World News Blogspot: Cribsheet 26.08.11

viernes, 26 de agosto de 2011

Cribsheet 26.08.11 - The Guardian

Education news from the Guardian

Girls surge ahead at GCSE to open up record gender gap at 16

High spirits, top grades and no sign of 'broken Britain'

Datablog: exam breakdown by subject, school and gender

Multimedia

Watch our heart-warming video: "private school results - in Peckham"

Try out our GCSE results 2011 interactive, where you can investigate results by subject and by gender

In pictures: GCSE results day

A map of GCSE results across Britain

A huge thank you to all of the schools that have already inputted their results onto our interactive map of Britain. You can view the map here, and if you haven't yet entered your results you can do so here.

Comment and analysis

Is this the beginning of the end of grade inflation?

Editorial – GCSE results and the ebacc: right question, wrong answer

Stark truths about the BBC's choice of guests

Why was David Starkey – a self-professed historian of the elites – invited on Newsnight to discuss the causes of the recent riots and looting? Others in the field cannot understand why the BBC chose Starkey when they had so many other, better qualified, historians to choose from. Over 100 historians vented their anger in an open letter printed in the Times Higher.

In our opinion, it was a singularly poor choice: Starkey has professed himself to be a historian of elites, and his academic work has never focused on race and class – in fact, he has rejected those approaches. We are thus unsurprised by the poverty of his reductionist argument, which reflected his lack of understanding of the history of ordinary life in modern Britain. It was evidentially insupportable and factually wrong.

The letter urged the BBC not to bring "disrepute" onto their profession by inviting Starkey onto their programmes purely on the basis of "his celebrity and reputation for giving offence" [which] "still persuade producers that he is worth the money." Or, if the BBC must do so, the historians say, please could the presenters not introduce him as "'the historian, David Starkey" when commenting on issues outside his fields of expertise."

On the Guardian higher education network

Live chat: surviving your first academic post. Friday 26 August, 1pm

Fun stuff

Learn semaphore in the G2 kids section.

Education news from around the web

• As many as 78 staff at University of Northampton could lose their jobs as some departments are merged, the BBC has reported.

• Do our younger generations think and learn differently because they were the first to use advanced technology from an early age? Has allowing our tots to use computers shaped the way they think? Open university researchers say it's not so in a report by MJO. Their latest study argues that there is no such thing as the digital native:

while there are clear differences between older people and younger in their use of technology, there's no evidence of a clear break between two separate populations.

• On 6 September, Klimb is auctioning original artworks by much-loved children's book illustrators to raise money for the educational charities Chance UK and Trusts for African Schools. The auction will take place in the Core restaurant in Paddington's West End Quay. You can find out more information and see the works up for sale here.

Education seminars from Guardian Professional

Thinking about doing a PhD?

This seminar will provide independent advice and information on framing a research proposal, the process and pitfalls of a research degree and career prospects.

9 September, London.

Making the most of media opportunities to enhance your school's profile

Whether it's sharing good news or handling a crisis, headteachers and school management teams need to be able to handle the media in all of its forms. This one-day seminar in association with the NAHT is essential for new and aspiring heads as well as established school leaders who wish to update their knowledge. It includes a session on social media.

20 September, London.

Using social media to enhance the student experience

As tuition fees rise, so too do student expectations. Social media is an effective, low-cost way to manage this challenge. This seminar will explore newly conceived best practice, techniques and strategy for all higher education staff: academic, communications, recruitment, marketing and strategy.

22 September, London.

Life after a PhD

Whether it's getting published, convincing an employer that you have transferable skills, or securing an academic post, you need to be fully prepared to achieve your goals. This course will help identify career opportunities for those with research skills and specialist knowledge.

28 September, London.