Leading Edge Articles

What Writing Course Should I Attend?

Kerrin Badham - 2021-06-30 14:50:01

That depends on what skills you need to build. Let’s ask some questions: What kind of reports do you write and at what level? Are there any technical elements such as graphs, charts, etc that need to be included? And how skilled/experienced are you in writing? Are you proficient in using MS Word or such tools to format reports correctly? And do you need accredited training (i.e. courses that cover NQF aligned unit standards and are assessed or formally tested for competence against... Read more

Drowning people can't learn to swim: the need for space to learn

Andrew Badham - 2019-02-08 15:22:28

I once watched a man give a talk on learning new languages, a task famously hard for English first-language speakers. He surprised me with a simple question: “Why do some people never learn the language of a country, even when they have moved there years before?” It was a question that surprised me simply because I used to believe that moving to a country was the best way to learn the language. The answer he proposed to his rhetorical question was this: “Because a dro... Read more

The most eager students already know the most

Andrew Badham - 2018-06-26 15:42:16

The most qualified people are the most eager to learn. That sounds obvious, and to a large extent, it is. People who are eager to learn become more qualified; they’re excited to find out new information, techniques and ideas, and so they do. The less obvious trait of these folks is that they’re eager to learn even if the content isn’t new, even if they are already extremely well versed. I’ve experienced this countless times in class; the most knowledgeable student is b... Read more

Critical Thinking For Better Relationships

Andrew Badham - 2018-02-14 15:42:55

Of all the things people think they will gain learning critical thinking, emotional intelligence is likely not one of them. Most of us associate critical thinking with cold, objective analysis, which seems so antithetical to the warm, intuitive skill of dealing with people. The truth of the matter is that that cold objectivity is exactly what prevents us from making a real mess of our relationships. So, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, here are some ways critical thinking can improve yo... Read more

Running To Get Smart

Andrew Badham - 2016-08-01 10:05:16

Traditionally, mental and physical agility have been considered separate pursuits. The idea has become so prolific that people have begun to question the emphasis of sport at academic institutions, such as schools or universities. However, recently studies have begun to show that there is a positive correlation between physical activity and cognitive function. In other words, it seems that exercise can help make you smarter. The apparent culprit for this phenomenon is BDNF (Brain-derived Neurot... Read more

Learning Articles