In Don’t @ Me (2:09), Tom calls on all educators to advocate their positions honestly, rather than resorting to creating caricatures on the other side of a debate. Then, Tom is joined by Dr. Thomas Murrary (9:33) for a conversation about what means for students to be “future-ready.” Finally, in Assessment Corner (57:05), Tom (in part 3 of 3) shares … Read More
Reclaiming Inquiry-Based Learning through Co-Design (w Trevor MacKenzie)
Inquiry-based learning is often misunderstood as leaving students to “discover” the curriculum on their own. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Trevor MacKenzie is a high school teacher, author, and speaker who is internationally recognized as a thought leader in inquiry-based education. On the episode, we talk about what inquiry is, and isn’t, to better understand how to partner … Read More
Disruption, Storytelling, and Values in a Thinking Classroom (w Peter Liljedahl)
Many of our institutional norms are causing “studenting” behavior that stifles thinking. Dr. Peter Liljedahl’s research aims to disrupt this behavior through “contrarian experimental methodology” and he has discovered 14 practices that liberate thinking in the classroom. Though his research took place in Mathematics, his findings are applicable for any educator that wants to tap into the emotional experience through … Read More
How can Assessment Cultivate Equity, Learning, and Community? (w Adelee Penner)
Assessment has many negative emotions attached to it due to the history of the word, yet it has so much potential to cultivate the equitable learning communities we all dream of. Adelee Penner has experienced the school system in a wide range of roles, from teacher to leader, public to private, and system-wide to independent. In the episode, we discuss … Read More
The Learning Diamond
Though we are learning more about the importance of our relationships in schools and workplaces, which are the relationships that actually drive learning? In this solo episode, host Natalie Vardabasso explains how our relationships with a mentor, a champion, a coach, and ourselves create the optimal learning diamond. Show Notes: Defining the pinnacle of the learning diamond and guide for … Read More
