Science is Vital
Today it was announced that two scientists at Manchester University were awarded the Nobel prize for Physics (see Materials breakthrough wins Nobel). Meanwhile, the Coalition Government are threatening cuts to the very lifeblood of this country, by cutting funding to science research. Such short-sightedness fair takes your breath away. As it says at Science is Vital:
“Investing in research enriches society and helps drive the economy. It led to our preeminent position in the 20th century, and will be vital in meeting the challenges of the 21st century whether they be in energy, medicine, infrastructure, computing, or simply humanity’s primal desire for discovery.”
If you want a simple analogy, if a farmer sells his fields, where does he grow is crops and what does he eat next year?
Of all the threatened cuts, reducing funding to science makes no sense whatsoever.
If you feel the same as me, please go to the Science is Vital website and sign the petition, write to your MP.
Cheers
Noel
The iPad – a real device for learning?
The iPad. At last: a bit of learning technology kit that won’t get in the way of learning. Finally, a device that will actually enhance learning, and in my particular interest, online learning at home.
England Running Out Of Student Places
Phil Willis, chairman of the Commons select committee covering higher education, says a cap on student places in England will result in thousands of teenagers going on the dole instead of continuing their education. Increased funding of student places is inadequate to keep track of the big increase in applications this year.
This seems to contradict the governments own policy of having 40% of all adults in England with a University education by 2020.
Don’t Underestimate The Love Of Learning
Former Education Secretary David Blunkett has come out in defence of the adult need for learning. Writing in the Guardian on Tuesday, Blunkett cites the positive influence of adult learning on performance in the workplace and in the performance of children of adult learners in school as powerful arguments for the support of adults in education. The benefits do not just come from vocational training as all education, even recreational learning, motivate and develop people throughout their lives.
Call for Cool Science Teachers
Government ministers have called for science teachers to work harder to attract pupils to science. It appears that Scotland is no longer the leader in science education that it used to be, falling behind countries like Kazakhstan, Slovenia and Armenia.
The biggest gap in cool science is in the crucial earlier years, from primary school up to Standard Grade. Pupils are not being challenged to rethink stereotypes of scientists nor being turned on to the importance of science to our 21st century society.
The Scottish government has awarded a grant of £2.1 million to the Scottish Schools Equipment Research Centre to support the professional development of science teachers and technicians, and has provided £250,000 for the continuous professional development of primary teachers, to be administered at the four science centres across the country. It has also provided pilot funding of £140,000 to help set up and strengthen school science clubs.
Education for the more mature?
How do you qualify to be a student in the UK? Ideally, you need to be under 25 and looking for a vocational course. Only 1% of the UK education budget is available for older students. This in the face of demographic change which sees 11 million people of pensionable age, many of whom will be looking for something to do post-employment. It is being left to private organisations such as the NCS to provide brain stimulus to our older people, a necessary part of maintaining health into older age.
Education is the key to long life.
Edna Parker
Edna Parker died recently, aged 115 years. The Shelbyville, Indiana, resident attributed her long and healthy life to “more education.” She was a pioneer of women’s education, graduating in 1911 from Franklin College. The message is clear: sign up for a course now and live longer.
More from Associated Press…
New Answers for E-Learning
US News offers some good advice for online learners, timely advice with 3.5 million learning in cyberspace. Full article.
Scholars Grab Seats in Virtual Classrooms
An example of how students are using online learning to augment or replace classroom activities. Read the full story in the Olympian.
