16:1 - Education, Teaching, & Learning

There are millions of content creators around the world generating and sharing educational content (videos, articles, photos, podcasts, and other resources) intended to help students and teachers learn across a wide array of subjects, crafts, and disciplines. These creators provide media and materials that can be useful in classrooms or as supplementary materials for self-directed learning. At 16:1, we love to see creators sharing their love of learning, and in this episode, we're highlighting some of our favorites. Happy 2023, listeners!Sources:YouTube - In A NutshellTED - EducationCrash CourseSciShowHow Stuff WorksNatGeo - How Things WorkLaura RandazzoTikTok - Risha AllenTikTok - Mr. HamiltonTwitter - Big Bird JokeTaylor Jenkins Reid - The Book Loft

Episode Transcript:A Love Letter to LearningHappy holidays, 16:1 listeners, and welcome to another special episode of the podcast. Several weeks ago in episode 72, you heard my co-host and co-creator Katie’s audio essay called “A Love Letter to Teaching.” If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, check it out— it’s a timely and heartfelt reflection on what it means to be an educator. As many of you know, I’m not a classroom teacher. I thought I wanted to be for quite a long time, and part of me occasionally still wonders whether I missed my calling. The fact that I get to do this podcast about education, teaching, and learning fills some of that hole in my heart left by my decision to pursue a career outside of academia, and the thought that you listeners have been willing to tag along with me on this journey is hugely inspiring.Katie and I started this podcast in part because we found ourselves asking a lot of big questions about education in our down time. Many of these questions have been rattling around in my head for years, and I came to many of them because I have benefitted from exceptional educational opportunities in my life. As a kid, my parents supported a voracious reading habit and stood by patiently to help with homework, college applications, and managing an absurd extracurricular schedule. My public school teachers were patient, hardworking, and dedicated to nurturing each and every one of their students’ pilgrimages toward growth and success. In college and grad school, the habits of curiosity that I’d been developing and deepening for years helped me navigate some of the most lasting questions of philosophy, mathematics, language, music, physics, and more.Asking difficult questions is a skill. Finding out which questions matter most to you is also a skill. I’ve been so lucky to be in educational contexts where these skills are recognized as such— techniques to be practiced, expanded, refined, and forged in the fires of an increasingly interconnected and polarized world. Both professionally and personally, I’ve adopted what I suppose you could call a learning-focused worldview. Learning drives me. It gets me out of bed in the morning. We can always learn! About everything! We can learn about our jobs and academic interests. We can learn how to be better partners and family members. We can learn to be better citizens and stewards of the environment. We can learn to affect sociopolitical change. We can learn about our own bodies and how to take better care of them. We can even learn how to be better learners.We have so many opportunities to learn. Public libraries provide vast resources for the edification of a global citizenry. Nonprofits and educational organizations around the world are investing in initiatives that reach underserved communities and introduce more equity in educational opportunity. While most people look at the internet and see the havoc wrought by various social platforms and media engines (and, trust me, I also see all of that mess), the internet has also democratized access to humankind’s accumulated knowledge. There are so many people out there creating so many deeply compelling and informative videos, courses, books, articles, and podcasts. (I listen to SO. MANY. PODCASTS.) There is an app for every kind of learning— you can learn languages, you can learn to build a business, you can learn about space travel and playing tennis and how to train your dog. There are millions of volunteers dedicating their time to moderating and curating online communities built entirely around learning. All of this contributes to the increasingly important idea that internet access should be treated as a fundamental human right. Though we’ve got a long way to go on this front, there’s plenty of inertia in the right direction.Amidst all of this overabundance of educational opportunity, however, there’s a growing undercurrent of skepticism about learning, the kinds of learning that we do, and the politics and purpose of learning. Inspiring curiosity is the primary and most difficult job of an educator, and this job becomes more arduous with every passing day. Our attention spans are waning; cultural and political forces reward being loud and controversial as opposed to being thorough, disciplined, and logical. Earnestness and an eagerness to learn are seen as cringeworthy; propaganda and conspiracy theories inundate us. Learning is highly politicized, and that’s probably because learning is (among other things) a political act. Alongside our families, friends, and coworkers, it is what shapes our values and helps us decide what is important and what is just. Knowledge is transformational; it is what turns passive people into engaged citizens. Learning makes leaders— good ones and bad ones. Learning shapes our electorate. Some of our leaders recognize the power of learning, and some of them are afraid of that power. We are banning books, we are cutting humanities programming, and we are reducing the rich and complex undertaking of education to the task of “job preparation.” We need a cultural reset, and education is the best antidote for our collective sickness.So what do we do about this? I think the first and simplest step each of us can take is to make a concerted effort to bring our friends and peers with us on our journeys of learning. On our podcast episodes each month, Katie and I always share at least one thing that we’ve learned since the last episode. This can make for some random tangents, but sharing about learning is how learning takes hold of our hearts and catches fire. Did you read an interesting article or book? Listen to an interesting podcast? Go to an interesting event? Tell your friends about it. Start book clubs. Write blog posts. Dive deep into difficult conversations. Become more than a passive consumer of information— pay attention to your own habits of learning and the sources from which that learning originates. Be willing to be wrong, and be willing to adapt to the feedback you will receive along your learning journey.Turn down the volume of your conversations online, and turn up the value. Share generously. Replace political and cultural labels and generalizations with collections of thoughts, beliefs, and convictions. Realize that, despite appearances, most people are not out to get you. Most people are doing the best they can with the information that they have. Think of how much better we could do if we all expanded our horizons, listened to more voices from communities outside of our own, and approached learning as a process undertaken for the purpose of liberation.Learn for learning’s sake, and learn broadly. This probably sounds like a chore to some people; I’m going to ask you simply to trust me that the effort is worth it. Read about topics in which you’ve never before been interested. Go deeper into the topics you already think you understand. Carve some time out of each day (even if it’s just a few moments) to learn something new. And support the teachers in your life! These are the people who have decided that liberation through learning is fundamental to humanity’s collective undertakings. Embrace the responsibility that we all have to guarantee a better future through education.As we head into 2023, 16:1 would like to thank each one of you for walking with us on our own path of learning. We created this podcast primarily because we wanted to learn about the topics and ideas that we cover every other week on the show. We’re eternally grateful to those of you who have joined us in this adventure, and we’re looking forward to the next year of learning with you.

Driver's EducationIt's the holiday season! That means roads, side streets, interstates, and driveways across the country are packed with vehicles on the way to or from seasonal celebrations. Inspired by the onslaught of holiday traffic, 16:1 is taking a look at driver education programs across the country. In the United States, there is no national standard for driver's education, though guidelines are distributed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and interpreted by each state. The patchwork, state-by-state approach to driver's education in the U.S. evolved from a more holistic approach; driver's education used to be offered in 95% of public schools. With the privatization of driver training programs came new challenges. How are drivers in the U.S. staying safe? Learn more on this week's episode.Sources:Motor Cities -Remembering the Early Days of Driver’s Education By Robert Tate, Automotive HistorianWikipedia - History of the AutomobileCentre County Historical Society - Amos NeyhartEncyclopedia.com - Driver EducationNHTSA - Driver Education Practices In Selected StatesNHTSA - A Fresh Look at the State of Driver Education In AmericaThe New York Times - The Mixed Bag of Driver Education by Tanya MohnThe Orange County Register - Whatever happened to driver’s ed in high schools? by Sarah TullyForbes - Is Driver's Ed Good Enough? Most Americans Don't Think So by Tanya MohnThoughtCo. - The First License Plates in U.S. History by Jennifer RosenbergWikipedia - Graham Paige 835Internet for the People: The Fight for Our Digital Future By Ben Tarnoff - Purchase via The Book Loft of German Village

16:1 normally breaks for the holidays, but this year we're doing something a bit different. Check out this audio essay from our co-host, Katie Day. It's a heartfelt love letter to the teaching profession.

Science, Industry, & Discovery CentersScience & discovery centers are curated learning environments that offer pedagogically engaging opportunities to develop and pursue curiosities about science and technology. These centers, often located adjacent to schools, universities, or community centers, help to bridge the gap between education and practical applications of science and industry. What sets these centers apart from ordinary museums? They are designed by experts to engage everyone -- kids, teens, and adults!-- with hands-on approaches to science learning. Join Katie and Chelsea as they explore the history of the "science center movement" in the U.S. and shine a light on a few of their favorite local examples. Plan your next field trip with the help of 16:1!Sources:COSI - HistoryUSA Today - The Wilds has grown into nationally known animal conservation center By Alissa Wildman NeeseAPS News - Science Centers: Partners in Science Education By Robert J. SemperWikipedia - Science MuseumIdea.org - Difference between a science museum and a science centerWikipedia - California Science CenterThe City Museum99% Invisible - Tale of the JackalopeDawes Arboretum

Join us for a special guest episode of 16:1, where Katie and Chelsea are joined by Heather Pasquinelli to discuss the unique joys and challenges of teaching and learning in Native American communities. This episode explores teaching as a practice of making connections across differences, honoring cultures, and expanding horizons. Content note: discussions of racism, sexual abuse.

Inquiry-Based LearningInquiry-based learning is the practice of using open-ended, student-driven approaches to education designed to stimulate curiosity and increase buy-in from learners. In classrooms where IBL is prioritized, students might construct their own assessments and research models or collectively build rules and classroom codes of conduct. By allowing students to take ownership of their own learning, inquiry-based classrooms clear the way for increased engagement and comprehension, but this highly-engaged learning can often be difficult for educators to setup and maintain. Join Katie and Chelsea as they discuss best practices, real examples from the classroom, and the power of learning to ask the right questions.Sources:Edutopia - What the Heck Is Inquiry-Based Learning? By Heather Wolpert-GawronThe University of Manchester - What is Enquiry-Based Learning (EBL)?C3 Teachers - The Inquiry Design ModelFacilitating an inquiry-based science classroom By Debbie K. Jackson and Marius BobocGitHub - The Mycelium NetworkAnchor - The Mycelium Network Podcast By The Mycelium Network

Women make up approximately half of the population, but less than a third of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians in the U.S. are women. With chronic underrepresentation in STEM fields at all levels of the professional pipeline and educational system, female professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics face unique challenges. From combating deeply-engrained stereotypes to the push for paid parental leave to salary disparities and more, we have a long way to go to guarantee that everyone can discover, nurture, and execute on plans for professional success in STEM careers.Sources:AAUW - The STEM Gap: Women and Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathematicsNational Archives - Morrill Act 1862Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Revisited: Rapidly Approaching Category 5 By Members of the 2005 "Rising Above the Gathering Storm" Committee; Prepared for the Presidents of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of MedicineBrittanica.com - STEM education curriculumMIT Management Sloan School -  In boardrooms and in STEM, women talk about where they see more representation by Meredith SomersInside Higher ED - Broken Link Between Pay and Productivity for Women in STEM by Colleen FlahertyCatalyst.org - Women on Corporate Boards (Quick Take)TeacherATI - Gender diversity: women in the data centre talent pipeline by Nicole CappellaUNICEF - Mapping gender equality in STEM from school to workMaryville University - Women in STEM: A Guide to Bridging the Gender GapNational Girls Collaborative Project - Current State of STEMThe Atlantic - The More Gender Equality, the Fewer Women in STEM By Olga KhazanSmithsonian - Girls and Women in STEMinformED - 10 Programs Closing the Gender Gap in STEM By Jennifer LachsSociety of STEM Women of Color

In 2010, the Government Accountability Office published a report detailing the results of "undercover tests" at 15 for-profit colleges conducted in order to discern whether these schools might be engaging in fraudulent or deceptive marketing and admissions practices. For-profit schools derive much of their revenue (and profits!) from federal funding sources, leaning on the availability of grants and loans to entice many of their students. The results were shocking. The GAO found "4 colleges encouraged fraudulent practices and that all 15 made deceptive or otherwise questionable statements to GAO’s undercover applicants." Fast forward to 2022, and for-profit colleges are in the news again as the Biden administration attempts to crack down on colleges and universities after years of relaxed rules enabled by the Trump presidency. A mere 26% of students who complete degree programs at for-profit institutions do so in six or fewer years. 68% of students in private colleges and 62% in public colleges obtain degrees within that same time period.Along with renewed attention to for-profit schools comes a fresh round of student loan forgiveness proposals. This week, Katie and Chelsea are bringing you up to speed on the proposal, who would benefit from it, and why the conversation around loan forgiveness deserves more nuance than it currently receives.Sources:CNN - Biden administration cancels another $3.9 billion in student loan debt for former for-profit college students By Katie LoboscoThe Best Schools - Guide to For-Profit Colleges: How to Avoid Predatory Schools BY TBS StaffUS News -The Real Cost of For-Profit Colleges By Emma Kerr and Sarah WoodThe Columbus Dispatch - What Ohioans need to know about student debt relief plan by Nolan SimmonsThe New York Times - They Have Debt but No Degree. Could Loan Forgiveness Send Them Back to School?Brookings - The for-profit college system is broken and the Biden administration needs to fix it by Ariel Gelrud Shiro and Richard V. ReevesDavid’s Ankles: How Imperfections Could Bring Down the World’s Most Perfect StatueHigher ED Dive - 4 questions for-profit colleges face in 2022 by Natalie SchwartzWikipedia - David by Michaelangelo

This week, Katie and Chelsea explore a story that is close to home. Teachers in Columbus City Schools recently kicked off their academic year with a general strike after the Columbus Education Association (the teachers union in the central Ohio district) announced there had been no bargaining agreement reached for the 2022-2023 school year. Columbus isn't the only city where teachers are picketing for wage increases, better working conditions, smaller class sizes, and more; teachers around the world are warning their districts of impending strike actions. Join us for this special episode as we explore teacher strikes, the deteriorating conditions that lead to them, and the roles that we all play in supporting our public school teachers.Sources:NBC4 Columbus - Ohio senator plans bill as teachers strike without benefits by: Natalie FahmyCNN - The Columbus teachers' union and school board reached a 'conceptual agreement,' ending a strike By Eric Bradner and Chris Boyette, CNNCEA Ohio - CEA blasts District’s decision to strip homeless youth advocates of union statusCEA Ohio - An open letter to the Columbus City Schools Board and Superintendent from Project Connect’s Vulnerable Youth StaffThe Columbus Dispatch - Columbus Education Association teachers union votes to strike by Megan HenryCEA Ohio - CEA Votes to Authorize 10-day Strike Notice10tv - Columbus teachers’ strike enters day 2, remote classes begin WednesdayThe Columbus Dispatch - Columbus City Schools clarifies attendance procedures after day of confusion by Monroe Trombly, Michael Lee, Sheridan Hendrix,  Céilí Doyle and Megan HenryCNN - Ohio teachers say they won't end their strike without improvements to miserable classroom environment By Eric Bradner, CNNU.S. News - Kent Teachers on Strike, Delaying First Day of School by Associated PressEcho -Pilot - Greencastle-Antrim teacher strike is an option amid contract talks by Shawn HardyInside Higher ED - School Starts With a Strike at American University by Liam KnoxCBC - CUPE sets Ontario education strike votes for end of September, says it doesn't guarantee walkout by Allison Jones Central Illinois Proud - PPS Board of Education president calls teacher union’s talk of strike, ‘premature, irresponsible’ by: Mike Smith, Demetrios SandersEducation International - Teacher strike in Norway!The Philadelphia Inquirer - Philly school bus drivers, maintenance workers vote to authorize a strike by Kristen A. GrahamCNN - Why NASA wants to return to the moon before sending humans to Mars by Ashley Strickland, CNNCNN - Artemis I launch scrubbed after engine issue by Aditi Sangal, Ashley Strickland, Elise Hammond and Maureen Chowdhury, CNNJacques Ze Whipper