The more physically fit and active you are, the less likely you are to suffer colds in the winter months. That’s the conclusion of US researchers, who studied about 1000 adults and found those who exercised the most were least likely to suffer from colds in the winter months. The researchers, from the Appalachian State University and […]
Continue ReadingThe World Health Organisation overnight declared that the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 is now a pandemic, and called on countries to take “urgent and aggressive action”. The virus has affected more than 113,702 people and resulted into 4,012 deaths globally. At the time of publication, there have been 126 people diagnosed with COVID-19 in Australia and three deaths linked to […]
Continue ReadingAs the number of new cases of coronavirus infection continue to rise the impact is now being felt in schools in Australia. At least four closed due to students and a staff member testing positive for the virus. Most international travel by Queensland students is also banned. It’s therefore important for parents to be there for their children […]
Continue ReadingOne of the most influential phenomena in education over the last two decades has been that of the “growth mindset”. This refers to the beliefs a student has about various capacities such as their intelligence, their ability in areas such as maths, their personality and creative ability. Proponents of the growth mindset believe these capacities […]
Continue ReadingThe first national curriculum for students with a vision impairment will soon be trialled in schools, as part of a plan to provide equitable access to education for children who are blind or have low vision. Leading the charge is University of Southern Queensland (USQ) inclusive education researcher Melissa Fanshawe. Her 13-year-old son has a […]
Continue ReadingTechnology is becoming increasingly sophisticated and its capabilities more diverse. With the ongoing desire to prepare students for the future workforce, Education Matters discusses robotics and its place in the modern classroom. As robotic technology evolves so too does its ability to impact the way we live and work. The concept of machines replacing work previously done […]
Continue ReadingVision Australia has launched a hands-on educational STEM tool designed to teach skills in computer coding and programming to young students who are blind. Originally designed by Microsoft and developed by American Printing House, Code Jumper assists children aged 7-11 years – regardless of their vision – to further develop their skills in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering […]
Continue ReadingWhen a newborn joins a family we become beguiled by the perfection of this wondrous new being. Any hint of difference is easily overlooked during the early years. We now understand that the onset of symptoms of autism spectrum disorders is variable during the first two years of life. Signs are evident in some children from birth, […]
Continue ReadingIn an age where our lives are so technology-rich, a new study investigates the links between handwriting and other literacy skills in young children; highlighting that the (hand)written word should be the way of the future rather than a shift to paperless schools. The study examined the influence of handwriting automaticity in the writing and reading performance […]
Continue ReadingThe ability to understand emotions contributes almost as much to students’ grades as their IQ. Past studies show two personal qualities are important for student academic success – intelligence and conscientiousness. IQ scores explain about 15% of the differences between students’ grades. Conscientiousness, such as having the diligence to do enough study, explains about 5%. Our recent research has found […]
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