Carl Hendrick

In this engaging discussion, Carl Hendrick, an academic and author at Academica University in Amsterdam, delves into the intersection of cognitive science and effective teaching. He highlights the power of retrieval practice and interleaving as crucial strategies for enhancing student learning. Beyond techniques, he advocates for transparency in teaching purposes, suggesting that understanding the 'why' can boost student engagement. The conversation also touches on the balancing act of using technology constructively while managing distractions in modern education.

Math professor Anna Stokke and educator Dr. Carl Hendrick discuss topics including growth mindset, motivation vs. academic success, the validity of measuring engagement, teaching critical thinking, the science of learning, the impact of mobile phones on learning, and advice for new teachers.

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.

Dr. Carl Hendrick, a prominent education expert and co-author of influential books, joins the discussion to share five essential strategies every teacher should embrace. He emphasizes the necessity of being open to evidence and highlights the power of retrieval practice. The conversation covers the importance of checking for understanding and aligning curriculum with assessment. Hendrick also challenges traditional beliefs, advocating for a more flexible approach to instruction that enhances student engagement and retention. This insightful chat is filled with actionable tips for educators!

Carl Hendrick, a keynote speaker at researchED Greenwich and an advocate for evidence-based education, shares his insights on the researchED movement. He discusses the paradox of learning, emphasizing that motivation often follows achievement rather than precedes it. Hendrick highlights the importance of translating research into classroom practices and the necessity of structured teaching methods. He also delves into the complexities of direct instruction, exploring how to enhance student engagement through effective communication and collaboration among educators.

Join Nidhi Sachdeva, a Toronto-based educator focusing on equitable practices, and Carl Hendrick, a thought leader in explicit instruction, along with Nathaniel Swain and Pritesh Raichura, as they delve into the power of explicit instruction in leveling the educational playing field. They explore misconceptions, the importance of scaffolding, and how knowledge drives curiosity and creativity. The discussion is a treasure trove of practical insights for teachers aiming to enhance their classroom strategies and foster inclusivity.

In this engaging conversation, Carl Hendrick, a former rock band frontman turned PhD and professor, shares insights from his book on cognitive psychology and teaching. He discusses the critical role of memory in education and the challenges digital distractions pose to student focus. Hendrick critiques traditional teaching methods and emphasizes the importance of structured routines for student motivation. He also explores how deep knowledge can enhance creativity, advocating for a connection between education and passion.

Carl Hendrick discusses how education research can be compared to compiling classic rock albums for teachers, emphasizing the importance of play-based learning in early education. The discussion explores the challenges of applying research in the classroom and the need for teachers to engage with educational research to enhance their practices.

Paul Kirschner, an emeritus professor of educational psychology, and Carl Hendrick, a director of research at Wellington College, explore the intricacies of how learning happens. They discuss the impact of minimal guidance in instruction and share insights on effective strategies for remote teaching. With humor, they relate teaching to culinary arts and address the balance between personal lives and education. The duo emphasizes the significance of foundational knowledge and the transformative power of teacher-student relationships in navigating educational disparities.

SummaryIn this episode of Chalk Dust, Rebecca Birch and Dr Nathaniel Swain are joined by Dr Carl Hendrick, Professor of Education at Academica University of Applied Sciences and co-author of How Learning Happens and How Teaching Happens. Together, the team explore real classroom footage from Australian classrooms, reflecting on how teachers respond when learning doesn’t go exactly to plan.They analyse three lessons: Jeanette Breen’s Year 3 class tackling sentence kernels, Troy from Sophia College guiding students through sentence fragments in a secondary context, and Mark De Bruin from Cranbrook using a “Do Now” and visualiser work to develop literacy. Across these examples, Carl, Rebecca and Nathaniel highlight what expert teachers do when slides contain errors, students answer unexpectedly, or early practice shows misconceptions.Themes include how to pivot in real-time, why checking for understanding is more than asking “are we good?”, and how to create psychological safety so imperfect student work can be used as a springboard for improvement. They also discuss the role of cultural knowledge in English, why retrieval practice can fail if poorly executed, and how responsive teaching underpins explicit instruction.Carl reflects on the “illusions of learning” that shaped his forthcoming book, co-written with Paul Kirschner, and explains why engagement, apparent fluency, or polished lessons are not always indicators of genuine understanding.Mentioned resources and explainersHow Learning Happens / How Teaching HappensCarl’s earlier books with Paul Kirschner distilling core findings from cognitive psychology for teachers.The Writing Revolution (TWR)Referenced in Jeanette’s lesson, this approach uses sentence kernels to build syntactic and compositional fluency. Contact Ballarat Clarendon College for opportunities to complete this training at a time convenient for Australian participants. Retrieval PracticeCarl and Nathaniel note how surface-level “Do Nows” can fail unless they actually prompt students to connect prior knowledge. Christine Counsell’s writing on history teaching is mentioned as a model.Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK)Lee Shulman’s concept, invoked when Troy pivots his grammar explanation, illustrating how teachers need multiple representations of knowledge, not just content expertise.“Illusions of Learning” (forthcoming book)Carl previews his new book with Paul Kirschner and Jim Hill, addressing why engagement, confidence or “busyness” can mislead teachers about true learning. You can pre-order here. Listen or view, and support our work📨 Substack — sign up🍏🎧 Apple Podcasts — like, review and follow🎵💚 Spotify — follow and rate📺🔔 YouTube — subscribe and like✍️ Rebecca’s Substack — read more✍️ Nathaniel’s Substack — read moreTakeaways* Responsive teaching means pivoting when materials or answers don’t align with expectations.* Checking for understanding requires variety—listening, thinking, and retrieval are not the same.* Student work, even if imperfect, is a powerful lever for whole-class improvement.* Retrieval practice only works if students genuinely recall prior knowledge, not just copy prompts.* Cultural and content knowledge are prerequisites for deeper learning, particularly in English.* Explicit teaching is not only “telling,” it’s breaking down steps, modelling improvement, and making excellence visible.* Great lessons are built on earlier culture-setting and routines, not just what happens in the room that day.Keywordsexplicit teaching, Carl Hendrick, Rebecca Birch, Nathaniel Swain, Chalk Dust podcast, sentence kernels, The Writing Revolution, retrieval practice, do now, visualiser, student work, responsive teaching, adaptive teaching, pedagogical content knowledge, illusions of learning, guided practice, explicit instruction, classroom culture, checking for understanding This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chalkdust.media