Learning a second language is never easy, but what if technology could make it fun? Today in The Conversation Canada, Jennica Grimshaw and Walcir Cardoso of Concordia University explain how researchers are using mobile gaming to improve vocabulary and grammar for new English speakers.
When it comes to innovation in science, is it best to have a large group of researchers working on a project or are small teams better? Viviane Callier, a Munk Fellow in global journalism at the University of Toronto, reports on new research that provides a surprising result: small teams more often produce “disruptive research” that can introduce new ideas.
Elizabeth Schwartz tells us about a wide range of nuclear research that’s happening in Saskatchewan, but also how wider consultation is needed to make sure the public benefits the most from nuclear medical and energy policies.
Joel Lexchin, who writes often on important consumer issues regarding drugs, has studied the impact that donations from drug companies have on patient advocate groups and how potential conflicts of interest play out when it comes to deciding what drugs should be funded by public drug plans.
And finally…the term “binge watching” has entered the vernacular because of the way modern television shows use long-form story telling. Andrew Deman of the University of Waterloo does a deep dive into the history of why this new narrative style is so popular – and points to a renowned comic book author as the inspiration of much of what’s so good on TV these days.
|
If game players focus on evading asteroids in a space game, they may not necessarily fixate on speaking-related anxiety.
(Shutterstock)
Jennica Grimshaw, Concordia University; Walcir Cardoso, Concordia University
Educational mobile gaming can offer students a way to practice language while taking away the pressures of typical face-to-face communication.
|
Smaller research teams conduct more disruptive research; a new study could change research funding allocations.
Shutterstock
Viviane Callier, University of Toronto
A new study in Nature finds that large research teams develop recent ideas, while small teams conduct more disruptive and innovative research.
|
Public policy and community engagement should inform nuclear research.
Shutterstock
Elizabeth Schwartz, University of Saskatchewan
In Saskatchewan, nuclear research is being conducted with medical and energy applications. The public should be consulted when developing nuclear policy to apply and benefit from these discoveries.
|
A new review of 372 patient group submissions to the Canadian Agency for Drugs or Technology in Health – about whether new medicines should be covered by public plans – reveals a total of 1896 conflicts of interest.
(Shutterstock)
Joel Lexchin, University of Toronto
A new study reveals how many patient groups lobby for new drugs to be funded by public plans in Canada -- all while receiving funding from the companies manufacturing the drugs in question.
|
An early comics book writer inspired today’s TV writing. The Umbrella Academy (Netflix), based on the comic book by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá, tops binge-worthy TV lists this month. Mary J. Blige plays Cha-Cha, an assassin that can travel through time.
Christos Kalohoridis / Netflix
J. Andrew Deman,, University of Waterloo
Our current golden age of TV storytelling is influenced by comic books, in particular, one writer: Chris Claremont pushed boundaries and gave audiences strong female leads and deeply involved dramas.
|
Dans une rue de Montréal. Au lieu de lutter contre l'utilisation du téléphone en classe, pourquoi ne pas en faire un outil d'apprentissage ?
Shutterstock
Ehsan Akbari, Concordia University
Au lieu de lutter contre l'utilisation du téléphone en classe, pourquoi ne pas en faire un allié? Chercheur, mais aussi artiste, ce professeur a vu toutes les possibilités d’apprentissage qu'il ouvre.
|
Science + Technology
|
-
Tim Caro, University of California, Davis; Martin How, University of Bristol
How the zebra got its stripes is not only a just-so story, but an object of scientific inquiry. New research suggests that stripes help zebras evade biting flies and the deadly diseases they carry.
|
|
Business + Economy
|
-
John J Stremlau, University of the Witwatersrand
The power dynamics in the World Bank have changed dramatically.
|
|
Politics
|
-
Andy Price, Sheffield Hallam University
It doesn't matter that this new formation doesn't have a policy. The very act of striking out alone is a powerful message about the broken system that has landed the UK in this mess.
|
|