The Learning Curve

In this episode of The Learning Curve , host Dr Shannon Babbie sits down with Dr Charlaine Simpson , Head of Postgraduate Taught Professional Learning. Moving beyond technical jargon, the discussion focuses on how Aberdeen’s Postgraduate Leadership Program prepares public and third-sector professionals to step into leadership roles in an ever-changing world.   The conversation challenges tradition...

We are heading outside the classroom walls for Episode 9 of The Learning Curve . Joining us are School of Education experts Dr Elizabeth Curtis and Dr Catherine Francis to discuss why outdoor learning is far more than an occasional field trip—it is a fundamental entitlement for learners. The conversation considers how moving out of the classroom fosters inclusion, connects academic theory to lived...

In this episode of The Learning Curve , host Dr Shannon Babbie sits down with Colette Savage, Programme Director for the MSc in Mindfulness at the University of Aberdeen School of Education, to explore the transformative power of Mindfulness.   The conversation delves into how mindfulness serves as a vital tool for both students and teachers, moving beyond its reputation as a "buzzword" to become...

How do we prepare children for a rapidly changing technological landscape and the complexities of the climate crisis? In this episode of The Learning Curve, Dr. Shannon Babbie is joined by STEM education pioneers Fraser Hepburn and John Duff to explore the future of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in our classrooms.   From a chemist who fled the monotony of industry to a professi...

In this episode, roles are reversed as host Gordon Stewart interviews Dr. Shannon Barbie, Program Director for Inclusive Practice and Autism. They explore a fundamental shift in education: moving from a deficit mindset to a design mindset. Shannon shares insights from his groundbreaking research on campus accessibility and augmentative communication, offering listeners a toolkit of practical strat...

What does it take to turn a passionate student into a “reflexive, inclusive, and collaborative” teacher? In this episode, Dr. Shannon Babbie sits down with Beth McClure, Alan Grieve, and Gordon Stewart—the leaders behind Aberdeen’s top-ranked teacher education programs. We explore the vital bridge between university theory and classroom practice, discussing how 18-week placements and school-based...

In this episode of The Learning Curve , host Dr. Shannon Babbie is joined by Stephanie O’Reilly, program director for the MEd in Health and Wellbeing at the University of Aberdeen. O’Reilly defines wellbeing as a relational concept that "ebbs and flows daily," noting that mental health and education are deeply intertwined.   The discussion explores trauma-informed practice and the necessity of sup...

In this episode of The Learning Curve, host Dr. Shannon Babbie joins Dr. Archie Graham to discuss the transition from "Theory to Practice". As a senior lecturer and Director of the Postgraduate Research Programme, Dr. Graham explains how theory serves as a practical "tool" for solving real-world classroom problems rather than just an academic concept. The discussion explores the Florian and Black-...

In this episode, host Dr Shannon Babbie explores the integration of technology in the modern classroom. She is joined by School of Education lecturers and programme directors Gordon Stewart and Alan Grieve.   The discussion begins by defining blended learning as a mix of face-to-face instruction and online, asynchronous learning via the university's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). The guests n...

Welcome to the very first episode of The Learning Curve, a new podcast from the University of Aberdeen's School of Education.   Join your host, Dr. Shannon Babbie, as she kicks off Season 1, "The Future of Education," by sitting down with a very special guest: the Head of the School of Education, Catriona McDonald.   In this foundational episode, Catriona provides a comprehensive look at the schoo...