Pete (@mr_van_w) is back and unsurprisingly primed for a rant despite feinting to the contrary. He then espouses the benefits of corporate-speak in the classroom. John (@jfcatto) discusses the complicated issue of specialty teachers in primary education.
Spoilers: Together the solve "Australia's Primary Challenge" #yourewelcome
Articles:
Pete: Why My Classroom Needs A Mission Statement - Joel Speranza (@JoelBSperanza)
http://joelsperanza.com/classroom-practice/mission-statement/
John: Time For Teacher Educators to Step Up on Primary Specialisation - Jacqueline Magee (Learning First)
https://learningfirst.com/blog/2017/5/15/australias-primary-challenge
Affirmative: Should We Have More Specialist Teachers in Primary Education? - Greg Ashman
Negative: Secondary Science and Maths Teachers in Primary Schools are Not the Solution - Dr Charlotte Pezaro
This week Pete (@mr_van_w) is busy, so John (@jfcatto) is carried through the podcast by first year teacher, colleague and regular listener Rich Watkins (@Cambourne26).
Articles:
John: Where is the evidence to support differentiation? - Greg Ashman
https://gregashman.wordpress.com/2017/05/16/where-is-the-evidence-to-support-differentiation/
Rich: Energy and Calm: Brain Breaks and Focused-Attention Practices - Lori Desautels
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/brain-breaks-focused-attention-practices-lori-desautels
In an episode discussing the dangers of taking absolute and polar opinion; Pete (@mr_van_w) talks about the Michaela School and the torrents of vitriol that are directed at the school and more importantly the staff. John (@jfcatto) presents a point of view that he surprisingly doesn't agree with.
Articles:
Pete: I reject your experiences and substitute my own - Mark Johnson (@markxsyst)
https://disengagededucator.wordpress.com/2017/05/07/i-reject-your-experiences-and-substitute-my-own/
John: Are Progressive Teaching Methods A Bit Like Fast Food? - Andy Warner
https://andywarner78.wordpress.com/2017/05/06/are-progressive-teaching-methods-a-bit-like-fast-food/
Pete (@mr_van_w) continues talking about the politicisation of education on the release of Gonski 2.0. John (@jfcatto) brings to the podcast some hard evidence about the benefits of 1:1 computers in Science whilst trying not to mention the DER.
Articles:
Pete: "A range of articles that quote slightly different numbers"
John: Direct link between teaching and learning with laptops and HSC results in Biology, Chemistry and Physics - Simon Crook
http://www.aare.edu.au/blog/?p=2060
John (@jfcatto) looks at some of the ways you can tell if Personalised Learning is working in your classroom. Pete (@mr_van_w) laments the end of the Safe Schools program and discusses the politicisation of education.
Articles:
John: 3 Simple Ways You Can Tell If You're Suceeding Wityh Personalized Learning - Lee Watanabe Crockett
https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/3-ways-succeeding-personalized-learning
Pete: Safe Schools program ditched in NSW, to be replaced by wider anti-bullying plan - Nour Haydor
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-16/safe-schools-program-ditched-in-nsw/8446680
After some catching up after missing out on recording an Ep last week, John (@jfcatto) talks about some of the enthralling tabletop games CIA recruits get to play. Pete (@mr_van_w) talks about L3 and other one-size-fits-all solutions sold to schools by corporate interests.
Articles:
John: The CIA Uses Board Games to Train Officers - and I Got To Play Them - Sam Machkovech
Pete: What We Can Learn From the L3 Debacle - Greg Ashman
https://gregashman.wordpress.com/2017/04/13/what-can-we-learn-from-the-l3-debacle/
Pete (@mr_van_w) is amazed that there are teachers that still believe in learning styles and John (@jfcatto) tries to see the half-full cup in everyone and other "hippy nonsense".
Articles:
Pete: Letting Go of Learning Styles - Amber & Andy Ankowski
http://www.pbs.org/parents/expert-tips-advice/2016/03/letting-go-learning-styles/
John: Assuming Positive Intent - Laura Thomas
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/assuming-positive-intent-laura-thomas
For a change John (@jfcatto) and Pete (@mr_van_w) bring in a couple of good news stories. Well kind of good news.
Articles:
John
Students in Countries with High Religiosity Perform Lower in Science and Mathematics - Gijsbert Stoet & David Geary
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160289617300247
Why the Most Successful Students Have No Passion For School - Jihyun Lee
https://aeon.co/ideas/why-the-most-successful-students-have-no-passion-for-school
Pete: Students Today, Employees Tomorrow - Kristie Kellahan
At the end of a busy week for everyone:
John (@jfcatto) discusses the difference between coding thinking and thinking coding. Whilst Pete (@mr_van_w) bemuses slipping enrollment for private schools.
Articles:
John: In Finland Kids Learn Computer Science Without Computers - Emily Deruy
Honourable mention: @linjdaliukas http://www.helloruby.com/
Pete: Private Schools are losing their magnetic pull
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/private-schools-are-losing-their-magnetic-pull-20170313-guxfzr.html
John (@jfcatto) questions whether we are using technology to substitute or redefine teaching methods and Pete (@mr_van_w) embraces International Women's Day by raising the issue of the lack of girls choosing to learn Science #womanoftheyear
Articles:
John: Are We Innovating or Just Digitising Traditional Teaching - Beth Holland
Pete: Girls and Science a Dream Deferred - Ainissa Ramirez
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/girls-and-science-dream-deferred
Pete (@mr_van_w) critiques a woman he knows nothing about for doing the right thing and speaking up about problems in education and John (@jfcatto) imagines a scenario where we taught how to play baseball as inappropriately as we teach how to do Science.
Articles:
Pete: The Way We Teach Our Children Is Truly Crazy - Elizabeth Farrelly @emfarrelly
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/the-way-we-teach-our-children-is-truly-crazy-20170223-gujyh1.html
John: Why Isn't Science Class More Like Learning to Play Baseball? - Alison Gopnik
John (@jfcatto) brings in a few ways to prepare students for jobs that don't yet exist and Pete (@mr_van_w) discusses the newly released NSW Syllabus.
Articles:
John: 5 Ways to Prepare Your Child for Jobs That Don't Exist Yet - David Dodge
https://codakid.com/5-ways-to-prepare-your-child-for-jobs-that-dont-exist-yet/
Pete: Stage 6 Syllabuses - NSW Education Standards Authority
John (@jfcatto) talks about meaningful home-learning tasks and this week Pete (@mr_van_w) brings in a listicle with tips for new teachers.
Articles:
John: Homework vs. No Homework is the Wrong Question - Maurice Elias
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/homework-vs-no-homework-wrong-question-maurice-elias
Pete: How to Survive in Teaching
https://gregashman.wordpress.com/2017/02/05/how-to-survive-in-teaching-/
John (@jfcatto) brings in a listicle about building a growth mindset and Pete (@mr_van_w) recommends a podcast about teachers admitting they make mistakes.
Articles:
John: Helping Struggling Students Build a Growth Mindset - Marcus Conyers & Donna Wilson
Pete: My Bad Podcast - BAM! Radio Network
Pete (@mr_van_w) decides that two straight white men should fix the problem of apparent sexism in the workplace. After fixing that, John (@jfcatto) looks at some persistent yet incorrect ideas that are often seen as magic bullets for fixing education.
Articles:
Pete: Still Fewer Women in Positions of Leadership - Australian Bureau of Statistics
John: 5 Big Ideas in Education That Don't Work - Anya Kamenetz
http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/01/14/508991615/5-big-ideas-in-education-that-dont-work
Pete (@mr_van_w) decides that two straight white men should fix the problem of apparent sexism in the workplace. After fixing that, John (@jfcatto) looks at some persistent yet incorrect ideas that are often seen as magic bullets for fixing education.
Articles:
Pete: Still Fewer Women in Positions of Leadership - Australian Bureau of Statistics
John: 5 Big Ideas in Education That Don't Work - Anya Kamenetz
http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/01/14/508991615/5-big-ideas-in-education-that-dont-work
John (@jfcatto) discusses the DITCH book and Pete (@mr_van_w) talks about using Twitter to connect with like-minded souls and build a PLN.
Articles:
John: DITCH That Textbook - Matt Miller
Pete: Using Twitter to build a Personal Learning Network
Tags to watch: #NZFlipChat, #FlippedLearning, #FlipClass, #EDChat, #AussieED, #SatChat, #PTChat, #ECTChat
John (@jfcatto) depresses us all with more tales of standardised testing and Pete (@mr_van_w) pulls us out of that hole with use games to enhance reading and writing.
Articles:
John: Behind Singapore's PISA rankings success and why other countries may not want to join in the race - Amanda Wise
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-08/behind-singapore-pisa-rankings-success/8104074
Pete: Books-to-Games: Turning Classic Novels into Role Playing Adventures - Ki Sung
Honourable Mention: Teaching in Higeher Ed Podcast http://keeganslw.com/teaching-in-higher-ed-podcast/