A York University study has found although laptops can help students take notes in class, they can offer too many distractions for too many students. "The results of our experiment confirm that multitasking on a laptop reduces a student's ability to comprehend lecture content," said York University doctoral student and study co-author Tina Weston, in the Barrie Advance April 27. "A more surprising finding was that students sitting near a multitasker also under-performed, despite actively trying to focus on the lecture. These students were placed at a disadvantage because of the choices of their peers." Read full story.
The tragedy in Bangladesh: Time for a different response?
“While those responsible should be held accountable for their actions (and inaction), it is time for us to look to other protagonists for solutions,” co-wrote York University Professors Darryl Reed and Ananya Mukherjee in the Toronto Star April 30. “First, clearly, as citizens we have some responsibility, if not culpability, in this matter. When governments fail, citizenship requires that we mobilize to hold them accountable….Second, as consumers, we must admit our complicity through our fetish with low prices.” Read full story.
Strong finish for Canada at the Commonwealth Moot
This year, four students from York University's Osgoode Hall Law School were selected to represent Canada after winning the CABA-Lenczner Slaght Gale Cup Moot in February, reported Canadian Lawyer April 30….In the opening round, Canada defeated a team from Kenya representing Eastern Africa and came up just shy in the second round against a team from Australia….In the playoff round, Canada advanced to the semi-final where it again lost a heartbreaker to Australia by a single point. Read full story.
To regulate or not to regulate?
The issues of conflict of interest, transparency and lack of qualitative assessment of governance quality and predictive validity on shareholder value are all reasons why the proxy firms should be regulated, said Richard Leblanc, professor of law, governance, and ethics at York University, in Canadian Lawyer’s March 2013 issue. “If I asked my students to pay me to help them with their score, it’s a conflict.” Read full story.