This year has been one of upheaval, innovation, and the same old gripes in education. If you’ve been reading my blogs, you already know I’m a bit of a cynic and I sound like a broken record, but let’s face it—education is one of those fields that’s always “on the brink of change,” yet somehowContinue reading “Edtopia 2024: Hype, Hope, and the Same Old Headaches”
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Inclusive Education Isn’t Broken, It’s Underfunded: A Call for Real Change
Inclusive education—everyone nods along when we say it’s important. It’s about making sure every child, no matter their background or abilities, gets the education they deserve. But let’s face it: the system is a mess, and the heavy lifting is being done by teachers who are struggling to keep up. What we need is aContinue reading “Inclusive Education Isn’t Broken, It’s Underfunded: A Call for Real Change”
The Cost of the HSC and the Relevance of the ATAR in Today’s Education Landscape
Note: This is an updated version of a post I wrote around this time of year. As students move toward their end-of-year exams, I wish them all the best and hope that one day soon, we’ll see a shift from these high-stakes exams to something with more educational value. As we move toward the endContinue reading “The Cost of the HSC and the Relevance of the ATAR in Today’s Education Landscape”
Ignore the Naysayers: Why Australia’s Education System is Stronger Than You Think
If you only read the headlines, you’d think Australia’s education system is on the brink of collapse. Recent headlines include: “Six ways Australia’s education system is failing our kids,” “One-third of Australian children can’t read properly as teaching methods cause ‘preventable tragedy’, Grattan Institute says,” and “Why Australia’s students keep falling behind.” The news isContinue reading “Ignore the Naysayers: Why Australia’s Education System is Stronger Than You Think”
Paper over Pixels: The Unrecognised Benefits of Traditional Learning
Everywhere I look, and every article I read seems to promise that AI will save or destroy the world. Let’s hope that, for our sake, it is the former. In educational circles, the promise of AI is compelling. Tools like adaptive learning platforms, AI tutors, and automated grading systems are projected to make learning moreContinue reading “Paper over Pixels: The Unrecognised Benefits of Traditional Learning”
The Standards Dilemma: Aligning Goals and Incentives in Australian Education
As an expat American, I’ve always been intrigued—and frankly, baffled—by the Australian schooling system. It’s a system riddled with contradictions that simply don’t add up. Take New South Wales (NSW), where I currently reside and have taught. NSW operates on a syllabus-based system of education. This syllabus tells teachers what to teach, and it’s supposedlyContinue reading “The Standards Dilemma: Aligning Goals and Incentives in Australian Education”
The Paradox of Standardisation in Australian Education: A Step Back from Progress
In an era when Australia ambitiously strides towards professionalising and valuing its teaching workforce, paradoxically, it tethers these professionals to a framework of stringent standardisation. This juxtaposition not only stunts educational progress but also undermines the very essence of the professionalisation that was painstakingly championed. As an advocate for unorthodox thinking in the realms ofContinue reading “The Paradox of Standardisation in Australian Education: A Step Back from Progress”
A Cynic’s Change of Heart: The Teacher Who Taught Hope
A brief interlude into the teacher/academic humdrum that usually occupies this space on the blog. I was inspired last week – something that doesn’t happen too often, and I wanted to share the story. As someone who’s navigated the labyrinth of educational theory and the oftentimes disillusioning world of teaching practices, I’ve grown a bit,Continue reading “A Cynic’s Change of Heart: The Teacher Who Taught Hope”
Teaching Strategies Part 5: The Challenge of Translating Educational Research into Effective Teaching Practice
The endeavour to bridge the gap between educational research and teaching practice represents a significant challenge within the academic and pedagogical communities. While there is much discourse about the necessity of research into practice, the truth is that teachers barely have enough time to do their job, never mind reading reams of indecipherable journal articlesContinue reading “Teaching Strategies Part 5: The Challenge of Translating Educational Research into Effective Teaching Practice”
Publish or Perish 3: Beyond Rejection: Resilience in the Academic Odyssey
There lies a hidden narrative in the solemn yet occasionally absurd world of academia, where the pursuit of knowledge is supposed to be our noble quest. It’s the narrative of countless scholars navigating the tumultuous waters of academic publishing, a journey marked not by triumphant arrivals but by detours, setbacks, and outright rejections. The artContinue reading “Publish or Perish 3: Beyond Rejection: Resilience in the Academic Odyssey”
Maximising Student Potential 