Greg Ashman, Deputy Principal at Ballarat Clarendon College and author of three books on instructional practice, dives into the relevance of cognitive load theory in classrooms. He discusses the gap between educational research and practical application, specifically addressing why effective methods like phonics aren't widely adopted. Ashman highlights the significance of explicit teaching, better teacher training, and creating a coherent school culture to improve learning outcomes, along with innovative strategies to retain knowledge effectively.