What's your teaching new year's resolution and should your lessons be fun?
Jan 10, 2025
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The hosts kick off with personal anecdotes, including holiday chaos and a challenging medical experience. They dive into the balance of fun and seriousness in lessons, discussing effective strategies to engage students outside traditional methods. There's a heartfelt critique of the emphasis on core subjects at the expense of creativity and the importance of safeguarding in education. They also share humorous resolutions for the new year aimed at enhancing classroom dynamics while reducing stress for educators.
Retrieval practice is vital for enhancing memory retention and academic performance, showcasing effective methods for student learning.
The podcast emphasizes the importance of understanding educators' personal challenges, highlighting the need for compassion in professional interactions.
A debate on whether lessons should be fun underscores the necessity of balancing engagement and serious academic content in teaching.
Deep dives
Importance of Retrieval Practice in Education
Retrieval practice is emphasized as a vital strategy for enhancing student memory retention and learning outcomes. The episode discusses a free webinar hosted by Carousel Learning featuring psychology expert Mike Hobbis, aimed at providing educators with new resources to effectively apply retrieval practices, particularly in A-level psychology. Through continuous practice and exposure, students can strengthen their cognitive recall abilities and improve their academic performance over time. This ongoing focus on retrieval strategies illustrates how educational platforms can aid teachers in implementing effective teaching methods.
Challenging Experiences During Recovery
The hosts share personal anecdotes about challenging recovery experiences following surgery, highlighting the unexpected complexities that can arise in seemingly straightforward situations. One speaker discusses a particularly agonizing experience during post-operative care, including the lengthy wait before surgery and the overwhelming pain that followed anesthesia. The narrative reveals how such medical challenges can impact one’s well-being and mental state, especially when transitioning back into roles as educators. This commentary serves to humanize the challenges educators face outside the classroom, reminding listeners of the importance of understanding and compassion in professional interactions.
Debate on Fun in Education
A significant discussion revolves around the appropriateness of 'fun' in the classroom and its implications for student engagement and learning outcomes. A controversial headline from a union suggests that fun lessons could help keep students in class, prompting mixed reactions from educators who emphasize that teaching fundamental subjects should take precedence over entertainment. The conversation underscores the necessity of balancing engaging methods with serious academic content, arguing that effective teaching can still instill a sense of accomplishment without resorting to gimmicks. This debate illustrates the diverse perspectives educators hold regarding the role of enjoyment in learning environments.
Reflections on Systemic Challenges in Education
The episode reflects on the systemic challenges within educational settings, particularly in relation to safeguarding practices and the pressures faced by school leaders. Ofsted's approach to evaluating schools begins to change, with an emphasis on ensuring that inspections consider the broader context of challenges faced by educational establishments. The discussion also highlights the need for schools to maintain high standards for safeguarding while acknowledging the complexities of operating within a system that may inadvertently place additional burdens on staff. This nuanced perspective brings to light the ongoing need for reform and support for both students and educators in navigating these issues.
New Year’s Resolutions for Educators
Engaging in a lighthearted discussion about New Year’s resolutions, the hosts survey various educators' commitments for the new year, showcasing their diverse aspirations and challenges. Resolutions range from practical classroom management goals to personal reflections on self-compassion and work-life balance. Some humorous responses touch on unrealistic expectations teachers often face while aiming for improvement amidst busy schedules. This segment cultivates a sense of community and shared experience among educators, reminding them that renewal and growth in their practices can take on many forms.
In this episode, Adam and Amy go over some potential resolutions that might supercharge your teaching this year. They also spend some time looking at the big education stories of the Christmas break like Martyn Oliver's answers to the Commons Education committee and whether or not lessons should be fun.
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