Does AI work in education? It’s the question everyone is asking. It is also the wrong one.

There is no shortage of opinions about AI in education at the moment. New tools, new promises, new concerns. And increasingly, new studies. The past weekend in Tokyo I also had many talks about the subject (thank you Carl, Barb and the infamous many others). But if you take a step back, something odd appears.… Read More Does AI work in education? It’s the question everyone is asking. It is also the wrong one.

PedroLeave a comment

What the brain of a memory champion teaches us about learning

Imagine that you can memorise 300 digits in five minutes. Or memorise the order of a full deck of cards in less than a minute. For most of us, that sounds like some kind of supernatural superpower. Someone who can actually do all this is Nelson Dellis, a six-time American memory champion and record holder… Read More What the brain of a memory champion teaches us about learning

PedroLeave a comment

What does AI do to the work of teachers? Beyond the question of whether it works

There is a growing body of research on AI in education, but strikingly often it remains at the same level: does it work better with or without AI? That, in itself, is an interesting question, but it misses something fundamental. It says little about what actually changes in teachers’ work. A recent preprint by Kramer… Read More What does AI do to the work of teachers? Beyond the question of whether it works

PedroLeave a comment

Funny on Sunday: this animation on peer review seems pretty accurate…

Found this animation here! I wasn’t sure if I shouldn’t call it Sarcastic on Sunday this week. And yes I’ve been both reviewer 1 and 2. And I have been on the receiving side of Check here for more Funny on Sunday.

PedroLeave a comment

How something good can increase inequality: on reading enjoyment

A slightly longer run-up for this blog. I sometimes use a somewhat provocative example when discussing equal opportunities. Should we actually forbid parents from reading to their children in the evening? Not because reading aloud is a bad thing, quite the opposite. But because we know it helps. And therefore, not every child benefits from… Read More How something good can increase inequality: on reading enjoyment

PedroLeave a comment

Why your performance depends on the day (not just your ability)

Sometimes I have to read a lot of research before I find something worth blogging about. That was the case this time, to be honest. But then I came across this study, which is both very recognisable and has quite far-reaching implications. The press release summarises it like this: on days when people are mentally… Read More Why your performance depends on the day (not just your ability)

PedroLeave a comment

Private schools sometimes perform better. But that’s not the full story

There are studies you read and immediately think: this is going to be interpreted in ways the authors did not intend. This is one of them. A new paper in the British Educational Research Journal analyses more than two decades of PISA data (2000–2022) across eleven European countries and asks a seemingly simple question: do… Read More Private schools sometimes perform better. But that’s not the full story

PedroLeave a comment

Multimedia works. But not always the way we think.

In my book, I discuss some of Mayer’s multimedia principles. They are increasingly becoming a default in how we think about instruction that combines words and visuals. Avoid unnecessary details, align text and images, combine modalities wisely… it all sounds familiar, and for good reason. But how solid is that whole framework when you stop… Read More Multimedia works. But not always the way we think.

PedroLeave a comment

Khan, TED, AI colleges and the McDonaldization of higher education

I don’t want to write a rant every time a technology mogul has a bright idea, but it’s tempting. The latest example is a $10,000 “AI college”, backed by names like Khan Academy, TED and ETS. It promises the same things that we’ve seen being touted again and again: personalised learning, a focus on competencies,… Read More Khan, TED, AI colleges and the McDonaldization of higher education

PedroLeave a comment

Bullying during the making of a PhD: not an exception, but a pattern

More and more students aim to pursue a PhD. I did mine at a later age, in my own time. But imagine starting a doctorate. You work for years on a single project, often with a great deal of autonomy, yet at the same time within a relationship in which one person has enormous influence… Read More Bullying during the making of a PhD: not an exception, but a pattern

PedroLeave a comment