Blog posts
The perils of California Dreamin’ in higher education
Writing in the National Post, Ian Clark argues that emulating California’s higher education system will increase the productivity and efficiency of Ontario’s […]
READ MORECorporatization and commercialization, Performance assessment, Universities and the academic mission
Final Observations of Canadian University Rankings: A Misadventure Now Over Two Decades Long
In November, 2012, Maclean’s published its 21st annual rankings of Canadian universities. Indeed, the ranking of universities has become a popular exercise […]
READ MOREThe November issue of Academic Matters is now live!
The great medieval universities – Paris, Bologna, Oxford – were places far removed from the tribulations of daily life. Under the protection […]
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Influencing Universities to Embrace Learning Outcomes: Why JOBS is a Dirty Four Letter Word
“Looming low and ominous, in twilight premature, thunderheads are rumbling in a distant overture” (Neil Peart, from the RUSH song Jacob’s Ladder). […]
READ MOREWhy not have mandatory “toolbox” training?
In a recent meeting with a number of teaching-minded colleagues, one made what – to me – sounded like a rather innocent […]
READ MORESpeak, listen, think, repeat …
Hey all, Please allow me to introduce myself! I’m Steve Joordens and, like many of you, I’m afraid I have become addicted […]
READ MORECanada’s Self-Imposed Crisis in Post-Secondary Education
On June 7, I gave a keynote address to the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees Education Sector Conference. Points I raised in […]
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My Professorial ‘Eureka’ Moment
I remember the exact moment when I realized that I really am a professor. It wasn’t when I got hired, that’s for […]
READ MORELightning Over Bloor
We had taken our places at the table, For some words after the break, On various comings and goings. And when—twice—the professor said, “hope,” The celestial fireworks following the verb Had us rocketing skywards too. I had always suspected, The poet’s powerful leanings, but now I reckoned, How few exchanges we had actually come to know, Between pedagogy, providence, and rain.
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Canada’s most expensive U-Pass: Students deserve what they pay for
Ottawa City Council has voted to increase the cost of the universal student transit pass (the ‘U-Pass’) by almost 25 percent. In return, one would think students deserve better—not worse—service.
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