Perspectives in Parryville

Today my guest is Mark Boulet, a Sustainability Educator and Behavioural Researcher, working at BehaviourWorks Australia at Monash University. Mark reflects on his early interest, study, and work related to zoology, animals, and wildlife which led to further interest and activities in environmental and sustainability community education. Mark offers insights into his teaching approach, which empha...

Today my guest is Dr M David Merrill, an Instructional Researcher and professor emeritus at Utah State University. David has been engaged in the study of effective, efficient and engaging instruction for more than 50 years. In this episode, we chat about David’s early studies and research, including his PhD at the University of Illinois in 1964. We chat about David’s additional research activities...

This is a special micro episode - Chatting with Mark - where I catch up with a previous guest about a topic that’s captured their attention. This episode was recorded in April 2023, when I chatted with Amber Boardman about her creative art practice during the past few years. We also chat about Amber’s experiences and perspectives on teaching art online during the pandemic, as well as teaching and...

Today my guest is Tanya Natalie, a second-hand bookseller, a professional editor, and an occasional writer. In this episode, we chat about reading, editing and writing, and the value of books. Tanya shares her love and enthusiasm for books, with insights into some of her favourites that have resonated and made an impact. We explore Tanya’s studies in English literature and associated subjects, and...

In this episode, we find out about alternative approaches to teaching mathematics. We explore how learning can be encouraged through spontaneous or planned conversations and by asking questions that drive discussions and the exchange of information.  Alex outlines how an entire class might approach a single maths problem, with students invited to share their strategies for solving the problem with...

You’re listening to Perspectives in Parryville. I’m particularly excited because this a milestone episode—number 50—with a slightly longer duration because it features two guests, both with interesting, interwoven personal insights and stories to share. So, today my guests are Effy Alexakis, a Documentary Photographer & Leonard Janiszewski, a Socio-cultural Historian. In this episode we find out a...

Today my guest is Eva Amores, an Author & Designer. Along the way, we refer to a few visuals, so you might like to explore the links in the show notes so you can view the designs as you listen. In this episode, in the atmosphere of a busy outdoor cafe, we ask the question: Have you ever had a bad week? We find out about Eva’s background and enthusiasm for arts and design and working in various pro...

This is a special micro episode - Chatting with Mark - where I catch up with a previous guest about a topic that’s captured their attention. This episode was recorded in December 2022, when I chatted with Leon Furze about Artificial Intelligence in teaching and learning. We explored some of the potential advantages and opportunities, along with some of the complexities around assessments and the e...

This is a special micro episode - Chatting with Mark - where I catch up with a previous guest about a topic that’s captured their attention. This episode was recorded in December 2022, when I chatted with Steven Kolber about Artificial Intelligence in education. We explored some of the potential risks of this type of technology, including the curious notion of teaching a class without a teacher, a...

Today my guest is Stefan Popenici, an Academic & Educational Researcher. In this episode we find out more about Stefan’s early studies and learning in educational psychology including the cultural and educational value of folk tales and mythology. We also chat about the intriguing and emerging phenomenon of Artificial Intelligent (AI), and its implications for education. We explore Stefan’s recent...

Today my guest is Matthew Phillips, a Media Producer. Matthew shares memories of growing up along the coast of tropical North Queensland and his early enthusiasm for cameras, photography, boats, and sailing. Matthew reflects on his diverse range of professional experiences and roles working as an apprentice Sailmaker, a Soldier in the Australian Regular Army posted on peace-keeping exercises in Na...

Today my guest is Greg Cregan, a Ceramic Potter. This episode is very much grounded and down-to-earth. Of course, you might like to explore the links in the show notes for visual reference as we explore ceramics, clay, and creating decorative ceramics in a potter’s studio. Greg reflects on his early interest in art and drawing which eventually led him to explore working with clay and the potter’s...

Today my guest is Brett Salakas, a Teacher, Speaker, Poet, & Author. In this episode, we learn about Brett’s background as a primary school teacher in Australia and South East Asia. We find out more about Brett’s new book, A Mammoth Lesson: Teaching In The Digital Age. Brett shares insights into how he created this fictional story and its central use of metaphor to communicate ideas. Brett also re...

In this episode, we explore the wellbeing of teachers and educators. Amy offers insights into her many years as a classroom teacher before her post-graduate studies in human behaviour, coaching, positive psychology, and wellbeing. We also chat about Amy’s new book, Teacher Wellbeing. We look beneath the surface of teaching including the job demands, habits, systems, structures, processes, and scho...

Today my guest is Cameron Malcher, a Teacher and Podcast Producer. In this episode, we explore Cameron’s driving curiosity and passion for teaching, education and communication, and his love of storytelling, drama, and community. Cameron reflects on his post-graduate studies in educational psychology, including the ways our minds construct knowledge by combining social, emotional, and cognitive pr...

Today my guest is Tom Mahoney, a Teacher and Educational Researcher. In this episode, we explore Tom’s diverse teaching roles related to both Mathematics and Psychology. Tom recounts his previous studies as background to his current PhD research aims which relate to reflexivity and how teachers perceive themselves. Tom seeks to understand the different values and beliefs, ideologies, and philosoph...

Today my guest is Jonathan McGuire, a Data Analyst & Evaluator. In this episode, we explore data and statistics and how these are typically gathered, analysed, evaluated, and communicated across various fields including psychology, public health, business and education. Jonathan shares some of this early study and research activities - such as those involving honey bees, their foraging behaviour a...

Today my guest is Tom Oliphant, a Teacher and Industrial Designer. In this episode, we explore the world of technology and its use in teaching and learning. Tom reflects on his early career as an Industrial Designer - developing prototypes for furniture, electrical appliances and other objects - before further study and his transition into teaching. Tom also reflects on the advances in technology...

Today my guest is Christy Tucker, a Learning Experience Designer. In this episode, we explore the world of storytelling, technology, and the use of scenarios in teaching, learning and other educational situations. Christy reflects on her experiences as a high school music and band teacher, and her pathway to working as an instructional designer for adult learners. We chat about stories with multip...

Today my guest is Enda Murray, a Media Producer & Director of the Irish Film Festival. The festival launches at the Chauvel cinema in Sydney on 25th August 2022, then travels to Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra on consecutive weekends, with online streaming options to follow. In this episode, we find out more about Enda’s upbringing in Ireland and his university experiences in Dublin in the...

Today my guest is Shaun Bell, a Learning Designer working in higher education. In this episode we find out more about Shaun’s university studies related to both Education and Arts, and their experiences as a high school teacher. We discuss Shaun’s post-graduate pathway, the completion of an honours thesis exploring the literary sub-genre of Australian magic realism. Shaun contrasts their own exper...

Today my guest is Colin Simpson, an Education Innovation Designer with a background and expertise in education, video and multimedia production, and how technology is used in learning and teaching. In this episode we find out more about Colin’s current PhD research related to higher education workplaces, systems and university culture. Colin explains his approach and methodology, informed by socia...

Today my guest is Leon Furze, a Teacher Educator and Author. Leon is also the Director of Learning and Teaching at a regional Victorian high school. In this episode we explore Leon’s early enthusiasm and connections to reading and literature, growing up in a lower socio-economic area of England. Leon reflects on some of the texts that influenced him along his journey studying English and American...

Today my guest is Carolyn Newall, an English Teacher and International Educator with an active involvement in digital technology, inequality and teacher professional development. In this episode we find out more about Carolyn’s early observations and experiences in India, Singapore and Australia, especially those relating to racism, inequality, reading and literacy. Carolyn offers some personal an...

Today my guest is Donald H Taylor, an educator and researcher specialising in workplace learning and development (L&D). Donald has more than 30 years of experience across the globe, from English language teaching through to roles as director and vice-president of various software companies. In this episode Donald provides insights into the L&D Global Sentiment Survey, a survey he created over ten...