16:1 - Education, Teaching, & Learning

Graduation Requirements In this episode, we'll be going in-depth covering graduation requirements for high school students in the United States. Graduation requirements vary by state, district, and school, but we’ll cover credits and courses, standardized tests, and several alternative pathways to graduation for students pursuing career readiness or military enlistment. Sources: Fordham Institute...

Foreign exchange student programs offer students the opportunity to study abroad and immerse themselves in a new culture. These programs provide a unique opportunity to broaden a student's perspectives and to learn a new language through immersion. They also give young learners a chance for personal growth and development, as students must navigate unfamiliar social, political, economic, and cultu...

Special Education Special education encompasses policies, classroom practices, and legislative approaches to advancing the learning of exceptional students. These students may require specialized instruction, resources, or other support services. Special education programs may include individualized education plans (IEPs), 504s, or other accommodations to meet the unique needs of each student. The...

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:...

Episode Transcript: A Love Letter to Learning Happy 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...

Driver's Education It'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 guidelin...

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 Centers Science & 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 set...

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 Learning Inquiry-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 th...

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 t...

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 a...

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...

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 h...

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.com Life Sciences Education - Effective Educational Videos: Principles and Guidelines for Maximizing Student Learning from Video Content by Cynthia J. Brame Chimamanda Ngozi...

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 mo...

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 p...

As the school year draws to a close for many of America's teachers, Katie and Chelsea begin a new tradition of reflecting on what we've learned over the course of the academic year. This is our first annual Year in Review. Thanks for listening! Sources & Stories: NBC 4 - Columbus, Ohio - AEP Info 99% Invisible - Episode 480 "Broken Heart Park" Twenty Thousand Hertz - "The Windsor Hum" Catster - Si...

A passionate advocate for education, Horace Mann served as secretary of the Massachusetts State Board of Education for 20 years and almost single-handedly revolutionized public schooling in America. Join Kate and Chelsea as they explore Mann's achievements and legacy (as well as his unexpected distaste for phonics).  Sources: Wikipedia - Horace Mann Britannica - Horace Mann Wikipedia - Normal Scho...

This week Chelsea and Kate recall a big part of their childhoods as they discuss BOOK IT!, a reading incentive program for PreK-6th grade classrooms, parents, and homeschooling families. Sources: Wikipedia - Pizza Hut Every Child A Reader - Pizza Hut BOOK IT! Program The Psychological Record, 1999, 49, 3-14 - Effects of Extrinsic Reinforcement for Reading During Childhood on Reported Reading Habit...

In this episode, Katie and Chelsea develop a very complex and completely ridiculous teacher evaluation system in order to put some of their favorite educators from nostalgia-inducing movies and tv shows to the test. Chelsea makes a compelling argument against Yoda, while Katie firmly supports Miss Honey from "Matilda" with ten out of five pencils (it will make sense if you listen)! Katie shares wh...

This week, Chelsea and Katie discuss edutainment-- what it is, who makes it, how it is consumed, and how it is used in schools and classrooms. From National Geographic documentaries to podcasts to Broderbund software (looking at you, Carmen Sandiego!), edutainment seems to be everywhere. Most of us want learning to be fun. Is the edutainment industry fulfilling its promise? Sources: Wikipedia - Ed...

Bullying has always been around, but social media has created new ways for students to bully and to be bullied. Join Katie and Chelsea as they take a look at how social media continues to evolve the way that parents, administrators, and peers engage with bullying in schools. In the attention economy, digital literacy and good digital citizenship aren't just good ideas-- they are important tools fo...

Volleyball! Softball! Baseball! Basketball! All of the balls! Join Katie and Chelsea as they discuss the history of modern sports programs in public schools in America. From the late 1800s on, high school rivalries and intercollegiate competitions have motivated students to get and stay fit, but they've also applied an increasing amount of pressure on student athletes. Funding sports programs is a...

This week, Katie and Chelsea take you on a virtual tour of the "nation's attic," the Smithsonian Institution. Founded with funds from an English chemist who never set foot in America, the Smithsonian as we know it now is a cultural and educational treasure. From Chelsea's favorite Air and Space Museum to Katie's National Museum of American History, join your hosts as they discuss curation, plannin...