The Honest Truth About High Expectations and Feedback in Teaching

Introduction

Observing colleagues, and reflecting on my own practice through the lens of my teaching philosophy, brings two fundamental tensions into sharp focus: setting high expectations and academic standards for learning, and providing accurate, timely feedback. These two aspects cut across all subjects and all ages. After all, an effective teacher is a subject specialist and professional (high expectations and standards), as well as knowledgeable about how to make students learn or the ability to find a fitting pedagogical approach. We hold these as ideals, yet the daily realities of the classroom often force compromises.

1. The High Expectations Tightrope

We know setting high expectations is crucial. Students often rise (or sink) to the level we set. Yet, we also know students frequently seek the path of least resistance – perhaps it’s inherent in the role? 

The High School to University Transition: Essential AI and Human-Centric Skills for Success

​How to ​navigate the transition from IGCSE Business to the IB program and university choices, specifically considering the significant impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the future job market​?

The core principles remain, but the focus shifts towards adaptability, human-centric skills, and digital literacy.

Here are 10 points of advice for a IGCSE business student in the age of AI:

GenAI - A Tale of Two Uses: The Office and The Home

Introduction

The landscape of Generative AI adoption is evolving rapidly. A recent follow-up study published in Harvard Business Review sheds light on how usage patterns have shifted over the past year, revealing a notable divergence between professional and personal applications. While the technology permeates both spheres, the way it's being leveraged differs significantly.

1. The Rise of the Personal AI Companion

Perhaps the most striking finding from the 2025 HBR analysis is the surge in AI use for deeply personal needs. Forget coding assistance topping the charts; the number one use case is now "Therapy/Companionship." This is followed closely by "Organizing my life" and "Finding purpose." People are turning to AI for emotional support, self-reflection, planning personal tasks, managing health goals, and even exploring existential questions. 

The article highlights AI's 24/7 availability, relative low cost, and non-judgmental nature as key drivers for these intimate uses, particularly where traditional resources like mental healthcare are scarce. This trend suggests AI is increasingly becoming a tool for self-actualization and managing the complexities of daily life outside the workplace.

Harvard Draws a Line: Financial Risk, Academic Freedom, and the Resistance

The Confrontation - Autonomy Under Siege

Tensions between the Trump administration and the higher education sector culminated recently when Harvard University formally rejected federal directives. The administration had threatened to withhold nearly $9 billion in federal funding, making these funds contingent upon modifications to Harvard's hiring protocols and its approach to addressing allegations of anti-Semitism. This specific confrontation underscores a critical, though potentially overlooked, long-term concern articulated by Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz. He observed that while international attention focuses on trade disputes and the restructuring of foreign aid, the administration's posture towards universities may ultimately yield the most profound and enduring detrimental effects globally.

Harvard's response, articulated by President Alan Garber and supported by faculty like Professor Cornell William Brooks, was unequivocal: refusal. They argued the demands constituted an "unlawful, unconstitutional, and profoundly unfair" attempt by the federal government to essentially take over the management, admissions, and intellectual direction of a private university. President Garber wrote: “No government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.” 

The administration's immediate retaliation – freezing $2 billion in federal grants and President Trump's suggestion of revoking the university's tax-exempt status – instantly escalated the conflict, framing it as a critical battle over institutional autonomy and academic freedom. 

Beyond Personal Choice: Political Climate and the Exodus of US Scholars

A High-Profile Departure

A notable shift is occurring in the academic landscape as three prominent Yale University professors, all known for their scholarship on fascism and critical perspectives on the Trump administration, have announced their departure for the University of Toronto. 

• Jason Stanley, a distinguished philosopher and author of "How Fascism Works"; 
• Timothy Snyder, a renowned historian and author of "The Road to Unfreedom"; and 
• Marci Shore, a historian specializing in European intellectual history and author of "The Ukrainian Night," 

are all moving to Toronto's prestigious Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. This collective move by scholars deeply engaged with issues of democracy and authoritarianism raises significant questions about the current climate within American higher education. The exodus has begun.