Can learning and development ever adopt the same rigour as clinical research? And how should we judge the usefulness of existing research?

This week on The GoodPractice Podcast, Ross G and Owen welcome return guest Mirjam Neelen to discuss her new book (co-written with Paul A. Kirschner): Evidence-informed learning design

We discuss:

• the problems with research into learning
• the mis-use of terms like 'neuroscience' to justify beliefs
• the difference between corporate learning and academia.

If you'd like to share your thoughts on the show, you can find us on Twitter @RossGarnerGP, @OwenFerguson, and @MirjamN.

To find out more about GoodPractice, visit goodpractice.com or tweet us @GoodPractice or @GoodPracticeAus.

Mirjam's book is available from Kogan Page and she blogs at: 3starlearningexperiences.wordpress.com

The blog Mirjam referenced, by Robert Slavin, was 'Why Can’t Education Progress Like Medicine Does?', available online at: https://robertslavinsblog.wordpress.com/2020/01/09/why-cant-education-progress-like-medicine-does/

The Willingham (2012) book Mirjam referenced was When Can You Trust the Experts?, available from Amazon (https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Can-You-Trust-Experts/dp/1118130278) but summarised here: https://3starlearningexperiences.wordpress.com/2018/06/26/working-in-an-evidence-informed-way/ 

The summary of the 'growth mindset' debate, referenced by Owen, is online here: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/debate-arises-over-teaching-growth-mindsets-to-motivate-students/ 

Ross' recommendations were:

• 11.22.63 (novel), by Stephen King
• Little Women (film), directed by Greta Gerwig
• and Dolly Parton's America (podcast), available on all your usual podcast feeds.