Do schools kill creativity?

Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity.



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New progression measures for pupils

Three new measures of pupils' progress are to be introduced to hold head teachers and ministers to account. These measures will be introduced at ages five and 11 to ensure children have the required skills to move on to the next stage of schooling. And a new "basics measure" is to be introduced for pupils at age 16.

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Electric current to the brain 'boosts maths ability'

Applying a tiny electrical current to the brain could make you better at learning maths, according to Oxford University scientists. They found that targeting a part of the brain called the parietal lobe improved the ability of volunteers to solve numerical problems.

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Tuition fees increasing to £9000

Universities in England will be able to charge tuition fees of up to £9000 per year from 2012, as the government transfers much of the cost of courses from the state to students.

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How autistic are you?

The Autism Spectrum Quotient, or AQ, is a questionnaire published in 2001 by Simon Baron-Cohen and his colleagues at the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge, UK. Consisting of fifty questions, it aims to investigate whether adults of normal intelligence have symptoms of autism or one of the other autism spectrum conditions.

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2012 International Bank Holiday dates

Our 2012 Country Information and International Holidays resources have just added our Gold Collection.

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James Baldwin quote on facing change

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." — James Baldwin (1924-1987)

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Quote: Carl Jung on understanding ourselves

"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." — Carl Jung (1875–1961)

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2011 Almanac of Significant, Notable and Interesting Dates - just added our Gold Collection

Our 2011 Almanac of Significant, Notable and Interesting Dates has just added our Gold Collection.

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Surplus and Adventure Problems:Lessons for Online Buyers and Sellers

This blog is a draft for an article I am writing on lessons for online buyers and sellers. The lessons are illustrated with a real-life case study.

On 26 November 2009, I ordered a lantern from Surplus and Adventure who have an army surplus store in Flyford Flavell, Worcestershire. My credit card was charged £26.90 on 30 November even though – it transpires – they did not have the item in stock.

After seven weeks of chasing the order by email – I never succeeded in contacting them by phone – I asked them to cancel the order and to refund my credit card. I received a reply on 20 January saying they had ‘cancelled my order as requested’.

My latest Visa card statement did not show a refund so I sent them one last email and wrote letters to the shop’s manager and the company’s Managing Director (different address) saying that if my money was not refunded by 9.00am 17 February I would be contacting my credit card company and requesting a chargeback.

9 February - Received an email from Surplus and Adventure saying that they had 'emailed' the refund request to accounts and that they were sorry for any delay.

17 February - the day of the deadline. I checked my credit card balance and - sigh of relief - my money had been refunded.


Lessons for Buyers

• If you don't know and trust an online supplier try Googling them including the word 'problems' or 'complaints' before you buy.
• Pay for online purchases with a credit card or PayPal - rather than a debit card.
• Be suspicious if a seller charges your credit card before they have an item in stock.
• Be suspicious if you are unable to contact them by phone.
• Do not make accusations, judgements or threats - just keep to the facts.
• Given the supplier the opportunity to correct the problem.
• Clearly communicate what needs to be done, when it needs to be done by and the steps you will take if the deadline is not met.
• Write to the company to reinforce any deadline you may have communicated by phone or email.
• Once you have set a deadline and conditions, do not deviate from them - even if you receive what seems a plausible and reassuring response from the seller.
• Keep a copy of all your communications with a supplier.
• Understand how credit card chargebacks work.

Lessons for Sellers

• If you do not have an item in stock, make sure that you have made this clear on your website.
• Don't charge a customer's credit card until you are ready to despatch an item. You can always authorise a payment - to ensure that the customer is able to pay - and capture the payment later.
• Keep the customer informed at all times - especially if there is a problem. Don't wait for them to contact you.
• Give an estimated despatch date when you confirm the order.
• Email the customer when the order has been despatched.
• Don't make a promise just to keep the customer quiet.
• Always do what you said you would do.

Also see:
Chargeback on Credit and Visa Debit-Cards
xomreviews
Ripoff Report

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Definition of Learning

Kerrisha Gayle has just submitted the following definition of learning to my Learning Forum:

"Learning is a process of Mental, Physical and Spiritual development. Development is advancing and growth. Development is proof that learning has taken place. One has to apply him or her self to a given situation and or context in order for learning to occur."

This broadens the definition of learning.

Also see:
Definition of Learning
Learning Forum - Definition of Learning

Language Learning

I have just booked a holiday in Italy and I would like to learn a bit of the language before I go. Learning grammar and vocabulary like I did at school doesn't work too well for me so does anyone have any ideas for learning a new language?