16:1 - Education, Teaching, & Learning

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 

Knock, knock!Educators use humor as a vital tool for building community in classrooms, helping students retain information, and creating a positive learning environment. All that aside, who doesn't enjoy a good laugh? There's something of a growing interest in scholarship surrounding the use of humor in classrooms, and this week your hosts are taking a look at what makes us laugh. What kinds of humor might best serve students of all backgrounds? How do you use humor to reach students who might otherwise be out of touch? How comfortable are you as an educator with expressing your sarcastic side? We're tackling all of these questions on 16:1.Thanks for listening!Sources:“A Review of Humor in Educational Settings: Four Decades of Research” (Communication Education, January 2011)The Art Newspaper - Hannah Gadsby: taking down art history's misogyny through comedy by Ben LukeMasterClass - How to Use Humor to Teach: 4 Tips for Using Humor to Educate 

This week, the hosts discuss the origin story and ongoing impact of TED, the annual conference turned globally-accessible repository of free, online video content focusing on technology, entertainment, and design.Sources:TED.comLife Sciences Education - Effective Educational Videos: Principles and Guidelines for Maximizing Student Learning from Video Content by Cynthia J. BrameChimamanda Ngozi Adichie - The danger of a single storyGeorge Takei - Why I love a country that once betrayed meShonda Rhimes - My year of saying yes to everythingAicha el-Wafi + Phyllis Rodriguez - The mothers who found forgiveness, friendshipJarrett J. Krosoczka - Why lunch ladies are heroesSue Klebold - My son was a Columbine shooter. This is my storyAmanda Gorman - Using your voice is a political choiceBrené Brown - The power of vulnerabilityMonica Lewinsky - The price of shameThe New York Times- Joni Mitchell Reclaims Her Voice at Newport by Lindsay ZoladzTED ConferencesSir Ken RobinsonMoney Crashers - What Is TED Conference – History & Criticisms of TED Talks By Michael Lewis

The national teacher shortage is a serious problem. With the compounding effects of pandemic burnout, chronic underpayment, poor working conditions, violence in schools, and political activism causing teachers to leave the profession (or never enter in the first place), schools in all 50 states are scrambling to fill vacancies ahead of the 2022-2023 school year. STEM fields are experiencing the most intense shortages, with many districts offering stipends, moving cost vouchers, and fast-tracked certification pathways to attract new teaching talent. With many short-term fixes but little traction on future-thinking solutions to school funding models, school leaders and politicians are growing increasingly frustrated, as the U.S. continues to fall behind its peer nations in many education-related metrics.The Hill - Here’s what’s driving the nationwide teacher shortage By Adam Barnes | April 21, 2022ABC 15 - Republicans think they have an answer to help with Arizona's teacher shortage By: Mark PhillipsUniversities.com - Top 10 States with the Highest Teacher Shortages 2022 by Sarah HarrisAmerican School and University - Arizona no longer requires a college degree to begin teaching by Brooke JustNBC 4 - Beating burnout: Ohio lawmaker’s plan to pull teachers from brink of resignation by: Maeve WalshBoston Herald - Teacher shortage: One-third of teachers say they’re likely to quit this year by Marie SzaniszloEconomic Policy Institute - Teachers are paid almost 20% less than similar workersArizona Education AssociationOECD Data - Teachers' salariesOECD Data - Adult education levelThe Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America By Richard RothsteinBroken Horses: A Memoir By Brandi Carlile Follow 16:1 Podcast on InstagramFollow 16:1 Podcast on TwitterFollow 16:1 Podcast on Facebook

Many of us dream of becoming astronauts when we are kids, but only about 600 humans have achieved spaceflight. What does it take to make it into space? Do you have... the right stuff? This week, join Katie and Chelsea as they discuss astronaut candidate school at NASA, the grueling program of training and readiness undertaken by aspiring astronauts. Hear what retired astronaut, engineer, fighter pilot, and singer(!) Chris Hadfield has said about his own experience with astronaut training. Kate discusses the Teacher in Space Project and the legacy of educators' involvement with NASA programs.Sources and Stories:UVA Miller Center -The Space Race- Soviets and Americans race to the stars By Maddie DavisNational Aeronautics and Space Administration - Astronaut Selection and TrainingChris Hadfield MasterClassWikipedia - Teacher in Space ProjectWikipedia - Barbara MorganCNBC - Meet the 12 Americans training to be NASA’s newest astronauts by Marguerite WardPodcast - GastropodDownfall: The Case Against BoeingChallenger The Final FlightTikTok - Pat the Puzzle Man IMDB - The Astronaut Wives ClubIMDB - Hidden FiguresThe Dutch House by Ann Patchett