International Baccalaureate students tend to think more critically than their HSC peers

Researchers from the University of Western Sydney compared first-year university students who studied the IB with their non-IB classmates and found they demonstrated greater inquisitiveness, intellectual curiosity, truth-seeking and confidence in reasoning. « It has a really strong global perspective and a focus on independent learning, which I thought would prepare me for university study, » the 18-year-old who hopes to study commerce at the University of NSW, said. « It has definitely made me confident in looking at both sides of all issues you study. »
 HYPERLINK « http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/international-baccalaureate-teaches-students-to-think-critically-research-shows-20150103-12h2l6.html »
Most homework is ‘completely pointless’. I’m not anti homework- it can be a useful tool – but too often it’s an exercise in back covering, or box ticking, with no real thought for the educational outcome. I have no problem with setting challenging homework but I do disagree with the pickpocketing of family life to serve the requirements of a school’s homework timetable.
 HYPERLINK « http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/most-homework-is-completely-pointless-education-expert-argues-9955614.html »