Chalk & Talk Unmasking instructional illusions with Paul Kirschner, Carl Hendrick and Jim Heal (Ep 56)
23 snips
Oct 10, 2025 Join educational heavyweights Paul Kirschner, Carl Hendrick, and Jim Heal as they unravel the secrets behind 'Instructional Illusions.' Kirschner highlights the pitfalls of discovery learning, debunking its allure with cognitive insights. Hendrick critiques the obsession with novelty in education, urging educators to question what innovations truly solve. Heal discusses the expertise illusion and the crucial differences between novice and expert learning. Together, they advocate for a balanced approach that combines student-centered methods with effective teaching strategies.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Illusions Versus Myths
- Instructional illusions flatter to deceive: they feel right but hide underlying failures.
- The book peels back surface intuition using cognitive science to reveal what truly works.
Discovery Feels Good But Fails Often
- Discovery learning feels intuitive but is often inefficient and ineffective.
- Research shows explicit, guided instruction typically outperforms minimal guidance.
Prefer Guided Over Pure Discovery
- Use guided instruction rather than pure discovery: provide explanations, structure, and feedback.
- Treat 'guided discovery' as explicit teaching with support, which is good teaching.
