Scott McDonald and Ollie Dreon

Science In-Between

This is a conversation about how science teaching can move between and connect different worlds.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: scienceinbetween.fireside.fm

Author

Scott McDonald and Ollie Dreon

Category

Education

Latest episode

Oct 21, 2026

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Episodes

Episode 44: We are not the Borg 30.06.2021

In this week's episode, we discuss Posner, Strike, Hewson, and Getzog's paper on conceptual change and the theory's impact on science education. Posner, G. J., Strike, K. A., Hewson, P. W., & Gertzog, W. A. (1982). Accommodation of a scientific conception: Toward a theory of conceptual change. Science education, 66(2), 211-227. As we discuss the article, we also mention the 1987 movie A Privat...

Episode 43: Heroes, Villians, and Apprentices 23.06.2021

In this week's episode, we continue our examination of different learning theories and theorists and dig into Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation by Lave and Wenger. The book examines how different cultures and professions enculturate newcomers into their communities of practice. Things that bring us joy this week: Japanese Breakfast - Be Sweet Mare of Easttown Check out Saturda...

Episode 42: Confronting Your Own IRE 16.06.2021

This week we talk about Jay Lemke's book about how students and teachers talk science in classrooms. In particular, how he identified issues of power and control by teachers as well as a way to analyze classroom talk as a way to understand learning. Talking Science: Language, Learning, and Values by Jay Lemke Initiate/Respond/Evaluate (IRE) pattern of classroom talk - Sinclair, J. M., Sinclair, J....

Episode 41: All the Hammers 09.06.2021

In this episode, we continue our learning theory conversation by digging into the seminal article by Brown, Collins and Duguid that popularized the term "cognitive apprenticeship." Brown, J. S., Collins, A., & Duguid, P. (1989). Situated Cognition and the Culture of Learning. Educational Researcher, 18(1), 32–42. Midway through the episode, Scott discusses MC Hammer involvement in a recent dis...

Episode 40: Happy Dewey Day 02.06.2021

We begin a conversation about learning theory with the great John Dewey. Things that bring us joy this week: Slow Burn Podcast from Slate The Metaphysical Club by Louis Menand Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind Production assistance by Enzo Dreon

Episode 39: Transitions and Manifestations 26.05.2021

In this episode, we transition from our discussion on design principles and learning spaces and into an examination of different learning theories that have impacted our work and the way we see the world. Things that bring us joy this week: Lupin on Netflix Middleditch and Schwartz on Netflix Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind Production assistance by Enzo Dreon

Episode 38: Tools are Embedded in Practice 19.05.2021

Things that bring us joy this week: Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney + Invincible on Comixology and Amazon Prime Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind Production assistance by Enzo Dreon

Episode 37: Self Deprecating but Accurate 12.05.2021

In this episode, we continue our exploration of design principles for learning spaces and introduce our third design principle: learning spaces should have a changeable center. Things that bring us joy this week: Mr. Miracle Sunny Rowing Machine Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind Production assistance by Enzo Dreon

Episode 36: Architecturally Agnostic 05.05.2021

Cinco de Mayo Things that bring us joy this week: Nomadland Wooden Boats: In Pursuit of the Perfect Craft at an American Boatyard by Michael Ruhlman Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind Production assistance by Enzo Dreon

Episode 35: Not Messing Around On the Fringes 28.04.2021

In episode 35, we start our dive into design principles that can inform the creation and use of learning environments. While this will be the start of a several episode arc where we discuss different design principle, in this episode, we discuss why design principles are important and what we mean when we use the term "learning spaces." In our introduction, we discuss "disciplined improvisation" a...

Episode 34: The Prime Directive(s) on a Napkin 21.04.2021

Teaching Naked: How Moving Technology Out of Your College Classroom Will Improve Student Learning by José Antonio Bowen Never Send a Human to do a Machine's Job by Yong Zhao Things that bring us joy this week: Beartown on HBO Max What I talk about when I talk about running by Haruki Murakami Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind Production assistance by Enzo Dreon

Episode 33: Stupid things... And we love them. 14.04.2021

This week, we discuss the things that we learned from the pandemic and the things we hope get carried forward. Or not. In one section, we share a quote from Dr. Teresa Thayer Snyder, a retired superintendent from upstate New York. Dr. Snyder writes: " When the children return to school, they will have returned with a new history that we will need to help them identify and make sense of. When the c...

Episode 32: Three Claps for the Big Dog 07.04.2021

In the final episode on our series on the Cross Cutting Concepts, we examine Energy and Matter. Next Generation Science Standards Cross Cutting Concepts (pdf download) Energy and Matter Grade Level Progression Research on Drawings of Energy Discussion Prompts Teaching Energy Across the Sciences, K-12 from NSTA Press Systems, transfer, and fields: Evaluating a new approach to energy instruction Thi...

Episode 31: Introducing the Rapper Izzy New 31.03.2021

In the penultimate episode on our series on the Cross Cutting Concepts, we examine Systems and Systems Modeling. Next Generation Science Standards Cross Cutting Concepts (pdf download) Systems Graphic Organizer from Bozeman Science Looking for prompts to talk about systems and systems modeling in your class, check out: http://stemteachingtools.org/assets/landscapes/STEM-Teaching-Tool-41-Cross-Cutt...

Episode 30: Not FULL of Dad Jokes 24.03.2021

Next Generation Science Standards Cross Cutting Concepts (pdf download) Cross Cutting Prompts Perplexity - John Dewey Things that bring us joy this week: Letterkenny on Netflix Meeting the Universe Halfway by Karen Barad Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind Production assistance by Enzo Dreon

Episode 29: No One Says Dummy Head 17.03.2021

Part of our series on the different Cross Cutting Concepts, this week we examine Stability and Change. Next Generation Science Standards Cross Cutting Concepts (pdf download) Andrés Acher Modeling Research and Transformation Boxes in Biology. [Briefly, all things in Biology can be represented as "boxes" of inputs (energy, matter, and information) and outputs of the same three things that are trans...

Episode 28: Former Junior Engineer 10.03.2021

Next Generation Science Standards Cross Cutting Concepts (pdf download) NGSS Structure/Function Progression Chart Science Frames Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman Science of Cycology Cognitive Gadgets by Cecilia Heyes Things that bring us joy this week: Blown Away on Netflix Girl, Woman, Other: A Novel by Bernardine Evaristo Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind Production a...

Episode 27: Definitely Not Luke Skywalker 03.03.2021

As part of our on-going discussion of the Cross Cutting Concepts in the NGSS, we examine Scale, Proportion and Quantity in this week's episode. We discuss the challenges with teaching these concepts and provide some solutions as well. Here are some of the resources we share in this episode: Next Generation Science Standards Cross Cutting Concepts (pdf download) Powers of Ten Zoom Book by Istvan Ba...

Episode 26: Poo Poo the Recurring Character 24.02.2021

Next Generation Science Standards Cross Cutting Concepts (pdf download) Causal Patterns Research Six Causal Patterns Also, Ollie agrees with Scott (duly noted). Things that bring us joy this week: 500 Rum/Rummy Song Exploder on Netflix and as a podcast Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind Production assistance by Enzo Dreon

Episode 25: Metaphorical Rabbit Holes 17.02.2021

This week, Scott and Ollie introduce the Cross Cutting Concepts and their role in the Next Generation Science Standards. The episode kicks off a several episode arc where we discuss the different Cross Cutting Concepts and how we can incorporate them into our teaching. Next Generation Science Standards NGSS Crosscutting Concepts Coalition of Essential Schools Things that bring us joy this week: Le...

Episode 24: The Grande Finale 10.02.2021

Science in the City: Culturally Relevant STEM Education by Bryan Brown Horizon Report Things that bring us joy this week: Definitely Maybe (2008) The Manifesto for Teaching Online Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind Production assistance by Enzo Dreon

Episode 23: Fan Boys with Disagreements 03.02.2021

This week, we discuss Chapter 7 of Science in the City: Culturally Relevant STEM Education by Bryan Brown . The chapter examines the strengths and weaknesses in the policies and practices in the field of science education. Things that bring us joy this week: Occulus Quest Scene on Radio - In particular the most recent season (3) focused on Democracy, and the first season about whiteness. Intro/Out...

Episode 22: Hero Teacher, But Not THAT One 27.01.2021

Science in the City: Culturally Relevant STEM Education by Bryan Brown Things that bring us joy this week: The Hot Ones Chad Vader: Day Shift Manager Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind Production assistance by Enzo Dreon

Episode 21: Outsiders and Turning 21 20.01.2021

This week, Science in Between turns 21. In this episode, we discuss Chapter 5 in Bryan Brown's book: Science in the City: Culturally Relevant STEM Education by Bryan Brown The chapter examines how closely intertwined language and identity are and how being outside a discourse community creates stress that can impact learning. Cockney Rhyming Slang Things that bring us joy this week: Jackbox Games...

Episode 20: Out With The Bad Air 13.01.2021

Science in the City: Culturally Relevant STEM Education by Bryan Brown Things that bring us joy this week: Caves of Steel by Issac Azimov Poetry for Neanderthals Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind Production assistance by Enzo Dreon

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