From the author of the bestselling The Science of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
comes another incredible trip to an even more mysterious terrain.
Michael Hanlon identifies ten scientific questions that we simply can't
seem to answer and explains why these compelling mysteries will remain
unsolved for years to come.
How did life begin? Why are there
two sexes? Where did language originate? In Hanlon's characteristically
witty style, he ponders the ways these questions have persisted in
frustrating the best minds and asks what might be needed to get to the
bottom of it all. From politics to lack of technology, each question
has its own set of circumstances holding it back. By exploring these
unanswerable questions, Hanlon exposes some of science's greatest
failings and missteps, and charts a hopeful direction for getting
science back on the road to discovery.
Education and educational research, according to the current fashion,
are supposed to be concerned with ‘what works’, to the exclusion of all
other considerations. All over the world, and particularly in the
English-speaking countries, governments look for means of improving
‘student achievement’ as measured by standardized test scores. Although
such improvements are often to be welcomed, they do not answer all
significant questions about what constitutes good education. Also the
research on which they are based is not the only legitimate way to do
educational research. Social research, and therefore educational
research, cannot ignore the distinctive nature of what it studies: a
social activity where questions of meaning and value cannot be
eliminated, and where interpretation and judgment play a crucial role.
In this book distinguished philosophers and historians of education
from 6 countries focus on the problematical nature of the search for
‘what works’ in educational contexts, in practice as well as in theory.
Beginning with specific problems, they move on to more general and
theoretical considerations, seeking to go beyond over-simple ideas
about cause and effect and the rhetoric of performativity that
currently has educational thinking in its grip.
The material on this disc provides comprehensive coverage of the essential Geography material, understanding of which is vital for success. Immediate feedback on understanding is provided by test questions, all of which have a model solution available if required. Progress within each topic is reported on the final screen. Exam-style questions, with model solutions are provided in each section.
This is a series of four workbooks written for secondary or intermediate students who want to improve their reading comprehension skills. The 20 reading texts in each of the two higher-level books deal with contemporary and social issues that teenagers are encouraged to read about. Words and phrases highlighted in each passage are explained in the Vocabulary Study section. There is a variety of comprehension exercises, including Pre-reading Questions and Oral Practice. Students can hear the reading passages on an accompanying audio CD. These workbooks are suitable for small group or classroom use.
Grammar Tests
