Archive for June 2022
Extra School
In my experience as a teacher, I’ve collected memories that illustrate for me what needs to be improved in middle school education. My thesis? Schools filled with students from poorer families (low SES–socioeconomic status) need to do more to engage their students intellectually. One such illustrative memory is of a brilliant African-American economics major from…
Read MoreThe creator economy can hurt users
As spring break Instagram posts rolled out, images of my classmates in picture-perfect tropical scenes bombarded me while I returned to the bleak surroundings of central Pennsylvania. As the week continued, I found myself checking Instagram every 15 minutes, growing more and more bitter. I was filled with an urge to post something, anything, to…
Read MoreEmotion, Intelligence, and Learning
Two of the most persistent myths about learning are that emotion and rational thought can be treated separately and that emotions interfere with clear thinking and learning. They certainly can. Grief and rage or joy and excitement can easily overwhelm focus and motivation for even the most interesting lesson. So, it’s not surprising that educators…
Read MoreBeautiful Views of Terrifying Drops
Or, Gaining a Little Height on Life [Editor’s note: Oren Karp is a recent graduate of Brown University and a Fulbright Scholar teaching English in Kathmandu, Nepal. He posts an account of his life in Nepal every few weeks.] It’s hard for me not to see the last nine days as a little…
Read More