Season 1
Tune in to our Talking Teaching podcast as we welcome an illustrious guest list to take up some of the most pressing topics in education and explore the latest in educational research for teachers, leaders and education systems.
Episode #7 // Glyn Davis and the Joys of Teaching
In this episode of Talking Teaching Maxine McKew talks with Professor Glyn Davis who has just completed fourteen years as Vice Chancellor of the University of Melbourne. It was one of Glyn’s high school teachers who first sat him down and showed him how to go about pursuing a university education. Glyn’s own reflections on the joy of teaching, the challenges of leadership, and students’ use of technology make for absorbing listening. So sit back and enjoy this interview with one of Australia’s most significant educational leaders.
Episode #6 // What does it take to be a good principal?
In this episode of Talking Teaching Stephen Dinham and John Goh talk to Kerry Elliott about the qualities and skills needed to be an effective instructional leader. Both agree that central to the job is an ability to facilitate teaching and learning.John Goh has spent fourteen years at Merrylands East Public School in Sydney and his leadership skills have been recognised in multiple ways, most recently with the awarding of the Commonwealth Bank prize for teaching excellence.
Emeritus Professor Stephen Dinham led the development of the Melbourne Graduate School of Education’s Master of Instructional Leadership (MIL). His most recent work, the book I'm the Principal. Principal learning, action, influence and identity contains dozens of first-hand accounts of the joys and complexities of the job.
Kerry Elliott has lectured in the MIL programme and is co-author of I'm the Principal with Stephen Dinham, Louisa Rennie and Helen Stokes. The book is published through the Australian Council of Educational Research.
Episode #5 // Jo Boaler, Michaela Epstein and Michelle Fry on Maths Education, and the Saudi Arabian education reforms
In this month’s Talking Teaching, Sophie Murphy interviews Stanford University’s Jo Boaler. Named by the BBC as one of the eight most influential people in her field, Boaler argues that the latest research in neuroscience explains what she has always argued – that anyone can do maths.
Next up, Kerry Elliott talks to Michaela Epstein, the President of the Mathematical Association of Victoria and Head of Learning for Maths Pathway. We hear from Michaela and from Redcliffe State High School’s Michelle Fry about how this new approach to on-line learning is engaging students and producing impressive results.
Talking Teaching also features the extraordinary partnership between the Melbourne Graduate School of Education and Saudi Arabia. The Middle East kingdom is determined to radically reform its entire school system, from curriculum, to assessment to teacher training. It’s come to Melbourne to show them the way.
Episode #4 // Gonski 2.0
Talking Teaching this week dives into a lively discussion about the value and messages contained in Gonski 2.0 – Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools.
Episode #3 // Katherine Henderson, Dr Geoff Masters and David Baker
This month Talking Teaching looks at the power of school networks. In particular we talk to leaders from across the school sector who explain the value of coming together to exchange ideas at the University of Melbourne. University of Melbourne Network of Schools (UMNOS) founder Katherine Henderson is also featured and explains the link between this kind of collaboration and a lift in overall student achievement.
In addition, Talking Teaching interviews Dr Geoff Masters, CEO of the Australian Council for Education Research, who argues its time to move away from a structure whereby students are organised according to age or year level, to one based on the achievement of proficiencies. Dr Masters is now leading a thorough review of the NSW school system to ensure that it is compatible with the principles enshrined in the latest Gonski report.
Finally, David Baker tells Sophie Murphy, how his school, Gippsland Grammar, is already moving towards this approach and interrogating ways to move students from surface to deep learning.
Episode #2 // Eddie Woo
Episode two of Talking Teaching features a lengthy interview with the maths teacher behind Woo Tube, the dynamic communicator Eddie Woo. With an audience in the hundreds of thousands that stretches way beyond his home school of Cherrybrook High in Sydney, Eddie has a down-to earth approach to technology, seeing it merely as an amplifier. Central to his high impact teaching is a well developed methodology and a talent for hooking his students with a great story. Importantly, he has a lot to say about how we need to change the mindset of those students who say, 'I can't do maths'.
Episode #1 // John Hattie, Peggy Brookins, HALTS teachers, Noel Creece and Wesley Imms
In this episode of Talking Teaching we focus on the national teaching standards that are validated by the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL). In particular AITSL's chair Professor John Hattie looks at the way Highly Accomplished teachers are using their networks to spread the word about high-impact teaching practice. We also hear from his U.S. counterpart Peggy Brookins who describes the way national standards apply across the American states.
In a separate story, we take a look at South Melbourne Primary School, Victoria's first public vertical school. The University of Melbourne's Associate Professor Wesley Imms says that re-thinking the design of learning spaces is a proven way to boost student interest.
The views expressed in this podcast series are those of presenters and guests and are not necessarily endorsed by the University of Melbourne.
Talking Teaching recorded and mixed by Gavin Nebauer at The Horwood Recording Studio, University of Melbourne. Theme music by Gavin Nebauer.