Hub chats

In this episode, we chat with Dr Cat Martin, a lecturer in Creative Arts and Drama and Lead Academic Coach for the Step Ahead program at Macquarie University. Cat unpacks what drama education really is beyond the school play, and shares simple techniques that any teacher can try, regardless of subject area. We discuss how drama can build empathy, confidence and language skills in students, and how...

In this episode, Dr Jodie Torrington chats with renowned mathematics teacher, YouTuber, and Australian of the Year Local Hero, Eddie Woo. Eddie shares his philosophy for reaching students who believe they are "not a maths person," discusses the critical junction points where students are most at risk of switching off from mathematics, and reflects on what studying maths does for a person beyond nu...

In this episode, Dr Jodie Torrington chats with Shaheen, learning designer at the Macquarie University Teachers' Learning Hub, about inclusive learning design and what it really means in practice. Shaheen challenges the idea that inclusive design is only about individual accommodations, and instead shows how small, intentional design choices can make learning more accessible for every student in t...

In this episode, Dr Jodie Torrington chats with Associate Professor Penny Van Bergen, an educational psychologist at Macquarie University, about the science of learning and what it means for everyday classroom practice. Penny unpacks cognitive load and working memory limitations, explains why deep encoding and retrieval practice are so important for building lasting knowledge, and tackles the expl...

In this episode, Dr Jodie Torrington chats with Professor Sandie Wong and Dr Li Kan from Macquarie University's early childhood education team about their Australian Research Council (ARC)-funded Teachers in Early Education project. Sandie and Li share findings from Australia's first longitudinal survey of early childhood teacher education students, revealing who is entering the profession, what m...

Dr Brian Ballsun-Stanton and Dr Jodie Torrington discuss how to use AI effectively to support your planning and assessment design for your classroom. Learn how to retain an internal AI-Locus of Control while using AI technologies. Remember to: -know your goal -provide all the details and context -use an auto-interview technique -use your own judgement and reflection throughout the process -ask you...

In this episode, we are talking about out-of-field teaching in high schools, focusing specifically on teaching Geography.  Dr Susan Caldis and Kathy Jones talk about their new microcredential that provides comprehensive support for new-to-geography teachers. Find out what makes a geography lesson geographical, and how AI can be used effectively and authentically to support teacher planning and ass...

In this episode, Dr Jodie Torrington chats with The Gale History Museum at Macquarie University’s Education and Outreach Coordinator, Dr Yvonne Inall to explore practical ways teachers can integrate community resources like museums into their programmes. Yvonne shares tips on making the most of museum visits and discusses how the museums, such as the Gale Museum at MQ can be a powerful educational...

In this episode, Professor Sheila Degotardi, the Director of the Centre for Early Childhood Education at Macquarie University chats with Dr Catherine Jones, who is the preschool room teacher and educational leader at Goodstart Kurri Kurri about the benefits and challenges of applying for external funding to support your ECE context. 

Have you thought about engaging your language learners by harnessing real-life examples that they view on social media? Listen to Dr Yeong-Ju Lee talk about how to use technological innovations in language education, and how you can promote informal language learning using TikTok and Instagram. She shares pedagogical strategies for teachers to integrate multimodal and real-life practices into lang...

In this episode, Professor Fay Hadley chats with Sene Gede, Centre Director at Boundary Lane Children’s Centre and Akram Eshaghi, Centre Director at Uniting Airlie Preschool Oatlands as they share their advice and strategies about engaging with culturally and linguistically diverse families. 

Professor Deborah Youdell, Dean of the Macquarie School of Education chats with Dr Tamara Bibby about psychoanalytic approaches in education. Tamara invites educators to think beyond rational “self-knowing” to the “incompleteness of knowing” in real, living classrooms using psychoanalytic ways of thinking. This episode is valuable listening for both new and experienced teachers.  For more teacher...

Following from our last episode about teaching in rural and remote schools, in this episode we discuss Early Childhood Education in rural locations. Dr Loraine Fordham chats with Michele Carnegie, Chief Executive Officer of CELA (Community Early Learning Australia) about supporting early learning in regional and remote communities across Australia.  Visit the MQ Teachers' Learning Hub for more pro...

Ever thought about teaching in a rural location? Michael Fisher, placement coordinator for Far West NSW schools, talks about what it’s like teaching in rural communities and shares his vast experience of teaching and living in Broken Hill.  Please find below the links to the programs and initiatives we discussed:  Future Teacher Scholarships: https://education.nsw.gov.au/teach-nsw/get-paid-to-stud...

Join Professor Matt Bower, Dr Jodie Torrington, and Dr Tamika Worrall as they follow up on the “Empowering education through AI: Revolution or evolution?” Arts After Dark event held recently at Macquarie University. We received an insightful range of questions from the audience on the night, and while we were unable to get to all of them, we are delighted to address them in this special episode of...

In this episode, education expert Rose Garofano shares her passion for literacy and discusses how every teacher can help develop student literacy skills through the explicit teaching of vocabulary. Rose shares the impact of this practice on student empowerment, engagement, and motivation. Learn how your students can “level up” their literacy abilities! 

In this episode, we continue our focus on out-of-field teaching in high schools, this time about teaching Society and Culture.  Kendra Bruseker, an experienced Society and Culture teacher, unpacks what you need to know, including how to support students’ Personal Interest Project (PIP).  Click here to enrol in our “Help! I’m teaching Society and Culture for the first time” professional learning mi...

In this episode, we are talking about out-of-field teaching in high schools – and focusing specifically on teaching Legal Studies.  Natasha Isbel, an ex-corporate lawyer and experienced Legal Studies teacher provides a wealth of advice for teachers who find themselves teaching Legal Studies for the first time. 

In this episode, Dr. Renee Preval-Mann explores the critical intersection of AI and education with expert Dr. Jodie Torrington. Discover practical strategies for pre-service teachers to effectively integrate AI tools in the classroom while maintaining professional judgment. Learn how to harness AI as a powerful thinking partner without surrendering your pedagogical expertise and human creativity....

In this episode, MQ speech pathologist and lecturer Rebecca McNeil explains how speech pathologists can support individual students, small groups, and even work with whole classes to support communication differences and help establish safe and inclusive learning environments for all students.   Resources mentioned in the episode:   Communication milestones: https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.or...

In this episode, visiting German scholar Dr. Andrea Tures discusses her new book “The difficult child? Responding professionally to challenging behaviour”. She encourages teachers to find out the reason for challenging behaviours, and highlights the importance of continual reflection and using appropriate strategies. Andrea discusses a 5-step model that can guide teachers in their response to perc...

In this episode, Bronwyn Tregenza discusses the intricacies of defining and implementing different types of creativity into the classroom. Explore the role teachers play in fostering both familiar and possibly unfamiliar forms of creativity in students, and how digital technologies can be integrated to support this.  

Technology in the Classroom   In this episode, Dr Jodie Torrington discusses the impact of students having individual digital devices in the classroom. Discover how access to teacher-made, differentiated videos supports self-paced learning, empowering students to take charge of their education. Learn how this approach can not only boost student motivation but also enhance teacher wellbeing.  Link...

In this episode, Associate Professor Alice Chik explores the power of multilingual picture books in education. Learn how translating and teaching from Australian picture books fosters a deeper understanding of language and culture while making learning more inclusive and impactful for children and families from non-English speaking backgrounds. 

In this episode, we learn from renowned international expert Associate Professor Kathleen Tait about PBS – Positive Behaviour Support, the importance of explicitly teaching behaviour strategies to your students, and how effective understanding and communication can enhance the classroom environment and experience for everyone.