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