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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: 2019
Nov 28, 2019

In another episode of the occasional podcast Teachers Talking Teaching John (@jfcatto) contemplates the the way in which schools and society frame resilience to children, particularly the ones that need it most. Pete (@mr_van_w) then discusses the equity of the HSC and subsequent university admission system. 

 

John: Rethinking 'resilience' and 'grit' - Alissa Quart

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2019/11/09/opinion/rethinking-resilience-grit/

Pete: In defence of the HSC - Blaise Joseph

https://www.cis.org.au/commentary/articles/in-defence-of-the-hsc/

The Sins of the Father - Pran Patel

https://theteacherist.com/2019/11/10/the-sins-of-the-father/

 

Oct 24, 2019

Another haphazard release finds Pete (@mr_van_w) just returned from ResCon in Brisbane where he was inspired by a presentation to go back to the work of John Dewey. John (@jfcatto) then is impressed by a innovative school but worried about how the motivations affect future implementation. 

Pete: John Dewey on How to Find Your Calling, the Key to a Fulfilling Vocation, and Why Diverse Interests Are Essential for Excellence in Any Field - Maria Popova 

https://www.brainpickings.org/2015/10/20/john-dewey-democracy-and-education-calling/

 

John: Kelvinside Academy open Nuvu Innovation School - Jody Harrison (@jodeharrisonHT)  

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17961074.kelvinside-academy-opens-nuvu-innovation-school/

Sep 12, 2019

In a triumphant return-from-hiatus episode John (@jfcatto) and Pete (@mr_van_w) make history by bringing so such synergy to the table that they that they have read the same article.

Students don't like the brain-sweats because it hurts their head. Unfortunately, learning is hard.

 

Articles: 

Pete: Study shows students in 'active learning' classrooms learn more than they think - Peter Reuell

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2019/09/study-shows-that-students-learn-more-when-taking-part-in-classrooms-that-employ-active-learning-strategies/

 

John: Study shows students in 'active learning' classrooms learn more than they think - Peter Reuell 

https://phys.org/news/2019-09-students-classrooms.html

 

Aug 8, 2019

This week Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) are back and a bit more upbeat. Pete did a viva voce and really dug it. 

John discusses Personalised Learning and some peoples worries about privacy of third party companies from Silicon Valley.

Pete raises questions of the conduct of student evaluations of teaching, how much credence we put in student opinions and how those opinions can be implicitly biased. 

 

Articles:

John: The Messy Reality of Personalized Learning - E. Tammy Kim

https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/the-messy-reality-of-personalized-learning

 

Pete: Students evaluation of teaching are not only unreliable, they are significantly biased against female instructors - Anne Boring, Kelly Ottoboni and Phillip B. Stark

https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2016/02/04/student-evaluations-of-teaching-gender-bias/

 

On Shame and 'Daring Classrooms': We Need to Fix Systems, Not Kids - Christina Torres

https://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/intersection-culture-and-race-in-education/2019/08/on-shame-and-daring-classrooms-we-need-to-fix-systems-not-kids.html

 

Jul 30, 2019

This is just a quick little episode as a welcome to those new to the profession. It's the best job in the world but it's challenging.

Glad to have you on board.

Stay shiny Pony Boy!

Jul 26, 2019

Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) have finally made Episode 100. Crack out a bottle of champagne and lets' celebrate... actually scrap that this one is a super downer. Listener discretion is advised.

Pete, a proud Kamilaroi man, gets super angry and about a teacher gamifying their classroom using the framework of colonialism.

John then brightens the day with new study from the OECD that finds that Australian teachers are have higher workload and more administration.     

 

Pete:

Gamifying settler colonialism - Benjamin Doxtdador (@doxtdadorb) 

https://www.longviewoneducation.org/gamifying-settler-colonialism/

John: 

Australian teachers have higher workloads, fewer resources: OECD report - EducationHQ News  

https://au.educationhq.com/news/60602/australian-teachers-have-higher-workloads-fewer-resources-oecd-report/

 

 

The Herd ft. L-FRESH the LION - 77% (live for Like A Version)

 

https://youtu.be/StORD4EgvWY 

Jul 1, 2019

This week/fortnight/month Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) barely manage to get an episode out with John on the editing decks. He's pretty rubbish.

John ruminates on a listener comment and laments the perceived goal of edupreneurs of aiming bigger and not wasting their life in the classroom. 

Pete regales us with the link between teaching and magic and his admiration for Penn and Teller. Romance, precision and generalisation. 

Then John finishes up with a teacher who has put together a African-american book list so that little black boys and girls can read abut themselves. 

 

Articles:

John: Breaking Good: Ex-Chemistry teacher becomes a billionaire - Venus Feng

https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/breaking-good-ex-chemistry-teacher-becomes-a-billionaire-20190613-p51x5t.html

 

Pete: Teaching: Just Like Performing Magic - Jessica Lahey

https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/01/what-classrooms-can-learn-from-magic/425100/ 

 

John: Black Kids Like Reading About Themselves - Dwayne Reed (@TeachMrReed)

https://medium.com/@dwaynepreed_60537/kids-like-reading-about-themselves-c6b75c78ef2b

 

 

 

Jun 13, 2019

This week Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) grapple with the intersection of ideology and economic sense when it comes to www.teacherpayteachers.com. Then John highlights the staggeringly large number of people that it takes to educate a child from K-12. 

 

Pete: Teachers are making millions selling their lesson plans online - Carolyn Thompson

https://www.businessinsider.com/teachers-making-millions-online-lesson-plans-2017-4

 

John: The big picture: How many people influence a student's life - Kim Marshall

https://www.kappanonline.org/marshall-how-many-people-influence-student-life/

 

www.aeon.net.au

 

Jun 12, 2019

In this mini episode, Pete (@mr_van_w) continues his homework with Dave Burgess' Teach Like a Pirate.

We're on the third section RRRRR.

R is for Rapport.

Pete also wrote about this on his blog, you should check it out - he uses some sweet memes.

https://mrvanw.com/2019/06/11/rapport-with-a-reluctant-audience-a-teach-like-a-pirate-read-along/

or simply:
Https://mrvanw.com 

Jun 6, 2019

Pete (@mr_van_w) asks when is it appropriate to start teaching students about sexuality and in particular non-cis/binary/fluid sexuality. He also brought a good news story about an inspiring Indigenous principal. John (@jfcatto) then highlight the divide between research and practice in education and that the way to being a good teacher is by striving to be a better teacher.   

 

Pete: Can teachers be trusted to teach primary school pupils about LGBT relationships - Joe Baron 

https://joethebaron21.blogspot.com/2019/05/can-teachers-be-trusted-to-teach.html

At school, Nicole's classmates didn't talk to her, now she's an inspiring principal - Helen Pitt

https://www.smh.com.au/national/at-school-nicole-s-classmates-didn-t-talk-to-her-now-she-s-an-inspiring-principal-20190523-p51qew.html

 

John: Teaching not a research-based profession - Dylan William

https://www.tes.com/news/dylan-wiliam-teaching-not-research-based-profession

 

AEON

http://www.aeon.net.au/

 

Vanilla Australian Observational Comedy:

Carl Barron https://youtu.be/wooAsMxJGy0 

Third drawer from the Top - Jimoen https://youtu.be/Jqe4_MOHB3o 

May 30, 2019

In another busy week Pete (@mr_van_w) record his own podcast in preparation for not getting together to record. Then due to a last minute Maths assessment task, he is off class and manages to track down John (@jfcatto) to talk about Singapore moving to get rid of marks and ranks.

 

Pete: 50 Years of Children Drawing Sciencetists - Youki Terada 

https://www.edutopia.org/article/50-years-children-drawing-scientists

 

John: Why The Worlds Best School System Is Getting Rid of Grades  -Bonnie Rivas Ras 

https://www.goodnet.org/articles/worlds-best-school-system-getting-rid-grades

May 23, 2019

This week John (@jfcatto) crosses the schism and discusses when a traditional classroom setting may be a positive experience for students and attempts to delve into some of the considerations in implementation beyond the trad/prog dichotomy.

Pete (@mr_van_w) continues with his Dave Burgess read along. This week the I in PIRATE, Immersion.

 

 

John: Good schools help children behave - Tom Bennett @tombennett71

https://behaviourguru.blogspot.com/2019/05/good-schools-help-children-behave.html

 

Pete: Immersion: Undividing my attention - A Teach Like a Pirate readalong - Mr Van W

https://mrvanw.com/2019/05/13/immersion-undividing-my-attention-a-teach-like-a-pirate-read-along/

May 10, 2019

Pete started reading a book by Dave Burgess that you may have heard of - Teach Like a Pirate. This is his read-along making sure he does his homework. This edition of his read-along we're talking about passion, that's right, P for Passion and P for Pirate. Pete loves an acronym. Originally Pete thought this book wasn't serious enough. He was wrong, it's very cool and he's getting a lot from it straight away.

John found some questions to help us both become more reflective teachers. They're good. Then John made Pete feel bad, but Pete edits the podcast so he just cut it out and added more of him being a fool in.

Come talk to us on the internet at @mr_van_w and @Jfcatto

Pete:

https://mrvanw.com/2019/05/06/finding-my-passion-again-a-teach-like-a-pirate-read-along/

John:

https://www.wabisabilearning.com/blog/reflective-questions-teachers

 

May 3, 2019

SPOILERS!

While running the mic for testing John (@jfcatto) had some hot takes on Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 3. So we kept it for you.

Enjoy this out take.

May 2, 2019

Pete and John return feeling not-so refreshed after the break, then open with some somewhat disputable Tips to Teachers. 

Pete then looks at some of the ways we as teachers build a focus on self-improvement of our students, through allowing multiple test takes. Without falling into the trap of students outsmarting us and falsely inflating their marks. 

John tries to find the middle ground when it comes to differentiation. Trying to find something that supports all learners in the class, without labelling students or burdening teachers with an unsustainable workload. 

 

 

Pete: Allowing Test Retakes - Without Getting Gamed - Stephen Merrill @smerrill777

https://www.edutopia.org/article/allowing-test-retakes-without-getting-gamed

 

John: All aboard the magical mystery bus: keeping them on the bus - Jotter Pad: A Teacher's Notes

https://jotterpadteachersnotes.blogspot.com/2019/04/all-aboard-magical-mystery-tour-keeping.html

 

Apr 30, 2019

SPOILERS!

While running the mic for testing John (@jfcatto) had some hot takes on Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 3. So we kept it for you.

Enjoy this out take.

Apr 4, 2019

Pete concedes that Direct and Explicit pedagogy has a place in education. #anotherstinginyourbow #whynotboth

John looks at some of the factor to consider when getting students to take notes in class. #itsalittlemorecomplicated

 

Pete: In defence of inquiry based pedagogies - Robert Stevens

https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/professional-learning/scan/past-issues/vol-38,-2019/in-defence-of-inquiry-based-pedagogies

 

John: Factors of Effective Note Taking: Application of Cognitive Load Theory - Carolina Kuepper-Tetzel 

http://www.learningscientists.org/blog/2018/9/13-1

 

Mar 28, 2019

Pete (mr_van_w) discusses Scientism, Scepticism with a K also with a K, tells us that sometimes proper Science doesn't matter in Education Research. Stuff your double blind RCTs are just evidence.

John (@jfcatto) then regales us with a Puff Listicle to make us feel better about our life choices. #Experienceisstillexperience. 

 

 

Pete: The problem with using scientific evidence in education (why teachers should stop trying to be more like doctors) - Lucinda McKnight and Andy Morgan

https://www.aare.edu.au/blog/?p=3874

 

John: Should I Be A Teacher? Here Are 24 Awe-Inspiring Reasons To Consider It - Dave Saba

https://www.teachersoftomorrow.org/blog/insights/should-i-be-a-teacher

Mar 28, 2019

Pete (mr_van_w) discusses Scientism, Scepticism with a K also with a K, tells us that sometimes proper Science doesn't matter in Education Research. Stuff your double blind RCTs are just evidence.

John (@jfcatto) then regales us with a Puff Listicle to make us feel better about our life choices. #Experienceisstillexperience. 

 

 

Pete: The problem with using scientific evidence in education (why teachers should stop trying to be more like doctors) - Lucinda McKnight and Andy Morgan

https://www.aare.edu.au/blog/?p=3874

 

John: Should I Be A Teacher? Here Are 24 Awe-Inspiring Reasons To Consider It - Dave Saba

https://www.teachersoftomorrow.org/blog/insights/should-i-be-a-teacher

Mar 28, 2019

Pete (mr_van_w) discusses Scientism, Scepticism with a K also with a K, tells us that sometimes proper Science doesn't matter in Education Research. Stuff your double blind RCTs are just evidence.

John (@jfcatto) then regales us with a Puff Listicle to make us feel better about our life choices. #Experienceisstillexperience. 

 

 

Pete: The problem with using scientific evidence in education (why teachers should stop trying to be more like doctors) - Lucinda McKnight and Andy Morgan

https://www.aare.edu.au/blog/?p=3874

 

John: Should I Be A Teacher? Here Are 24 Awe-Inspiring Reasons To Consider It - Dave Saba

https://www.teachersoftomorrow.org/blog/insights/should-i-be-a-teacher

Mar 21, 2019

Pete (@mr_van_w) tries to view NAPLAN from the perspective of parents. They went to a school so they are experts after all.

John (@jfcatto) discusses how important it is for teachers to display their values and love of learning through actions and what the prioritise rather than empty rhetoric a piles of busy work. 

 

 

'Not without a fight': The radical plan to overhaul NAPLAN - Jordan Baker

https://www.smh.com.au/education/not-without-a-fight-parents-reject-plan-to-revamp-naplan-20190320-p515ve.html

 

Schools as Places of Joy: We Are Responsible For the Cultures That We Create - Mike Crowley (@crowley_mike)

https://crowleym.com/2018/11/18/schools-as-places-of-joy-we-are-responsible-for-the-cultures-that-we-create/

Mar 14, 2019

This week Pete (@mr_van_w) delves into why we should take no notice of the demonisation of technology in the media and the flawed/misreported Science that leads to it.

John (@jfcatto) considers the introverts in the class and how we should stop hassling them to fit our "participation" expectations and think of more flexible measures of "engagement".

 

 

References

Flipped 3.0 Problem Based Learning - Dan Jones (@ideasforteacher)

https://flippedtrainer.weebly.com/ 

 

The Kids (Who Use Tech) Seem to Be Alright - Lydia Denworth

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-kids-who-use-tech-seem-to-be-all-right/ 

 

The TeachThought Podcast - Jared Cooney Horvath

https://www.teachthought.com/podcast/the-teachthought-podcast-ep-159-the-science-of-deeper-learning-and-why-were-not-doing-more-of-it/ 

 

How to teach and young introvert - Kate Torgovnik May

https://ideas.ted.com/how-to-teach-a-young-introvert/ 

Susan Cain's TED Talk - The Power of Introverts

https://youtu.be/c0KYU2j0TM4 

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking 

https://youtu.be/zNYPKkx1bhs 

 

 

Feb 21, 2019

This week Pete (@mr_van_w) urges us to see our students as more than just data points and dollar signs. Then a straight white male (@jfcatto) talks at us about how to deal with teenage girls when they are being cray cray.  

 

Articles

Pete: Are You Data-Driven? - Tonya Gilchrist 

https://tonyagilchrist.com/are-you-data-driven/ 

 

John: How to Help Teenage Girls Reframe Anxiety and Strengthen Resilience - Deborah Farmer Kris 

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/52994/how-to-help-teenage-girls-reframe-anxiety-and-strengthen-resilience 

Feb 14, 2019

This week Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) walk into a podcast with no preparation and manage to waffle on for 40ish minutes about a PD lecture that the school put on this week. After which a staff member was overheard saying "that was less of a waste of my life than I expected". 

 

PD: The Learning Trajectory - Dr Jared Horvath

https://www.scienceoflearning.com.au/ 

Feb 8, 2019

Welcome to 2019. Hopefully things are different here. Pete has hard a "hard reset" and John is... present. Pete (@mr_van_w) is upset by how much language effects the way we relate to each other. John (@jfcatto) argues the perhaps pedantic difference between politics and civics.

 

Articles

Pete: Teachers should 'see the child, not the label' - expert - Brett Henebery

https://www.theeducatoronline.com/au/news/teachers-should-see-the-child-not-the-label--expert/259543 

 

John: Education is Not Activism - Michael Salter @mikesalter74 

https://pocketquintilian.wordpress.com/2019/01/12/education-is-not-activism/ 

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