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Teachers Talking Teaching

John Catterson (@jfcatto) and Pete Whiting (@mr_van_w) are two Australian Flipped Educators. Together they talk education, pedagogy and current practice. Find more of Pete and John: Website - www.catfisheducation.com YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrCattersonScience YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/PWhiting
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Now displaying: 2017
Dec 7, 2017

This week Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) have gone on a study tour to Melbourne. 

Today we visited Templestowe College (https://tc.vic.edu.au/) who under the guidance of the Principal Peter Hutton (@Tempcol) are doing amazing and radical things in education.

We are joined on the podcast by colleagues Matt Smedley (@smedboule) and Tom Riley. 

We discuss teaching, Templestowe and how this translates to our our own teaching environment in rural NSW.  

Nov 30, 2017

This week Pete (@mr_van_w) hate-reads a blog post in which traditionalist takes psychological research out of context to prove a point and uses metaphors that don't make any sense. 

John (@jfcatto) shares a fantastic resource from the NSW Department of Education (DEC) and Evidence for Learning. After questioning what the C in DEC might stand for goes through one of their research summaries on Mastery Learning, which may make the "slight" improvement of 150% teaching efficiency. 

 

Pete: Novices use thinking skills. Experts use knowledge. - Adrian Cotterell 

http://adriancotterell.com/index.php/2017/10/09/novices-use-thinking-skills-experts-use-knowledge/ 

 

John: Mastery Learning - Evidence for Learning

http://www.evidenceforlearning.org.au/toolkit/mastery-learning/ 

Nov 23, 2017

In this episode, Pete (@mr_van_w) kick off at yet another downfall in the implementation of NAPLAN and the failings of useful data at a local level.

John (@jfcatto) doesn't mind the concept of Teach for America/Australia but thinks it sound a bit like a cult of poor implementation.

Pete then backs up with an article by friend of the show Steve Griffiths (@sciencesteveg) about research into pre-questioning enhancing retention of content in flipped videos. 

Next week: The premiere of John and Pete's new podcast where they discuss what Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson might talk about if he had a podcast 

 

 

Pete: 

NAPLAN has done little to improve student outcomes - Radhika Goror 

https://theconversation.com/naplan-has-done-little-to-improve-student-outcomes-86049 

 

John:

I Quit Teach for America - Olivia Bloomfield

https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/09/i-quit-teach-for-america/279724/ 

 

Pete: 

Doe Pre-questioning Improve Learning - Steve Griffiths

http://flglobal.org/does-pre-questioning-improve-learning/ 

Nov 16, 2017

Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) love The Rock and facial hair.

Finally, John probes into the disconnect between education research and classroom practitioners and perhaps the need for education communicators. 

Then, Pete talks about how new teachers should be built and supported rather judged and weeded out.  

 

John: Why don't teachers use education research in teaching? - Paul Maclellan

https://eic.rsc.org/analysis/why-dont-teachers-use-education-research-in-teaching/2010170.article 

 

BTW: Flipped Learning is pretty much a waste of time

https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/exclusive-flipped-learning-leads-small-progress

 

Pete: Why Jessica quit teaching: She'd given her heart and soul to those kids but the SLT didn't think it was enough - Thomas Rogers

https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-views/why-jessica-quit-teaching-shed-given-her-heart-and-soul-those-kids 

Nov 9, 2017

John (@jfcatto) looks at some practical tips to share with your students for engaging in "targeted study" rather than busy work. 

Pete (@mr_van_w) tells us about a new show coming to PBS next year that teaches preschoolers meta-cognition and computational thinking.

 

John: "How do I study?" Deliberate Practice in Exam Revision - Melinda Roberts

https://xavier.vic.edu.au/xavier/content/%E2%80%9Chow-do-i-study%E2%80%9D-deliberate-practice-exam-revision 

 

Pet: PBS Show Will Teach Preschoolers to Think Like a Computer - Jenny Abamu

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2017-07-03-new-pbs-show-will-teach-preschoolers-how-to-think-like-computers  

Nov 2, 2017

John (@jfcatto) looks at the difference between good PBL and sending kids off to look stuff up on the internet. Pete (@mr_van_w) how teaching metacognition can help students learn and then goes on an unrelated rant.  

 

John: Why every teacher should look into PBL - Alice Leung (@aliceleung)

https://aliceleung.net/2017/01/26/why-every-teacher-should-look-into-project-based-learning/amp/ 

 

Pete: The Role of Metacognition in Learning and Achievement - Chris Fadel and others

https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2016/08/10/the-role-of-metacognition-in-learning-and-achievement/ 

 

Also if You're Keen: Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians

http://www.curriculum.edu.au/verve/_resources/National_Declaration_on_the_Educational_Goals_for_Young_Australians.pdf 

 

Oct 31, 2017

Pete (@mr_van_w) asks six (well. five really) questions principals ask before getting on board with new EdTech. John (@jfcatto) brings in some tips for doing better PBL.

 

Pete: Six Things Principals Are Thinking When They Get Pitched Edtech - Sara Shenken-rich  

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2017-10-20-six-things-principals-are-thinking-when-they-get-pitched-edtech https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/17/ellen-van-neerven-indigenous-poet-abused-hsc-english-students

 

John: How to Make Sure That Project-based Learning is Applied Well in Schools - Thom Markham (@thommarkham)

https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/12/02/how-to-make-sure-that-project-based-learning-is-applied-well-in-schools/  

 

Oct 20, 2017

After a huge day of flipping radness at Innaburra School, Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) recap the day and some of the take homes. 

 

 

Oct 19, 2017

Pete (@mr_van_w) get disappointed about the racist backlash after the HSC English exam. John (@jfcatto) asks us to look beyond the bare necessaties for 1:1 tech in the classroom. Pete then recounts a positive twitter chat he had about GBL and Gamification. Finally, he warns against teacher nostalgia idolising the students of past.

 

Pete: Indigenous poet Ellen van Neerven abused by year 12 English students - Michael McGowan

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/17/ellen-van-neerven-indigenous-poet-abused-hsc-english-students

 

John: Some blog post that he claims exists but has no proof of. 

 

Pete: The Danger of Teacher Nostalgia - Jennifer Gonzalez 

https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/teacher-nostalgia/

Oct 12, 2017

This week, Pete (@mr_van_w) talks about a Sydney school who has found that teaching philosophy increases primary students ability to verbalise higher order thinking. (Correction: Malabar is actually only "Shire-adjacent" #NotMyShire)  

 

"Comrade" John (@jfcatto) exposes "GOP" Pete's ulterior motive in  teaching student to code. 

 

Pete: Philosophy lesson lead to better behavior and marks in Sydney school - Pallavi Singhal

http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/philosophy-lessons-lead-to-better-behaviour-and-marks-in-sydney-school-20171005-gyusfj.html 

 

John: Tech's push to teach coding isn't about kid's success - it's about cutting wages - Comrade Ben Tarnoff

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/sep/21/coding-education-teaching-silicon-valley-wages 

Sep 21, 2017

John (@jfcatto) looks at some causes and sign of burnout and a few tips for self-care. 

Pete (@mr_van_w) fuels a controlled rage at non-educators dictating what is occurs in schools. In particular influencing curriculum and increase in standardised testing.  

 

John: How To Recognize Burnout Before You're Burned Out - Kenneth R. Rosen

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/05/smarter-living/workplace-burnout-symptoms.htmlhttp://www.corelearn.com/files/Archer/Seating_Arrangements.pdf 

 

Pete: WHOSE SCIENCE? Critics say proposed NM science standards omit evolution. climate change - Olivier Uyttebrouck

https://www.abqjournal.com/1064653/whose-science-excerpt-critics-say-proposed-nm-science-standards-omit-evolution-climate-change.html 

 

Sep 21, 2017

John (@jfcatto) looks at some causes and sign of burnout and a few tips for self-care. 

Pete (@mr_van_w) fuels a controlled rage at non-educators dictating what is occurs in schools. In particular influencing curriculum and increase in standardised testing.  

 

John: How To Recognize Burnout Before You're Burned Out - Kenneth R. Rosen

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/05/smarter-living/workplace-burnout-symptoms.htmlhttp://www.corelearn.com/files/Archer/Seating_Arrangements.pdf 

 

Pete: WHOSE SCIENCE? Critics say proposed NM science standards omit evolution. climate change - Olivier Uyttebrouck

https://www.abqjournal.com/1064653/whose-science-excerpt-critics-say-proposed-nm-science-standards-omit-evolution-climate-change.html 

 

Sep 14, 2017

John (@jfcatto) brings in a meta-study of the relationship between seating arrangements and "on task" activity and links to how we can use these seating arrangements to inform practice in the classroom. 

Pete (@mr_van_w) ponders the NSW government plan to put business professionals in charges of the business of running a school. Taking the load off school principals and allowing them to do what they do best, educational leadership.    

 

 

John: Seating arrangements that promote positive academic and behavioural outcomes: a review of empirical research - Rachel Wannarka and Cathy Ruhl 

http://www.corelearn.com/files/Archer/Seating_Arrangements.pdf 

 

Pete: $50 million shakeup so principals can spend more time on education - Bruce McDougall

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/50-million-shakeup-so-principals-can-spend-more-time-on-education/news-story/4f65b97ce00118057cbc7ca009c18253 

 

Sep 11, 2017

Pre-service teacher and listener Sean (@readingpixels) sent us an email asking a few really good questions. Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) thought would get in friend-of-the-show Matt (@smedboule) to discuss.

Sep 7, 2017

John (@jfcatto) looks at some things that you should and shouldn't do to gifted students in your general classroom. Some he and Pete agree with and some, not so much.  

Pete (@mr_van_w) asks the question "What is the moral obligation of a school, as a public institution, to have an opinion on current issues? 

 

John: Teaching Gifted Students in General Ed Classrooms - Dr Elissa Brown

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/gifted-students-general-ed-classrooms-elissa-brown 

 

Pete: Abbott swipes school on gay marriage - AAP

http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/abbott-swipes-school-on-gay-marriage/news-story/8a8b1c5d3f1f222ce05fca970c67c3ca 

 

Sep 2, 2017

Pete (@mr_van_w) presents a listicle/infographic addressing ways of fostering a Growth Mindset in the classroom.

John (@jfcatto) discusses how the LATE model can be used to frame conversations when students turn to you for help with welfare issues.

 

John: What kids *really* want from us when they ask for help... - Dan Haesler (Donna Cross (Michael Tunnecliffe))

https://danhaesler.com/2016/02/28/what-kids-really-want-from-us-when-they-ask-for-help/ 

 

Pete: Foster a Growth Mindset in Your Class Using These Strategies - Marcus Guido 

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2017/08/foster-growth-mindset-in-your-class.html 

 

 

Sep 2, 2017

Pete (@mr_van_w) presents a listicle/infographic addressing ways of fostering a Growth Mindset in the classroom.

John (@jfcatto) discusses how the LATE model can be used to frame conversations when students turn to you for help with welfare issues.

 

John: What kids *really* want from us when they ask for help... - Dan Haesler (Donna Cross (Michael Tunnecliffe))

https://danhaesler.com/2016/02/28/what-kids-really-want-from-us-when-they-ask-for-help/ 

 

Pete: Foster a Growth Mindset in Your Class Using These Strategies - Marcus Guido 

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2017/08/foster-growth-mindset-in-your-class.html 

 

 

Aug 24, 2017

Pete (@mr_van_w) asks the question "Who is responsible for students success/failure?" and the problem of competition being of detriment to collaboration. Teachers now also feel social pressure for their students to perform.

John continues to draw from the work of @cultofpedagogy and explores some different ways to engage all students in meaningful class discussions.

 

John:

The Big List of Class Discussion Strategies - Jennifer Gonzalez

https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/speaking-listening-techniques/ 

 

Pete: 

'On GCSE results day, teachers now need the top marks as much as the pupils do' - Nikki Cunningham-Smith

https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-views/gcse-results-day-teachers-now-need-top-marks-much-pupils-do 

Aug 17, 2017

John talks about the trouble of "Fish-eye Syndrome" during class discussion and how to avoid the "big personalities" to dominate the conversation, whilst other fade into the background. 

Pete (@mr_van_w) whines about the "relentless" job of teaching, knocking off at 3 in the arvo and getting 10 weeks holidays a year.

 

John:

The Fish-eye Syndrome: Is Every Student Really Participating? - Jennifer Gonzalez

https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/fisheye/ 

 

Pete: 

The Hardest Most Demanding Part of a Teachers Job - Jane Caro

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/school-life/the-hardest-most-underestimated-part-of-a-teachers-job/news-story/a12a81c88028091c3aea49b32a6943fe 

 

Aug 10, 2017

John (@jfcatto) and Pete (@mr_van_w) decided last week that they wanted the podcast to be less about parochial political issues, to allow them to focus on classroom pedagogy and be more globally relevant. This week they throw this out the window when John discusses their local members plan to introduce shooting as an "elective" in schools and Pete counters by discussing the state governments minimum graduation standards and the idea of introducing selective primary schools. So much for strategic direction.  

 

John:

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party calls for firearms permits for 10-year-olds - Andrew Taylor 

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/shooters-fishers-and-farmers-party-calls-for-firearms-permits-for-10yearolds-20170801-gxmyzy.html 

 

Pete: 

NSW should have "selective primary schools" for gifted children: academic - Pallavi Singhal 

http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/nsw-should-have-selective-primary-schools-for-gifted-children-academic-20170720-gxev5i.html 

https://twitter.com/tanya_plibersek/status/888574770974826496 

 

Aug 3, 2017

Pete (@mr_van_w) has a look at the relatively new concept of tutoring companies helping 4-year-olds to "Prep-for-prep" in Queensland. While John (@jfcatto) discusses the need to teach students how to regulate their distraction by tech in the classroom.  

 

 

Pete:

Prepping for Prep - should children play or study to get set for prep year - Tony Moore

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/prepping-for-prep-should-children-play-or-study-to-get-set-for-prep-year-20170717-gxd1nn.html 

 

 

John:

Digital Tools and Distraction in School - Mary Beth Hertz

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/digital-tools-distraction-in-school-mary-beth-hertz 

 

Net Smart: How to thrive online: Chapter 1 Attention - Howard Rheingold 

http://hci.stanford.edu/courses/cs047n/readings/rheingold-net-smart.pdf 

 

Jul 20, 2017

Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) return from the winter holiday to discuss FlipCon NZ the Flipped Classroom and teachers using Twitter to build a Professional Learning Network.   

 

Pete:

Flip Your Classroom - John Bergman and Aaron Sams

https://www.amazon.com/Flip-Your-Classroom-Reach-Student/dp/1564843157 

 

John:

3 Things Teachers Can Do To Get More Out of Twitter - Karen Nelson

https://www.weareteachers.com/3-things-teachers-can-do-to-get-more-out-of-twitter/?utm_content=1499810161&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter 

 

 

Jun 20, 2017

In an uplifting episode of the podcast, John (@jfcatto) talks about some of the traits that can be found in the "best" and "worst" teachers. Pete (@mr_van_w) talks briefly about ways in which to get students to think in the classroom.   

 

 

Articles:

John: The 'Best' and 'Worst' Teachers, According to Reddit - Brenda Iasevoli

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teaching_now/2017/06/the.html 

 

Pete: Cultures of Thinking: Project Zero - Ron Ritchardt 

http://www.pz.harvard.edu/projects/cultures-of-thinking 

via Ryan Gill (@ryanagill) & Carla Gagliano (@carlagagliano)

Project Zero Sydney (#pzsyd)

Jun 8, 2017

Pete (@mr_van_w) highlights the lack of flexibility and possible victim blaming of school uniforms. John (@jfcatto) worries that exam stress may be completely unnecessary and pose little benefit to teaching and learning at a whole. Then Pete leaves everyone on a downer with a new study showing the worryingly high rate of teacher suicide.  

 

Articles:

Pete: My conservative school uniform does not protect me - Jacqueline Rousselot

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/my-conservative-school-uniform-does-not-protect-me-20170601-gwhtvj.html 

 

John: Majority of teenagers have cried due to exam stress, poll finds

https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/majority-teenagers-have-cried-due-exam-stress-poll-finds 

 

Pete: Primary school teachers' suicide rate nearly double national average, figures reveal - May Bulman

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/primary-school-teachers-suicide-rate-double-national-average-uk-figures-a7635846.html 

Jun 1, 2017

Pete (@mr_van_w) calmly deals with the downfall and reinstating of Healthy Harold before asking; what are we expected to teach at school? John (@jfcatto) then replaces the outdated concept of digital natives with three further tech subsets of modern students.   

 

Articles:

Pete: Australian 15-year-olds declining in financial literacy PISA report - Pallavi Singhal

http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/australian-15yearolds-declining-in-financial-literacy-pisa-report-20170523-gwbqem.html 

 

John: Forget "digital natives." Here's how kids are really using the internet - Alexandra Samuel

http://ideas.ted.com/opinion-forget-digital-natives-heres-how-kids-are-really-using-the-internet/ 

 

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