IOE Insights

We look at the potential power of learning and understanding other languages to take on the challenge of bridging cultural differences in an increasingly divided world. Show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2025/jan/how-do-you-improve-language-learning-and-intercultural-understanding-rftrw-s24e01

It won’t come as a surprise to realise that the arts are struggling right now. This is certainly not just a UK-centric issue. When you look at how the cost of living crisis has impacted society, usually policies around the arts are slashed or go unnoticed. In this season of Research for the Real World, we’re exploring the contribution of IOE research on Language, Culture and Arts Education to turb...

In this episode, Sally Adams tells us about her new role leading adult learning – and the ways teaching can be a great stepping stone for a host of different careers. Sally talks about the complexities of leading professional learning and the barriers teachers sometimes face. She recommends that teachers schedule a little bit of time every now and then to take a step back from day-to-day tasks and...

Mark and Elaine hear from researcher Emily Macleod, who says that if we want more people to try out teaching, we have to stop thinking of it as a vocation. "These trajectories into teaching, they're not linear. They're multi-directional, they're complex... No one's trajectory into anything is going to be straightforward." Not a vocation? For Emily Macleod teaching is an expert profession – nobody...

As human beings, how do we learn? In this episode, Dr Rebecca Gordon explores how educational neuroscience can be used in the classroom. Rebecca reminds us how complex and fascinating the human brain is and cautions us about the dangers of oversimplifying research. She urges us to question ‘how we know what we know’ and evaluate the research for ourselves. Full show notes and transcript: https://w...

Emily Taylor, ECT in Airdale Academy in Castleford, talks about how her strong bond with her mentor has supported her personally and professionally, and how she in turn builds strong relationships with her pupils. Emily talks about her relationship with her ECF mentor Rachel. She details the professional, practical, and emotional support she received. Emily shares how her mentor helped her to make...

In this episode, Cesc Masdeu discusses how mentoring and professional development can transform school cultures and contribute to institutional change. Barcelona teacher Cesc, an associate at UCL, explains how schools in Catalonia are learning from the mentoring experiences of the ECF programme. He discusses his hopes for increased investment in education – particularly in terms of professional de...

Step out of your bubble: Raf Alleyne, Assistant Principal at London Screen Academy, tells us about the importance of reflecting on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. In this podcast, Raf talks about why playing a role in students’ lives is exciting – and most importantly, why EDI is not a ‘nice to have’ but an ‘essential to have’. He discusses why it's important to create spaces to talk, listen, a...

In this podcast, Jason Ilagan hears from Dr Benjamin Abrams about a theory on how and why movements such as the 1789 French Revolution, the Arab Spring as well as Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter take place, his policy work looking at ‘coping strategies’ against populism and preventing violence in mass protest, and what might happen during and after the elections in the United States this...

In this episode, hosts Dr Keri Wong and Dr Alina Pelikh dive into the particular and sometimes daunting process of job interviews within academia. Let's face it, while we all aim to secure job interviews, the process itself can be a nerve-wracking experience. Keri and Alina share their personal experiences and insights, having been on both sides of the interview table. What are the key differences...

What changes would benefit the UK early years education system? And what’s it like dealing with government and parliament to make funding and policy changes possible? Dr Claire Crawford’s research focuses on childcare and education and is particularly interested in understanding inequalities and how policy can help reduce these gaps. She also has a strong track record of high-impact research, incl...

Is being a PhD researcher just a continuation of being a university student? No! This episode's guest, Dr. Jenny Chanfreau, shares advice on how to treat your PhD like a full-time job. Drawing from her experience of embarking on a PhD after working at the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), the UK's largest independent social research institute, Dr Chanfreau offers valuable insights. Joi...

The winners of elections in the UK and abroad need to ensure the right conditions are in place to allow cutting-edge ideas developed by experts in our universities to meet today’s policy challenges, and vice versa. Dr Laura Outhwaite talks to our guests, Professors Marc Stears and Huw Morris about their approaches to undertaking research that informs policy, their experiences working across the ac...

Academia et al is back with three new episodes exploring life as an early career academic! Today we're thinking about how to use media engagement as a vehicle for making an impact. Dr Alina Pelikh speaks to in-house media relations expert Chris Lane, who works in UCL's central press office team. We discuss the ins and outs of communicating research and expertise to the wider world via the media. W...

Did you know that in 2024, more voters than ever in history will take part in elections across the world? In this season of Research for the Real World, it’s all about how research evidence informs policy. How could we not cover it when we know that policies implemented by the winning parties will prove consequential for years to come, shaping the future of democracy around the world? Guests: Prof...

In this podcast we hear about research that seeks to understand the causes of eating disorders and develop innovative treatments and support. Dr Amy Harrison talks in detail about a project funded by the Medical Research Council looking into how decision-making skills in childhood is associated with eating disorder symptoms in adolescence. Full show notes and link: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2...

In this podcast we take a closer look at international development and global health research that shapes the way we respond during times of crisis. Dr Mukdarut Bangpan and Dr Kelly Dickson's work with governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) includes research on the impact of mental health and psychosocial support programmes to inform their policy and practice. Full show notes and li...

You’re not dreaming! There’s so much going on in the field of sleep and research right now. We take a closer look at how things have crossed over into tech and AI, cancer and our wellbeing. Professor Dagmara Dimitriou leads a lab that takes a multi-disciplinary approach to examine sleep’s role in affecting our cognitive, behavioural and academic abilities and has also been working with the likes o...

This season of Research for the Real World is all about mental health, and we’ll be hearing from researchers whose work encompasses such wide-ranging areas and offer solutions to address these challenges. Professor Dagmara Dimitriou on the role of sleep on neurodevelopmental disorders and cancer Dr Mukdarut Bangpan and Dr Kelly Dickson on humanitarian emergencies and the impact it has on mental we...

In this podcast, Mark Quinn and Dr Polly Glegg talk about what makes great professional learning for teachers and leaders. Polly and Mark, the masterminds behind UCL’s High Quality Outcomes for Great Professional Learning, explain how their thinking about professional learning has been influenced by research and practice. They also let us into some of their secrets about how they, as seasoned faci...

In this podcast, we discuss how eating disorder symptoms affect men. We cover what our guests have learned about how to ask for help and care for themselves. We speak about how eating disorders affect friendships and sexual relationships, and reflect on what our guests have learned through their experiences about how to cope with challenges in life. Content warning: this podcast contains informati...

In this podcast, George Wolstenholme talks about messing up, forgiveness, and being on the way to becoming the teacher he wishes to be. "Everyone's experience with neurodiversity is going to be different." George Wolstenholme – or Mr. W to his pupils – tells us how his practitioner inquiries have granted him his independence, liberating him to try things out and learn from his failures as well as...

This podcast hears about the impact of the UK's School Meals Service on schools and their communities since its inception in 1906, and how it can adapt to the challenges of food insecurity and the impact of the economic crisis on children's learning. Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2024/jan/history-free-school-meals-how-its-past-dishes-out-lessons-future-servings-rftrw-s2...

Nancy Karmali-Belmonte and Farzana Akther respond to our ECTs' questions, and remind us that looking after wellbeing and being a good teacher are two sides of the same coin. "It is up to the induction tutors, I think, to set the school culture so that those more challenging feedback conversations are couched in a framework of support and everyone moving forward and growing." Mark and Elaine hear N...

Mark and Elaine speak to Louise Dwyer, Assistant Headteacher at the Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls, and discuss how the ECF builds upon a growing movement of evidence-informed practice, enabling a more accessible exchange of ideas. "There will still be that joy to be found in teaching." Louise says that if we want to keep teachers in the profession, we need them to see the joy that is to be foun...