty-fifth of 39 Universities ranked in Business, thirtieth of 35 Universities ranked in Education, twenty-fourth of 28 Universities ranked in Engineering, 28th of 38 Universities in Science.

In 2006, CQU was announced as being the number one destination and largest provider in the country for international students studying within Australia (Term 1 2006) by IDP Education Australia. CQU graduates receive among the highest starting salaries in the country. CQU received the highest possible rating for educational experience and entry flexibility. CQU "was one of only three Queensland universities", (the others being Bond University and the University of Queensland) "to receive the highest rating for positive graduate outcomes" according to the Good University Guide.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Festival crowd flocks to Hicks' book signing

David Hicks received a standing ovation at his first public appearance, at the Sydney Writers Festival today.

Hicks is the Australian who was branded a terrorist by the US Government and spent five and a half years in Guantanamo Bay, after he was captured in Afghanistan in 2001, and sold to the Americans.

Hicks was being interviewed by journalist Donna Mulhearn following the publication of his book Guantanamo : My Journey about his experiences as a freedom fighter and then enemy of the United States.

The audience of 900 were people of all ages, most of whom clapped during his talk and gave him a standing ovation at the end.

At times, the quietly-spoken Hicks found it difficult to recount some of his experiences of torture inside Guantanamo.

During the interview, Hicks repeated his assertion that not only was he not fighting for al-Qaeda but had not even heard of the terrorist group until his American interrogators mentioned the name.

Hicks, who grew up in Adelaide and was a high school drop-out, said he had converted to Islam to gain a sense of belonging. He travelled to Kosovo and Kashmir to help suffering civilians after he had worked in Japan as a horse trainer.

Mr Hicks was convicted by a US military commission on charges of providing material support for terrorism but has faced no charges in Australia.

The US Military Commissions Act of 2006, ''which is the one I was forced to plead guilty under'', had since been scrapped by US President Barack Obama, Mr Hicks told the festival.

''Because of that my US lawyers say that my conviction is now null and void,'' he said.

Mr Hick said he never hurt anyone, and never planned to hurt anyone during his time in Kosovo and Pakistan and Kashmir.

''I went overseas with the intention to help people. Some people may think it's a bit weird, a bit strange, impulsive, naive - OK. But my intentions were good. And unfortunately I ended up being detained and tortured and accused of being a terrorist.'' A long queue formed as Mr Hicks signed copies of his book, under the gaze of the ABC's Australian Story cameras, but he refused to answer media questions.

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