Episodes

  • 092 Teaching Statistics & Fostering Creativity

    092 Teaching Statistics & Fostering Creativity
    Oct 12 2024
    Effective statistics instruction - like many other disciplines - should empower students to ask questions and interrogate data to answer questions. We look at research evaluating the impact of an inquiry-focused statistics curriculum that showed very large gains for student learning by emphasizing statistical practice rather than mathematical routines. Later, we read a review of creativity research that identified key areas where students need practice with creativity (just like any other skill). We must make space for risk-taking and student exploration.
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    44 mins
  • 091 Political Discourse & Media Literacy

    091 Political Discourse & Media Literacy
    Sep 12 2024
    We start Season 8 in a tempestuous election cycle in the United States. We are joined by guest host Chris Carter to discuss an approach to civic education in today’s political landscape, with a focus on grounded discussions based on essential anchor questions. Later, we look at the absence of state standards for media literacy in the US. Their research provides a call and roadmap for teachers to prioritize explicit instruction in media literacy for students.
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    44 mins
  • 090 Season 7 Finale

    090 Season 7 Finale
    Aug 12 2024
    We review the most noteworthy papers of the past year, developments in our practice, and the top beers of AY23-24.
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    44 mins
  • 089 Curriculum Sensemaking & Behavior Grading

    089 Curriculum Sensemaking & Behavior Grading
    Jul 12 2024
    Many curriculum decisions are made at the district-level, but each classroom teacher must figure out how to implement those decisions for themselves. We read a study showing how “philosophical fidelity” is far more important than “mechanical fidelity” to the success of district efforts to improve instruction. Later, we read a study of required behavior grades in Germany that shows those grades have zero positive impact on… well, anything.
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    45 mins
  • 088 Disagreement Listening & Aphantasia

    088 Disagreement Listening & Aphantasia
    Jun 12 2024
    It can feel like people in disagreement just aren’t listening to each other. We read a study showing disagreement significantly reduces our perceptions of being listened to, regardless of how well our audience does listen. We discuss takeaways for exhibiting active listening behaviors that reduce the effect. Later, we read a review of research on aphantasia (or the condition of not seeing concrete images in your mind’s eye). We reflect on how this dimension of neurodiversity is connected to differences in a variety of human outcomes.
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    43 mins
  • 087 Memory Spacing & Homework Parents

    087 Memory Spacing & Homework Parents
    May 13 2024
    Practice is more effective when we space it out, rather than doing lots of repetitions all at once. We read research that looked at the effect of varied practice compared to identical practice over time. Their results show subtle variation helps students focus and remember the important elements upon recall. Later, we read an account of the negative impacts of graded math homework disproportionately affecting mothers in Canada. We see how homework takes away from family time and undermines the development of math identities.
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    44 mins
  • 086 PBL Effects & Mindfulness Introspection

    086 PBL Effects & Mindfulness Introspection
    Apr 12 2024
    Project-Based Learning is a thoroughly researched method of instruction with many benefits. We read a meta-analysis looking specifically at how PBL affects student motivation, and saw data illustrating just how important an excellent project prompt is to project success. Later, we read a study showing neurofeedback devices can increase the accuracy of students’ understanding of their own emotional state. We consider the responsibility of mindfulness programs to help students respond in healthy ways to their increased emotional engagement.
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    45 mins
  • 085 Academic Anxiety & Principal Leadership

    085 Academic Anxiety & Principal Leadership
    Mar 12 2024
    More schools are looking to address the socio-emotional needs of students, and a key area for that work is helping students manage anxiety in the classroom. We look at a study showing how some accommodations may be reinforcing their anxiety, and how teachers can help students develop healthier strategies for managing it. Later, we read a study of principal characteristics that support teacher self-efficacy and a shared sense of collective efficacy. Communication and modeling are essential, while coercion is deeply ineffective.
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    45 mins