Exploring the Global Footprint of the American Empire

American Empire on Metaphorician presents an interactive historical map and timeline showing the global influence of the United States through military, political and economic activities from 1900 to today. Instead of using broad claims alone, the tool visualizes where and when the U.S. has maintained military bases, intervened abroad and engaged in political or economic actions that shaped international relations over more than a century.

By combining different types of intervention — such as troop deployments, coups, sanctions and long-term military installations — the resource allows users to see how U.S. foreign policy has evolved and how its presence has spread across regions and decades. Each type of action is categorized and colour-coded, offering a dynamic way to understand the historical patterns of American engagement in the world beyond simple statistics or narrative descriptions.

Overall, this page is useful for educators, students and anyone curious about geopolitics who wants to explore the history of U.S. influence in a visual and data-rich format.

https://metaphorician.com/american-empire

ChatGPT Translate

ChatGPT Translate is a translation tool by OpenAI designed to help users communicate accurately in different languages, whether for work emails, travel, or everyday situations. It can translate text, voice, and images into more than 50 languages, but its main strength lies in understanding context, tone, and nuances such as idioms or colloquial expressions. Instead of simply replacing words, it aims to capture the intention behind the message, reducing the risk of misunderstandings.

Unlike traditional translators that often work with isolated words or phrases, ChatGPT Translate is powered by an advanced language model that analyses the whole text and the communicative situation. This makes it especially useful for complex or ambiguous texts. Another key feature is its interactive nature: users can ask follow-up questions, request a more formal or informal version, or ask for explanations about specific translation choices. The translation process becomes a dialogue rather than a one-off action.

The tool is also flexible in how content is entered. Users can type or paste text, dictate using their voice, or upload images such as signs, documents, or letters, which the system reads and translates. After receiving a translation, users can continue interacting within the same conversation to refine or adapt the result. Overall, ChatGPT Translate works as a language assistant that offers greater control, clarity, and precision than many conventional translation services.

https://chatgpt.com/es-ES/translate/

Etymonline: Online Etymology Dictionary

Etymonline is a popular online resource dedicated to the origins and history of English words. Rather than just providing definitions, this site traces how words have developed over time, revealing where they came from, how their meanings have changed, and how different languages have influenced English. It’s essentially an etymological dictionary — a tool that explores the roots of words in Old English, Latin, Greek, and other source languages, and shows how they evolved into the forms we use today.

Writers, teachers, students, and language lovers often turn to Etymonline when they want to understand not just what a word means, but why it means that, and how its usage reflects centuries of linguistic change. The entries are presented in a clear, accessible way, often with examples from historical texts and comparisons to related terms in other languages. Whether you’re curious about a specific word’s background or want to explore the fascinating story of English vocabulary, Etymonline offers a rich and approachable way to unlock the deeper history behind everyday language.

You can explore it at:  

https://www.etymonline.com/

App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/etymonline-english-dictionary/id813629612

Google Play:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.etymonline.app&referrer=utm_source=download_app_down

Sexism and the English language

The Economist's language expert Lane Greene explores the gender stereotypes used in everyday speech.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uaBwAe2BhY

AI and the future of education: disruptions, dilemmas and directions

UNESCO’s AI and the Future of Education: Disruptions, Dilemmas and Directions is a major 2025 publication that explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming education around the world, and what this means for learners, teachers, schools and policymakers.

The document examines three interconnected themes:

Disruptions: how AI is reshaping classrooms, learning and teaching by acting as tutor, co-teacher and even companion in some contexts. It looks at both the opportunities (personalised learning, wider access and support) and the risks (inequality, over-reliance on automation and ethical concerns).

Dilemmas: the difficult decisions educators and leaders face, such as balancing AI use with human development, investing in technology versus human resources like teachers, and managing AI’s broader social impact responsibly.

Directions: a proposed path forward that places people at the centre of AI in education, emphasising equity, ethics, teacher empowerment, culturally relevant design and international collaboration to guide AI’s role in education positively.

Rather than offering simple answers, the report frames a global conversation about AI’s potential and pitfalls, advocating for thoughtful, human-centred policies and practices that protect education as a public good while harnessing AI’s benefits in inclusive, ethical ways.

Visit:

https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000395236

Questioning for Teaching and Learning Webinar hosted by Kate Jones

In this inspiring webinar, educator Kate Jones explores how powerful questioning can transform teaching and learning. The video shows that asking the right questions is not just about checking what students know, but about helping them think more deeply, reflect on their learning and stay engaged in lessons.

Kate Jones shares practical strategies that teachers can use to design better questions and to use them more effectively in class. She explains how well-planned questioning can support understanding, encourage discussion and provide valuable feedback about what students are really learning. The session is useful for teachers at all levels, from early years to secondary and further education.

The World’s Writing Systems: A Global Alphabet Gallery

Have you ever wondered how many ways humans have found to write language? The World’s Writing Systems is an incredible online resource that brings together glyphs and basic information about the many scripts used throughout history and across the globe. It’s part of a long-term effort called the Missing Scripts Project, which aims to document all known writing systems, including those not yet encoded in the Unicode standard and therefore not widely supported on computers. 

The website showcases hundreds of writing systems (from ancient scripts like Proto-Sinaitic and Ugaritic to modern ones like Latin, Arabic or Ethiopic) and allows users to explore them by region, time period and Unicode status. Each entry includes a representative character and background context, making the site a fascinating visual catalogue and reference for anyone interested in linguistics, typography, history or world cultures.

https://www.worldswritingsystems.org/

Physics Simulations. MyPhysicsLab thanks to @NaoCasanova

If you’re curious about how the physical world works or want to bring science to life in your classroom, MyPhysicsLab is a fantastic free online resource to explore. It offers interactive physics simulations that let you experiment with motion, forces, energy and more — all right in your web browser.

Designed for students, teachers and anyone who loves science, MyPhysicsLab provides simulations of classic physics topics such as pendulums, springs, collisions, gravity, circuits and oscillations. What makes it special is the hands-on approach: you can adjust parameters like mass, velocity and friction, watch how systems behave, and see the results in real time. This turns abstract concepts into visual, intuitive experiences.

For educators, these simulations are a powerful tool to supplement lessons, spark curiosity, and encourage inquiry-based learning. Students can test hypotheses, explore “what if” scenarios, and build a deeper understanding of fundamental principles by seeing physics in action.

https://myphysicslab.com/

NoSweatShakespeare

NoSweatShakespeare is a fun and educational online resource dedicated to William Shakespeare and his works. Its goal is to make Shakespeare’s language, life, plays, sonnets and characters easier to understand and more accessible for students, teachers and anyone curious about him. 

On the site you’ll find:

• Modern English summaries and explanations of Shakespeare’s plays and poems, helping readers follow the stories and characters without struggling with the original Early Modern English. 
• Biographical information about Shakespeare’s life, family, era and the theatres connected to his works. 
• Collections of quotes, sonnets and interesting facts, plus articles about different aspects of his writing and characters. 
• A blog with posts about Shakespeare’s influence, interpretation of his works and other engaging material. 
• Optional ebooks with modern English versions of the plays, designed to help readers follow the original structure and themes more easily (available for download).

https://nosweatshakespeare.com/

Collection of Canadian language resources

The Resources of the Language Portal of Canada is a freely accessible online hub created by the Government of Canada to support language learning, communication and writing in the country’s two official languages, English and French, as well as to provide links to a wide range of related tools and materials. 

The “Language learning” section of this resource includes curated links to courses, programs, and learning materials designed to help people study English and French. Within this section you can find options for both formal language programs and self-study resources, including study tools and teaching aids that support learners at different levels. This makes it useful for students, teachers, and anyone who wants to improve their skills in one of Canada’s official languages. 

The website links to other helpful materials such as writing guides, glossaries, dictionaries, inclusive language resources and Indigenous language resources, so users interested in broadening their linguistic knowledge can explore beyond basic learning.

https://www.noslangues-ourlanguages.gc.ca/en/ressources-resources/index-eng#learning

Education at a Glance 2025

Education at a Glance 2025 is an annual report published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that provides a comprehensive and comparative overview of education systems around the world. The publication is based on extensive statistical data and analyses that cover a wide range of topics, including the structure and funding of education, participation and attainment levels, learning outcomes, and links between education and labour-market results.

The 2025 edition places a special focus on tertiary education (higher and post-secondary education). It examines graduation rates, differences in labour-market outcomes by field of study, completion rates, and the skills of adults with higher education qualifications. It also incorporates results from the 2023 Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) to connect adults’ actual skills with educational and employment indicators.

Education at a Glance is widely regarded as a key reference source for education data. It enables governments, policymakers, researchers and the general public to compare education systems across countries, identify common challenges—such as inequalities in access or completion—and support the development of more effective and equitable education policies.

https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/education-at-a-glance-2025_1c0d9c79-en.html

Generative Artificial Intelligence in secondary education

This study looks at how teachers and schools in secondary education are starting to use generative AI (GenAI) and what they think about it. It focuses on the experiences of early users in five EU countries and includes the perspectives of teachers, school leaders, students and policymakers. The study shows that GenAI can open up new possibilities for teaching and learning, such as supporting lesson planning, personalising learning and helping students develop new skills. At the same time, it also raises important questions and challenges that schools need to address.

By listening to the experiences of these early adopters, the study helps us understand what works well, what concerns teachers have, and what needs to be considered to use GenAI in a safe, fair and responsible way in schools. The results are used to make recommendations for policymakers and school leaders, with a strong focus on ethical use. They also underline the need to rethink AI literacy and digital competence so that both teachers and students are better prepared to work with these new technologies in the classroom.

Downloads:

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC144345

Activities for children #English

The “Activities for children” section on the Cambridge English website offers a rich collection of free English learning resources designed for young learners and their families. It includes fun online activities and games that help children practise key language skills like reading, writing, listening and speaking in English, whether they’re complete beginners or at early CEFR levels such as Pre-A1, A1 and A2. 

On the page you’ll find interactive learning activities tailored to different levels, including games, quizzes and themed exercises that make practising vocabulary and simple structures enjoyable for kids. There are also sing-along videos and creative tasks like describing pictures or listening exercises, all designed by language-learning experts to be accessible and motivating for children. 

https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/learning-english/parents-and-children/activities-for-children/

Children's Voices on Cyberbullying

This webpage presents a child-focused initiative by the European Union that shares the voices and experiences of children and teenagers aged 12–17 regarding online bullying and abuse. It’s part of the EU Children’s Participation Platform, which gives young people a space to express their views on issues that affect them and involve them in policymaking at the European level. 

This specific resource summarises the results of a large online survey carried out across all EU countries in 2025, where thousands of young people shared their experiences of cyberbullying — such as witnessing or being targets of harmful behaviour online — and how it made them feel. It also highlights what children think should be done by adults, schools, social media platforms and policymakers to prevent cyberbullying and better support victims. 

Find it on:

https://eu-for-children.europa.eu/cyberbullying_es

Writing in English at University A Guide for Second Language Writers

Writing is a central skill in university life. If you are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree, sooner or later you will face the task of drafting essays, research papers, or degree projects in English. To make this challenge easier, Lund University has created a fundamental resource: the manual "Writing in English at University: A Guide for Second Language Writers."

This textbook, originally designed to complement the MOOC of the same name, stands as an indispensable and standalone guide for any student or professional who needs to perfect their academic writing in English.

Who is this manual for?

Although useful for everyone, it was developed specifically with students whose native language is not English (Second Language Writers) in mind. It offers practical advice and strategies to overcome the common obstacles encountered by non-native writers when drafting complex texts in an academic setting.

What will you learn with this guide?

The manual focuses on the most crucial aspects of academic writing and is structured into four key modules:

Fundamental Concepts: You will acquire basic vocabulary and understand the essential terms that every academic writer needs to handle.

Structure and Organization: You will learn the most effective ways to organize and shape your text, from the paragraph level to the overall structure of an essay or article.

Using Sources and Research: You will master critical reading, the selection and correct use of sources, and the incorporation of previous research (citation and referencing).

Practical Tips for Non-Natives: You will receive specific tips and tricks for addressing the linguistic and stylistic issues that often affect writers using English as a second language.

https://lucris.lub.lu.se/ws/portalfiles/portal/83442575/Writing_in_English_at_University_A_Guide_for_Second_Language_Writers_2020.pdf

Results from TALIS 2024. The State of Teaching

The OECD’s Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) is the largest global study that listens directly to teachers and school leaders. In 2024, more than 280,000 educators from 55 education systems opened a window into their daily reality: how they teach, how they learn, and what today’s classrooms truly look like.

This new edition, TALIS 2024 Results, offers insights that matter deeply to teachers. It explores how educators are beginning to use artificial intelligence in their practice, what motivates them to choose teaching in the first place, and whether they see themselves continuing in the profession.

For policymakers, TALIS provides evidence to shape decisions. But for teachers, it provides something just as important: a clearer understanding of the profession they share with colleagues around the world—its challenges, its evolution, and its future.

https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/results-from-talis-2024_90df6235-en.html

AI Harm and Human Rights

The report AI Harm and Human Rights, published by ICAAD in collaboration with a law firm, offers a systematic framework that links the harms caused by artificial intelligence (AI) to fundamental human rights. 

It argues that although many AI-related “harm taxonomies” and incident databases exist, they rarely make explicit connections between AI-inflicted harms and violations of human rights. The report fills this gap by mapping ten core human rights against concrete examples of AI harms — such as biased algorithms in hiring or healthcare, invasive facial-recognition misuse, or deepfakes that undermine freedom of expression. 

By doing so, the report provides public and private actors — companies, governments, watchdogs — with a practical tool to evaluate whether a given AI system or deployment could infringe basic freedoms. The mapping table becomes a first step for organizations to identify risky AI uses. 

Crucially, the report warns that many businesses still treat human-rights concerns as irrelevant to their AI deployments — even in the face of growing evidence that AI can cause real, widespread harms.

Find the report on:

https://icaad.ngo/2025/09/29/ai-harm-and-human-rights/

Running Reality #History

Running Reality is an interactive digital platform that acts as a global, time-based historical map. It lets users explore the world’s history from around 3000 BC to the present by selecting any date and place and watching how borders, cities, civilizations, and events evolved over time. 

Through its browser interface, you can navigate a dynamic world map, view historical data on settlements, battles, rulers, objects, and more, all tied to specific moments in history. The platform is designed for students, teachers, researchers, and anyone curious about the past, and it includes educational tools specifically tailored for classroom use. 

Every historical “factoid” in Running Reality is backed by a verifiable citation, making the model transparent and academically reliable. What makes it unique is its ability to visualize history as a living timeline—allowing you to scroll through centuries, watch territories expand or disappear, and understand historical processes in a highly intuitive, interactive way.

Find Running Reality on:

https://www.runningreality.org/

An Infographic Guide to Technology-facilitated Gender-based Violence (TFGBV)

Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is an increasingly common issue affecting women and girls in many different ways. To help educators better understand this topic, a new infographic guide has been created. It uses simple, visual explanations to highlight what TFGBV looks like and why it matters in today’s digital world.

The guide includes 14 easy-to-read infographics that explore key ideas such as:

- the different forms TFGBV can take,

- how online and offline violence are connected,

- how TFGBV affects people differently depending on their identities and circumstances,

- what current data and research tell us,

- and how technology can be designed in safer, more ethical ways.

These infographics can be used in training sessions, classroom discussions, awareness campaigns, or any educational activity aimed at promoting safer digital environments. Each infographic comes with a short explanation that highlights its main points, making the material easy to understand and share.

This resource is ideal for teachers, school leaders, and anyone working with young people who wants to help build a more informed and respectful digital community.

Find it on: 

https://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/An%20Infographic%20Guide%20to%20TFGBV.pdf

Teaching basic skills

New set of five guides that provide hands-on support on how schools and teachers can strengthen the teaching of basic skills through a whole school. They are developed to support the European Commission’s Basic Skills Action Plan, which aims to boost teaching and learning, support educators and enable supportive environments. 

The materials offer practical advice based on a whole school approach, helping schools provide effective and inclusive support for all learners at three levels: 

Universal support: Strategies that benefit all learners, such as engaging learning materials and supportive school environments. 

Targeted support: Focused actions for learners who may need extra help, including small-group activities, adapted teaching methods or additional monitoring. 

Individual support: Personalised interventions tailored to learners at risk or with specific needs.

(Source European School Education Platform) 

https://school-education.ec.europa.eu/en/discover/news/new-resources-available-teaching-basic-skills