How much math is needed for a student to be prepared to learn physics? Do they need two years of algebra? Does the work in a chemistry class add to their preparation? Does none of it matter, and “physics-first” does just fine with a well designed curriculum? A listener sent me these kinds of questions… Read More »
Blog
The 85% Rule
A recent article on Scientific American has been finding some traction on Twitter, and it talks about some recent research on how to optimize difficulty to maximize learning. The paper in question is still under review, but a preprint copy can be found here. Why I like this paper Well, let’s start with the basics:… Read More »
On Teacher Autonomy
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine is having the workshop Realizing the Vision: NGSS District Implementation. They are live streaming the whole event – which is awesome – and I’ve been tuned in all day. A thread that has developed during the proceedings is how this room of policy makers develop initiatives and… Read More »
About that “Benefit Mindset”…
Mindset has been key to my educational practice for most of my career. I cultivate a growth mindset in my students with my incentive structures, my feedback, my daily language, my assessment policies… it shapes how I educate. Dr. Dweck’s book Mindset changed me the day I read it. Dr. Duckworth’s Grit elaborated on the growth… Read More »
Talking about Professionalism – The Planning Period Podcast
Michael recently joined Brad Shreffler on The Planning Period Podcast to chat about education. “[We] talk about educational research and what teachers should do with it, the differences between K-12 and college education, professionalism of educators and where it is lacking internally and externally, why teachers don’t reflect enough on their practice, what true reflective practice… Read More »
Building Relationships with Dolores Greenawalt
Ralph: So this month we’re going to start things off with another guest. We have an adjunct professor from Carroll University who teaches English primarily to freshman and her scholarship focuses primarily on the connections between students and teachers in education especially in higher education. Let us both welcome Delores Greenawalt. Greenawalt: Hello. Thank… Read More »
In My Classroom – Teaching in Higher Ed
I appeared on Teaching in Higher Education, with Bonnie Stachowiak. We talked about how active learning, meta-cognition, and reflective practice are important in higher education just as much as they are in K-12 education. Hear some stories from my university classroom and how my teaching priorities manifest in the post-secondary environment. Check it out! … Read More »
A Keystone Habit Shapes our Practice
People who exercise are more likely to eat healthy. If you make your bed, you’ll be more productive throughout the rest of your day. These behaviors that seem to create a cascade of other positive behaviors are called keystone habits. You can find lists of good habits all over the internet. Finding a professional keystone… Read More »
Research Responsive Teaching with Caroline & Jacob
Caroline and Jacob joined us on episode 018 Listen for What’s Behind the Words to discuss how they research responsive teaching with veteran teachers. Ralph: So this month’s primary segment; I had a chance to travel down to Texas to do a professional development event with the UTeach program and all of the replication… Read More »
Teacher Prep in English with Dr. Heidi Hallman
Dr. Heidi Hallman joined us on episode 012 Coherence & Dissonance to discuss how teacher preparation in English has changed in recent decades. Ralph: So for our first segment we’re excited to have Dr. Heidi Hallman joining us and she comes with quite a reputation here in the education community. You are an associate… Read More »