Education & Training
Oral rehearsal: Teaching English as a foreign language in Japan
Teaching second languages is big business, and the biggest second language of all is English. Language teaching methods have come a long way in the last century, and in Japan Associate Professor Mutsuko Nagasaki (English Education Centre, Ehime University) has been looking into how ‘oral rehearsal’ at home might supplement classroom learning and improve second language communication and ability in […]
Going global: How a Japanese University is revolutionising English-language learning
As the process of globalisation continues to interconnect the Earth’s people, the ability to communicate effectively has become integral to the development of partnerships and relationships all over the world. Toward such means and ends, the teaching of English – as the defacto lingua franca – has become paramount. In Japan, Hiroshima University (HU) is at the forefront of global education […]
Culturally-relevant chemistry for American Indian students
American Indian students in the USA are under-represented in all science and engineering fields by up to a half. To find ways to bring cultural relevance to American Indian students, Professor Mark Griep and his colleagues Beverly R. DeVore-Wedding, Janyce Woodard and Hank Miller are indigenizing chemistry courses at two tribal colleges in Nebraska. By focusing on laboratory experiences, their […]
Gender and visuospatial processing in multimedia STEM learning
Multimedia learning research comparing effectiveness of static and dynamic visualisations in STEM disciplines has revealed mixed results, because it has ignored gender distribution among its participants. Although research is suggestive for gender differences in visuospatial processing, the failure to report gender compositions in many studies makes it impossible to draw conclusions on the moderating effects of these differences on learning. […]
Inquiry learning: Empowering African American women in STEM
By employing modern theories of learning such as metacognitive skillfulness, agency, and inquiry-based learning, Dr Leyte Winfield, former Chair of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and current Chair of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, is creating an environment where African American women can gain critical thinking skills to thrive in Science, Technology, […]
STEM Summer Program: Inspiring the next generation of scientists
More students in the United States are studying STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) majors at university. However, there is a notable discrepancy in underrepresented students choosing STEM, including racial minorities and those first in their family to attend college. Research internships, such as the CHORI Summer Student Research Program, provide the much-needed boost in scientific research knowledge and confidence […]
Improving Maths performance in South Africa’s primary schools
Professor Hamsa Venkat holds the SARCHi Research and Development Chair in Primary Maths Education at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. She leads the Wits Maths Connect project. The project team works with ten partner primary schools serving disadvantaged student populations, and develops and researches interventions to help teachers improve their students’ maths performance. Intervention models and materials with evidence of […]
Careers in Science: Summer Training in Environmental and Pharmacological Sciences (STEPS)
The future of scientific research depends on a talented, diverse and inclusive workforce with high scientific proficiency. Undergraduate research experiences have been shown to play a key role in encouraging students, especially those from historically underrepresented groups, to pursue careers in science and healthcare professions. In response to these needs, Professor Hollie Swanson, from the University of Kentucky has developed […]
The REEMS Programme: discovering untapped talent
To many, materials science represents a fairly inaccessible, complicated topic of science requiring a highly academic approach. Mr Bartlett Sheinberg’s Research Experiences and Exploration in Materials Science (REEMS) Programme aims to overcome this – contextualising materials science for community college students. The programme’s approach also aims to instil confidence in these students and provide them with skills to help them progress […]
The Synapse Neurobiology Training Program, training the next generation of neuroscientists
Research into the functions of synapses is crucial to understanding the mechanisms of highly prevalent brain disorders such as epilepsy, autism and Alzheimer’s disease. Professor Michele Jacob is the director of the Synapse Neurobiology Training Program (SNTP), located at Tufts Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences in Boston. SNTP provides predoctoral students with individualised, in-depth, multidisciplinary research training to investigate […]