A different kind of academic rigour: Opinion

Emphasizing academic rigour and being a demanding teacher can be a point of pride for academics, but it can be damaging to students, writes Greg Skutches. The author explains how students have been trained throughout high school to focus on working hard and achieving good grades rather than learning and personal growth, and that this continues into postsecondary education and beyond. The article explains that “rigour” can also be part of a more humane approach that encourages curiosity and exploration of material. “This rigour of deep learning appeals to intrinsic motivation, embracing enquiry, analysis, synthesis, application, practice and reflection,” writes Skutches. Times Higher Ed (International)