All entries for Thursday 10 August 2006

August 10, 2006

THES catches up

Follow-up to Nanny state? from Prole Art Threat

Not often I can be said to be ahead of the news but pleased to note that THES has caught up with previous post:

Uni-Nanny is watching

Phil Baty
Published: 04 August 2006

Students are being "electronically tagged" so that their attendance at lectures and tutorials can be closely monitored as part of moves to reduce drop–out rates. An electronic monitoring system called Uni–Nanny, under which students identify themselves at every "learning event" with individual computer chips in their key rings, is already in use at Glamorgan University, which developed the technology. The product has just been bought by Napier University, and deals are set to be signed with two other institutions. Technological solutions, including fingerprint scanners, have also been mooted.

Critics say that the phenomenon represents an alarming trend towards "Big Brother" surveillance and the nannying of students who should be self–motivated. But enthusiasts argue that efficient attendance monitoring is proven to reduce drop–out rates by quickly identifying students who are failing to engage with their courses.

Oh what fun

: 10 Aug 2006 08:02 | Comments (4) | Close comments | Report a problem

Periodicity: approximation of a playlist §21

Songs referring to periodicals and magazines:

She – Charles Aznavour
Time – David Bowie
Native New Yorker – Odyssey
Vogue – Madonna
All Along The Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix
Ms Jackson – Outkast
Jackie Wilson – Dexys
Look in – John Martyn
OK – Talvin Singh
Hello – Lionel Ritchie
She Blinded me with Science – Thomas Dolby
Strength of your Nature – The Style Council
Chat in Amsterdam – Arab Strap
Country Life – Cosmic Rough Riders
Loaded – Deacon Blue
E Eleventh Nuts – Scritti Politti
Wallpaper for the soul –Tahiti 80
Woman – John Lennon
Heat Wave – Martha and the Vandellas
Susie Q – Rolling Stones (or someone else?)
Tobermory Zoo – Mull Historical Society