Science In-Between

In this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss the differences between hands-on/minds-on science, discovery learning, inquiry-based instruction, and phenomenon-based science learning. Things that bring us joy this week: Zingerman's Deli in Ann Arbor, MI King Cake Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind

This week we talk about personal knowledge management and how we don't manage it as well as we would like. The question is about how do you manage all the infomation that you take in from so many sources (books, websites, journal articles, podcasts, etc.) and keep track of your thinking about them (notes, highlights, connections between these things) in a way that help be a sort of outboard brain....

In this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss the ways that school leaders can support change in science education in their schools. Audio disclaimer: In this episode, Scott had some audio troubles that we couldn't fix in post production. Things that bring us joy this week: Shrinking on AppleTV The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind

This week we talk about our values and how they help us think about the work we do with teachers and students. The list includes: Practice, Stewardship, Relationships, Community, Safety, Curiosity, Evidence-Based, Rigorous, Hospitatlity, Caring, Vulnerabilty, and a Beginner's Mind. Things that bring us joy this week: Banshees of Inisherin The English on Amazon Prime Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Ev...

In this episode, Scott and Ollie talk about summary tables and how they can be used in science classrooms to scaffold students as they develop evidence-based explanations. Check out the article that Scott co-authored with our colleague, Kraig Wray. Using Summary Tables to Support Students’ Explanations of Science Phenomena Things that bring us joy this week: We were featured in a list of Best Scie...

This week we talk about the first day of school / class and how you use it to set up norms for the rest of the year. We talk about what good first day practices are including some specific advice for what first days should look like. We also talk about what can go wrong on first days, and what happens when someone doesn't know the process. Things that bring us joy this week: The Chalk Man: A Novel...

In this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss having students generate evidence-based explanations as part of a unit arc. As we've done in other episodes, we draw on the Ambitious Science Teaching practices and specifically discuss Practice 4: Pressing for evidence-based explanations. For more information, check out: https://ambitiousscienceteaching.org/pressing-evidence-based-explanations/ Things that...

This week we talk about lessons learned in 2022. We talk about A.I. and ChatGPT, but also feedback, building up modeling of teaching from experience, information macronutrients, and the looming teaching shortage. NYTimes interview with Yejin Choi about A.I. Things that bring us joy this week: Nope (and other films by Jordan Peele ) Jammies ( butter cookies ) [Note: recipe that is similar, but not...

In this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss navigating the doctoral dissertation process and how oral exams may make a comeback in the post-ChatGPT world. Things that bring us joy this week: World Cup Football Finals All Quiet on the Western Front Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind

This week we discuss Edutopia's choices for most impactful research in education. Edutopia's 10 Most Significant Education Studies of 2022 Things that bring us joy this week: All of Nothing: Aresenal on Amazon Prime The White Lotus on HBO Max Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind

In this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss the artificial intelligence chatbot named ChatGPT and the implications for education, assessment and so much more. In our discussion, we reference the following: [ Seth Godin's blog post on Attention, Trust and ChatGPT ChatGPT Things that bring us joy this week: Wednesday on Netflix World Cup 2022 Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind

This week we talk all things grades, assessment, evaluation and what not. We air our frustrations and dig into how it challenges notions of equity, and the issues around standardized and common assessments. Ollie gets some therapy. Things that bring us joy this week: Spotify Wrapped (Ollie's top artist was Stevie Wonder, not Japanese Breakfast) On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong Intro/...

In this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss the benefits, opportunities, and potential downsides of extracurricular STEM activities like Science Olympiad and science fairs. Things that bring us joy this week: Daytum Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind

This week we talk about the dimensions of contrast between Ambitious Science Teaching and more traditional status quo teaching. For example, curiousity from AST is in contrast to judgemental in status quo teaching. Things that bring us joy this week: Stauffer's Stars (both milk chocolate and dark chocolate) Kringle Danish Pastry (OH Brand) available from Trader Joe's Intro/Outro Music: Notice of E...

In this episode, Scott and Ollie talk about different classroom discourse moves in science class. In the discussion, we draw on the Ambitious Science Teaching Discourse Primer (We can be pronounced as you wish) Things that bring us joy this week: Reacher on Amazon Prime The Big Brunch on HBOmax Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind

This week we the 5 why method to answer why we teach science and why students should learn it. Things that bring us joy this week: Infinity Triology from Marvel Comics You Are Not So Smart Podcast from David McRaney Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind

In this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss how science teachers can navigate the teaching of controversial topics like evolution and climate change. Things that bring us joy this week: Premier League Soccer Inciting Joy by Ross Gay Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind

This week we do another "magic wand" experiment and transform science education (preK to undergrad, but mostly K-12). We don't mess around and really reconceptualize everything about education. Things that bring us joy this week: Ultra Podcast by Rachel Maddow on MSNBC Dr. Who - In particular the Thirteenth Doctor played by Jodie Whittaker Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind

In this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss how they would change teacher education if they had the magical power to do so. Midway through the episode, Ollie references an article on how some students are advised away from the teaching profession. The research by Zid Mancenido (2021) can be downloaded at: https://meridian.allenpress.com/her/article-abstract/91/4/433/474202/How-High-Achievers-Learn-Th...

Revisionist History The Department of Physiological Hygiene Things that bring us joy this week: Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North American by Matt Kracht Andor on Disney+ Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind

In this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss the importance of curricular planning and discuss how big ideas, anchoring events, and storylines can inform the process. For help with curricular planning, check out the Ambitious Science Teaching website . Things that bring us joy this week: Making Pasta with Scott Conant Abbott Elementary Season 2 Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind

This week we talk about closure at the end of lessons and what might be an alternative to closing things down. Madeline Hunter (Not Danielson, which is what Scott said, but did not mean). Things that bring us joy this week: Wet Leg Shopcraft as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work by Matthew B. Crawford Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind

In this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss the evolution of the concept of "scientific literacy" since the introduction of Project 2016 introduced Science for All Americans in the early 1990s. Things that bring us joy this week: The Spirited Man by Van Neistat House of the Dragon Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind

This week we talk about how teaching (science) teachers can be like teaching science and how it is different. We talk about the apprenticeship of observation, the two worlds problem, teacher reflection, and making models of teaching. Plus, we shake our fist at something else briefly, not just clouds. Things that bring us joy this week: Welcome to Wrexham on Hulu House Projects - Building a Deck on...

In this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss how to frame observations of classrooms. Scott introduces two framing questions which provides a guide to consider what different classroom practices engender and communicate. Things that bring us joy this week: Fantasy Football The Great Serena Williams Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind