Shows
Science In-BetweenEpisode 182: My Manatee TeacherThis week we talk about an article about transparence and invisibility that Scott wrote, Ollie was a participant in the research underlying the article and neither of our manatee brains remembers it.
McDonald, S. P. (2016). The Transparent and the Invisible in Professional Pedagogical Vision for Science Teaching. School Science & Mathematics, 116(2), 95–103. https://doi.org/10.1111/ssm.12156
Things that bring us joy this week:
The Last Repair Shop on Hulu
James Acaster's Repertoire on Netflix
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2024-02-2839 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 173: The Show Before the ShowIn this special holiday edition, Scott and Ollie record their pointless banter before the show.
Things that bring us joy this week:
Noah Kahan
Great British Baking Show Holidays
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2023-12-2739 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 155: Crafting Syllabi in a Chat GPT WorldIn this episode, we discuss the curricular implications of Chat GPT as we craft our syllabi for the Fall semester. This episode was inspired by a post Ollie wrote on his blog: https://the8blog.wordpress.com/2023/08/15/crafting-syllabi-in-a-chat-gpt-world/
Things that bring us joy this week:
John Mulaney's comedy special, Baby J on Netflix
Heart of Stone on Netflix
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2023-08-2346 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 151: We Don't Already Do ThatIn this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss engineering practices and they're taught (or not) in science classrooms.
Things that bring us joy this week:
Good Night, Oscar
My Brilliant Friend
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2023-07-2645 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 149: A Cataclysmic ConversationIn this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss Richard Fenyman's "cataclysm sentence" and offer some sentences ourselves. This episode was inspired by the RadioLab episode titled The Cataclysm Sentence. To read more about Richard Feynman, check out Richard Feynman on the One Sentence to Be Passed on to the Next Generation
Things that bring us joy this week:
The Diplomat on Netflix
Asteroid City
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2023-07-1239 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 145: Specks of Fish SpawnIn this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss how the processes of writing and discussion help ideas form.
Meeting the Universe Halfway: Quantum Physics and the Entanglement of Matter and Meaning by Karen Barad
Things that bring us joy this week:
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Carlos Alcaraz
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2023-06-1439 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 143: The Little GeneralIn this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss Chapter 3 of David McRaney's book, How Minds Change and unpack the impact that perception has on our understandings and interpretations of the world.
Things that bring us joy this week:
Appertivo
Great Scoops cookbook
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2023-05-3137 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 141: Lists are ArtificialIn this episode, Scott and Ollie revisit and update the advancements of artificial intelligence and discuss its societal and educational impacts.
Things that bring us joy this week:
How It Ends
The Incredible Jessica James
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2023-05-1751 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 139: Some Portion of the TruthIn this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss two articles on practice-based teacher education that appeared in an anniversary issue of the Journal of Teacher Education (JTE). To get a flavor of the articles, check out the original article that appeared in the 2012 issue of JTE.
Zeichner, K. (2012). The turn once again toward practice-based teacher education. Journal of teacher education, 63(5), 376-382.
Things that bring us joy this week:
The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell
Elevate app
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2023-05-0345 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 129: A Made-Up SandwichIn 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
2023-02-2254 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 128: Peanut Butter EpistemologyThis 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. We have no answers, but we have lots of shared struggles.
Things that bring us joy this week:
The Last of Us on HBOMax
Fantasy...
2023-02-1552 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 127: From the Audio BunkerIn 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
2023-02-0834 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 125: Total MushinessIn 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 Science Podcasts for 2023
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2023-01-2542 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 123: Special ElectronsIn 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 bring us joy this week:
Tree House Brewing Company
Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2023-01-1143 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 121: Dr. Calypso JoeIn 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
2022-12-2852 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 119: Chatting with Chatty GIn 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
2022-12-1454 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 118: Aggressive Grading Bunker (The Band)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/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-12-0756 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 117: That's So ExtraIn 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
2022-11-3044 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 115: There's Something in the PunchbowlIn 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
2022-11-1651 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 113: Avoiding the Land MinesIn 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
2022-11-0242 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 111: Magic Wands and Teacher EducationIn 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-That-They-Should-Not
Things that bring us joy this week:
The Sandman series on Netflix
Fall
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-10-1945 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 109: Kidnapped to Paragraph IslandIn 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
2022-10-0542 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 107: Scientific Literacy and Assorted StuffIn 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
2022-09-2147 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 105: Observing and QuestioningIn 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
2022-09-0753 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 103: Just Not RightIn this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss how we approach "correct answers" in science classrooms and whether anything is really "right."
Things that bring us joy this week:
Brandi Carlile
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-08-2451 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 101: Dipping Toes into International WatersIn this episode, Scott and Ollie talk about the international STEM education and what we can learn (if anything) from the assessment-based comparisons. In the conversation, we draw on data from the 2018 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) and 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)
Things that bring us joy this week:
Bullet Train with Brad Pitt
Sean Carroll's Midscape Podcast
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-08-1050 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 99: If the Future's Online...In this episode, Scott and Ollie revisit a topic from Episode 97 and examine what learning principles should inform an online, educational future.
During the conversation, Scott references "epistemic agency" and cites the following article:
Addressing the epistemic elephant in the room: Epistemic agency and the next generation science standards (Miller et al, 2018)
Things that bring us joy this week:
Fifth Element by N.K. Jemisin
Umbrella Academy Season 3
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-07-2752 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 97: Is the Future Online?In this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss recent experiences they've had that communicated that the future of K-12 education through online delivery. We discuss whether this is a realistic and what some of the hurdles schools and families will need to navigate to make that happen. In the episode, we briefly discuss the following:
Adam Grant's Work Live podcast
Modern Classrooms Project
Things that bring us joy this week:
Elie Mystal's book - Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution
Top Gun: Maverick
Intro/Outro Music...
2022-07-1344 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 95: Why Would Anyone Become a Science Teacher?In this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss the reasons that prospective science teachers should enter the profession.
Things that bring us joy this week:
Thor: God of Thunder - God Butcher series
Sierra Six: A Gray Man Novel by Mark Greaney
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-06-2942 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 93: FiliopietismIn this episode, Scott and Ollie talk about the shifts that school leaders need to make to better support science teachers adopting Next Generation Science Standards. In the discussion, we introduce the NGSS-aligned Danielson Framework and discuss some of the markers for administrators to look for.
NGSS-aligned Danielson Framework
[NGSS: An Overview for Principals](extgenscience.org/sites/default/files/resource/files/NGSS Overview for Principals_0.pdf)
What school building administrators should know about the new vision for K-12 science education
Things that bring us joy this week:
This American Life podcast
...
2022-06-1543 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 91: A Preacher, A Politician and A Prosecutor Walk into a Bar...In this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss the dispositional stance that teachers and students must adopt to be successful in classes built on student exploration of ideas and explanations. We draw on Adam Grant's book Think Again as well as recent episode of Against the Rules.
Things that bring us joy this week:
Joining a Community Band
The Punisher on Disney+
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-06-0146 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 90: How & Why and Sometimes WhatEpistemic Agency
Things that bring us joy this week:
Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness
Limonchello - Unfortunately you can't have Ollie's artisanal limonchello, but still, you can get some.
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-05-2540 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 89: You Can't Open the BoxIn this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss uncertainty in science and ways we can teach it in the science classroom. During the discussion, we refer to a recent article which examines trustworthiness and uncertainity in science.
Covitt, B.A., Anderson, C.W. Untangling Trustworthiness and Uncertainty in Science. Sci & Educ (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-022-00322-6
Things that bring us joy this week:
The Overstory by Richard Powers
Moon Knight on Disney+
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-05-1846 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 88: The Model is NOT the ThingContinuing with themes of the show, Ollie and Scott talk about models in their many forms in science and their relationship to the world and scientific phenomena. We also talk about the difference between students' models/explanations that they create and their relationship to cannonical science models/explanations.
Atomic Models
Things that bring us joy this week:
Julia
Peacemaker on HBO Max
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-05-1241 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 87: What We Do as AcademicsIn this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss the differences between explanation and argumentation as practices in science classes. We also dig into the common "CER" model of argumentation which scaffolds students through Claims, Evidence, and Reasoning to make evidence-based arguments.
Things that bring us joy this week:
Word Hunt on Game Pigeon
Sage Solitaire
FlipFlop Solitaire
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-05-0641 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 85: Don't Call it a ComebackIn this episode, Scott and Ollie return after an unexpected hiatus to discuss a recent episode of the Against the Rules podcast. The episode, titled Field of Ignorance, explores how data is used (and misused) in baseball. We discuss how this relates to our work as teachers.
Things that bring us joy this week:
Fear of the Dawn by Jack White
Abbott Elementary
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-04-2051 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 82: Almost Professional (Disciplinary Core) IdeasIn this episode, Ollie and Scott discuss the disciplinary core ideas in the NRC's A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas (2012).
Things that bring us joy this week:
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The Adam Project on Netflix
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-03-2347 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 81: Frosted Tips Are Not a CCCIn this episode, Ollie and Scott discuss the cross cutting concepts in the NRC's A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas (2012).
Things that bring us joy this week:
Good Guys: How Men Can Be Better Allies for Women in the Workplace by David G. Smith and W. Brad Johnson
Project Hail Mary by Adam Weir
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-03-1650 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 80: Dropping NamesThis week, Scott and Ollie dig into the NRC Framework and discuss Science and Engineering Practices as they're framed in the Next Generation Science Standards.
Things that bring us joy this week:
Free Guy
Batman Hush
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-03-0946 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 79: Framing the FrameworkIn this episode, Ollie and Scott discuss the big ideas and shifts in the NRC's A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas (2012).
Things that bring us joy this week:
Creating Wicked Students by Paul Handstedt
Jackass Forever
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-03-0243 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 78: Talkin' Bout Practice!In this episode, Ollie and Scott discuss the science and engineering practices in the NRC's A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas (2012).
Things that bring us joy this week:
Olympics Games
Trojan Horse Affair
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-02-2340 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 77: A Shared DislikeIn this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss one of teachers' favorite topics: classroom management. In our discussion, we challenge the traditional conceptualization and offer ways to reframe the concept in more student-centered and relational ways. In our discussion, Ollie references the Science of Happiness podcast and an episode where a specific meditation practice is outlined. If you're interested, check out: When It’s Time to Face Your Fears
Things that bring us joy this week:
The Morning Show
Dave Grohl's Storyteller
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-02-1647 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 76: Not a Numbered List ShowScience Book We Love:
Scott's Picks:
Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman: Adventures of a Curious Character by Richard P. Feynman
The Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinctions by David Quammen
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales by Oliver Sacks (also Awakenings)
Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy by Cathy O'Neil
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan
Ollie's Picks:
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca...
2022-02-0941 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 75: Monkey Business in the MetaverseIn this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss learning progressions for science teacher professional development. In our discussion, we draw heavily on the article titled Proposing a core set of instructional practices and tools for teachers of science (Windschitl et al, 2012).
If you're under 30 and want to know what the game Barrel of Monkeys is, check out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrel_of_Monkeys
Things that bring us joy this week:
Tender Bar on Amazon Prime
This is Your Mind on Plants by Michael Pollan
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction...
2022-02-0245 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 74: Believable or Accurate (To Some Degree)Ollie's Picks:
Hidden Figures
Inherit the Wind
Fat Man and Little Boy
The Martian
Apollo 13
Scott's Picks:
Interstellar
The Andromeda Strain
Primer
Arrival
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-01-2635 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 73: A Meta EffortThis week, Scott and Ollie unpack their thoughts about teacher professional development and how sensemaking can be used as a tool to promote sensemaking as an instructional practice. For more information, check out NSTA's sensemaking site.
Things that bring us joy this week:
Radio Lab's Mixtape project
Merlin Mann's Wisdom Project
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-01-1942 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 71: Lessons Learned for 2022In this episode, Scott and Ollie look back at 2021 and what we've learned that we can apply to the new year ahead. In our discussion, we review some of the challenges from the year with the hope of seeing them as lessons for a better 2022.
Things that bring us joy this week:
Nobody movie
Spiderman: No Way Home movie
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2022-01-0547 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 69: Agency All The Way DownIn this episode, Scott and Ollie answer the question "Why are we still doing that?" We look at K-12 science classrooms and identify practices and habits that the educational community continues to do, despite reforms and evidence that suggest otherwise.
Things that bring us joy this week:
The 8 Blog
Westworld
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2021-12-2245 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 67: Finding Fish That Don't ExistIn this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss the world of educational research and "what counts." The discussion was prompted by a conference panel discussion that Ollie participated in where the work of Robert Slavin was commemorated. In the episode, we discuss Slavin's work and the What Works Clearinghouse as well as work by John Hattie.
Things that bring us joy this week:
Group Tabs in Safari
Five Second Rule
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2021-12-0852 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 65: Not Bob's Traveling ShowIn this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss different features of substantive and impactful professional development for teachers.
Things that bring us joy this week:
What happened Ms. Simone? on Netflix
Throughline : The Deep History of Dune
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2021-11-2441 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 63: Total Dumbness and HoroscopesIn this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss the standardization movement and why schools and disciplines have content standards.
NRC Framework for K-12 Science Education
Next Generation Science Standards
National Science Education Standards
Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards
Pennsylvania State Science, Technology, Environment, and Ecology Standards
Things that bring us joy this week:
South Lake Podcast
Why Fish Don't Exist by Lulu Miller
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2021-11-1052 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 61: From Curb Cuts to ClassroomsIn this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and how it can help to make learning more inclusive. Built on the concepts of "Universal Design" in architecture, UDL focuses on a series of practices that can inform our design of learning environments, resources and assessments.
Universal Design for Learning
Things that bring us joy this week:
Michigander
Harry Styles
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2021-10-2743 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 59: Pocket Full of QuestionsIn this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss pressing for evidence-based explanations. As the final set of practices in Ambitious Science Teaching, this phase involves helping students construct a final, evidence-based explanatory model for the phenomenon. As we discuss this practice, we also talk more generally about the powerful impact of asking good questions and how we support new teachers' development.
Near the end, we briefly discuss work by Jessica Thompson, Elham Kazemi and Magdalene Lampert. Some articles to check out include:
Practice Makes Practice: Learning to Teach in Teacher Education
Learning Teaching in, from, and...
2021-10-1347 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 55: Good Things Come in ThreesIn this final episode in our "teacher education trilogy," Scott and Ollie discuss the current preparation programs at their institutions and how their design was informed by research.
Things that bring us joy this week:
Marvel's What if...? on Disney +
Longwood Gardens
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2021-09-1547 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 53: Ten Thousand Hours AgoIn this episode, Scott and Ollie share their experiences with their teacher education programs and their mentors. Since many universities are starting their fall semesters, it prompted Scott & Ollie to talk about their education and preparation as science teachers.
During their discussion, they bring up the concept of "Ten Thousand Hours" which was discussed in Malcolm Gladwell's book Outliers. For more information on this, check out: Can 10,000 hours of practice make you an expert? or
Things that bring us joy this week:
99% Invisible Podcast
AAA
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction...
2021-09-0251 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 48: Haters Have Got to Hate (or Do They?)Spawn
I Care a Lot
Pedagogical Content Knowledge
Lee Shulman's seminal 1986 article, Those Who Understand: Knowledge Growth in Teaching.
"Whatever exists at all exists in some amount. To know it thoroughly involves knowing its quantity as well as its quality." - Edward L. Thorndike. (1918). The nature, purposes, and general methods of measurements of educational products. Chapter II in G.M. Whipple (Ed.), The Seventeenth yearbook of the National Society for Study of Education. Part II. The Measurement of Educational Products. Bloomington, IL: Public School Publishing Co. p. 16.
Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy...
2021-07-2852 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 46: Not All Friends of the ShowThings that bring us joy this week:
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
Electric Townie Bikes
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
Production assistance by Enzo Dreon
2021-07-1440 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 42: Confronting Your Own IREThis 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. M., & Coulthard, M. (1975). Towards an analysis of discourse: The English used by teachers and pupils. Oxford University Press, USA.
Things that bring us joy this week:
...
2021-06-1647 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 41: All the HammersIn 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 discussion about science and philosophy. You read more about it here.
Things that bring us joy this week:
Gutterballs: The Big Lebowski Deepcast (Episode 1)
Pangram App
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
2021-06-0949 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 40: Happy Dewey DayWe 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
2021-06-0247 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 39: Transitions and ManifestationsIn 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
2021-05-2637 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 38: Tools are Embedded in PracticeThings 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
2021-05-1939 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 37: Self Deprecating but AccurateIn 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
2021-05-1241 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 36: Architecturally AgnosticCinco 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
2021-05-0539 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 35: Not Messing Around On the FringesIn 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" and how it connects to teaching. Check out this article by R. Keith Sawyer.
Things that bring us joy this week:
Smartless Podcast
Sound of Metal
Intro...
2021-04-2845 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 34: The Prime Directive(s) on a NapkinTeaching 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
2021-04-2141 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 33: Stupid things... And we love them.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 children return to school, we will need to listen to them. Let their stories be told. They have endured a year that has no parallel...
2021-04-1447 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 32: Three Claps for the Big DogIn 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
Things that bring us joy this week:
The White Stripes Greatest Hits
Tim Harford's Data Detective and Cautionary Tales Podcast
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally...
2021-04-0747 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 31: Introducing the Rapper Izzy NewIn 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-Cutting-Concepts-Prompts.pdf
Jon Stewart lampoons climate change deniers on The Daily Show
Things that bring us joy this week:
Gray, R., McDonald, S., & Stroupe, D. (in press). What you find depends on how you see...
2021-03-3150 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 30: Not FULL of Dad JokesNext 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
2021-03-2437 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 29: No One Says Dummy HeadPart 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 transformed.]
Research on students' developmental understanding of equilibrium
Research on shifts from force-dynamic language in science
Things that bring us joy this week:
The Invisible Life of A...
2021-03-1741 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 28: Former Junior EngineerNext 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 assistance by Enzo Dreon
2021-03-1039 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 27: Definitely Not Luke SkywalkerAs 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 Banyai
We also discuss some research on students' challenge with scale including:
Tretter, T.R., Jones, M.G., Andre, T., Negishi, A., & Minogue, J. (2006). Conceptual boundaries...
2021-03-0338 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 26: Poo Poo the Recurring CharacterNext 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 DreonLinks:Song Exploder: A Netflix Documentary Series
2021-02-2441 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 25: Metaphorical Rabbit HolesThis 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:
Lego - Yoda
Bob's Burger's Clue Game
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
Production assistance by Enzo Dreon
2021-02-1739 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 24: The Grande FinaleScience 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
2021-02-1037 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 23: Fan Boys with DisagreementsThis 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/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
Production assistance by Enzo Dreon
2021-02-0350 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 22: Hero Teacher, But Not THAT OneScience 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
2021-01-2741 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 21: Outsiders and Turning 21This 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 in particular T.K.O., Trivia Murder Party, and Quiplash.
Derry Girls on Netflix
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
Production assistance by Enzo...
2021-01-2043 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 20: Out With The Bad AirScience 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
2021-01-1343 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 19: Lessons Learned for 2021This week, we take a momentary break from our podcast book club and reflect on 2020. Scott and Ollie discuss the lessons they've learned from the wild, disruptive year and what we can apply to the new year ahead.
As always, in this episode, we disucss a bunch of stuff including the Hidden Brain podcast, in particular, When You Start to Miss Tony in Accounting, Cal Newport and Kubb
Things that bring us joy this week:
Sunderland 'Til I Die on Netflix
Stevie Wonder's Songs on the Key of Life and Talking Book
2021-01-0643 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 18: Whorfian ComplidissScience in the City: Culturally Relevant STEM Education by Bryan Brown
Benajmin Lee Whorf
Worf
Curveballs
Things that bring us joy this week:
Dune by Frank Herbert
Harley Quinn Series on HBO Max
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
Production assistance by Enzo Dreon
2020-12-3043 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 17: Guess What's In My HeadScience in the City: Culturally Relevant STEM Education by Bryan Brown
Talking Science: Language, Learning, and Values by Jay Lemke
Things that bring us joy this week:
Mandalorian on Disney Plus
Sonos The Encyclopedia of Bittany Radio Show
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
Production assistance by Enzo Dreon
2020-12-2344 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 16: That Stereotype is IndexicalScience in the City: Culturally Relevant STEM Education by Bryan Brown
Things that bring us joy this week:
The Queen's Gambit on Netflix
Revisionist History with Malcolm Gladwell
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
Production assistance by Enzo Dreon
2020-12-1644 minScience In-BetweenBonus Episode: Join Our In-Between Book ClubStarting with episode 16, we'll be reading Science in the City: Culturally Relevant STEM Education by Bryan Brown. Join us as we examine how language and culture matter for effective science teaching. Over the next several episodes, we'll be reading a chapter a week. We hope you'll join us on this "In-Between Book Club."
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
Production assistance by Enzo Dreon
2020-12-1003 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 15: Dropping the MilieuIn our discussion on engaging students, we cover a lot of territory and drop lots of resources. The concept of control value theory can be found in The Spark of Learning by Sarah Rose Cavanagh and in How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts and Cultures by the National Academies Press.
If you're interested in Hank Green, check out his website where he bills himself as a "science communicator." Hank and his brother John Green (the author) also started Crash Course and SciShow.
Things that bring us joy this week:
The Old Guard Vol. 2: Force...
2020-12-0938 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 14: Show Me Your Core CompetenciesThings that bring us joy this week:
Fargo (The TV show, Season 4) on FX
Watchmen on HBO
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
Production assistance by Enzo Dreon
2020-12-0242 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 13: The Nerdiest Draft Ever!Our top picks for content students need to learn in science:
Ollie - HS-ETS1-3
Scott - HS-ESS2-4
Ollie - HS-LS2-8
Scott - HS-LS2-2
Ollie - HS-LS4-5
Scott - HS-LS4-1
Ollie - HS-ETS1-1
Scott - HS-ESS3-3
Ollie - HS-LS2-7
Scott - HS-PS1-2
To see the specific standards, check out the Next Generation Science Standards
Radiolab Podcast - Fungus Among Us Episode
Things that bring us joy this week:
The Adventure Zone
Boy Pablo - in particular, "Hey Girl"
Intro/Outro...
2020-11-2548 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 12: Fear the EHow do you talk with kids about their ideas and how do you use questions to support their learning?
Initiate - Response - Evaluate pattern of talk is a class in classroom discourse. The teacher asks a question for which they have a specific answer in mind, a student answers, and the teacher evaluates that response. This pernicious pattern leaves kids without a sense of agency in their own science learning. It has only become harder to avoid this in our new remote focused world of teaching.
How might popcicle sticks change your game? How...
2020-11-1846 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 11: Plum Pudding and Fools' ErrandsIn this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss the challenges with assessment in face-to-face and online classrooms. While the conversation begins with an observation Ollie makes of his son's math class, the scope broadens to explore why we assess and how we assess to better reflect reform-minded teaching.
Things that bring us joy this week:
Mission to Zyxx
Gideon Falls
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
Production assistance by Enzo Dreon
2020-11-1143 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 10: N is National not NextTeaching K-12 Science and Engieering During a Crisis - National Academies Press
They articulate four key principles:
1) Maintain a focus on the Framework’s vision for high quality science and engineering education;
2) Prioritize relationships, equity, and the most vulnerable students;
3) Families and communities are critical assets for science and engineering learning;
4) Adjusting to changing learning environments and recovering from disrupted learning as an ongoing process that takes time.
Things that bring us joy this week:
Bob's Burgers
The Boys on Amazon Prime based on The Boys comicbook
Intro/Ou...
2020-11-0434 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 9: Phenomena (Do do do do do)This week, the dynamic duo (Scott and Ollie) discuss how critical phenomena are to ambitious and equitable science education and how it helps us go beyond "moving the chairs around." In our discussion, Scott critiques the use of Zombie Ants as a "fun" phenomenon to engage students in science. We use this discussion as a springboard into a larger conversation about how we select phenomena around which to build units in our face-to-face and online classrooms.
Things that bring us joy this week:
Ted Lasso on Apple TV+
Grey Man Series
Intro/Outro...
2020-10-2836 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 8: Up Your Explanatory QuotientThis week we talk about how to think about the laboratory experience in online, remote, and mixed mode environments. What is the difference between things that can't normally be done in a classroom that you might use even in face to face environments, and things that are replacements for thing that you would have done face to face where you are using video to show the procedure of a lab and then giving students access to date. The key is to provide experiences that open up opportunities for kids to reason about phenomena, not just follow a procedure.
2020-10-2137 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 7: Death March with Fun SaucePrompted by an activity that Ollie did with one of his classes, Ollie and Scott discuss their "origin stories" and detail how they became teachers. As Scott explains early in the episode, we deconstruct these stories to examine the bigger question "What do we teach?" Students? Or content? Both?
Things that bring us joy this week:
East of West
Documentary Now; In particular, Season 1 episode named "A Town, A Gangster, A Festival".
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind
Production assistance by Enzo Dreon
2020-10-1450 min
Science In-BetweenEpisode 6: The Continuity CaveatFirst, we are in a time where there is absolutely no continuity in how class time is organized, so how do you think about structuring class. Second, we have a long-standing over emphasis in schools on curriculuar continuity - every lesson is its own thing, and this leads to its own kind of disconnection. Standardization and consistency is in tension with individuality and responsiveness. We say, just like Frozen - Let it Go. Try thinking about continuity at different grain-sizes and make your goal the development of a community of science learners. Think in new ways and free yourself...
2020-10-0745 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 5: Three Ps in a Pod(cast)In this episode, Scott and Ollie discuss the Processes, Principles, and Practices that inform the integration of technology into our face-to-face, online and remotes classrooms. We share a some "design principles" about creating effective learning environments that are embedded in learning theory. We also promised that we'd include the definition of "reify" in the show notes:
reify (verb) - to make (something abstract) more concrete or real.
Things that bring us joy:
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Nina SImone
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind (https://freemusicarchive.org...
2020-09-3042 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 4: Zoom Fatigue is RealWe talk about how to think about supporting science teachers as they learn and also the complexities of managing groups of learners in a remote context. We also address some of the issues of digital records of learning and the implications of the shift to remote contexts. We recognize that getting coherence in this brave new world is hard and that technology is often built on outdated models of learning.
Things we mention:
State of Illinois Remote Learning Recommendations
Things that bring us joy:
The Old Guard Graphic Novel
The Old Guard...
2020-09-2350 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 2: Not a Problemtunity for YouWe discuss the sage on the stage, the guide on the side, and our own variation the coach on the bench and what this means for who does the hard work of the science thinking in science classrooms. We also talk about how COVID is an example of how science really works, but it is happening in a public way.
Things that bring us joy:
Memory Palace Podcast
Cautionary Tales Podcast
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Legally_Blind)
Production assistance by Enzo Dreon
2020-09-1647 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 3: Grouping (in Between)In this discussion of virtual and face-to-face grouping in science classes, Scott and Ollie examine some practices that promote more participation in online spaces. Beyond an "esoteric" analysis of online interaction, we discuss how we use different technologies to get groups of students to engage with one another and with course content.
Links to things we mention in this episode:
The reason Zoom class drain your energy
What is a CSV file?
Moore's Theory of Transactional Distance
In each episode, we share "things that bring us joy." This week, that includes:
...
2020-09-1648 minScience In-BetweenEpisode 1: In-Between What?As we start this adventure, we discuss the challenges facing schools and science educators during the pandemic. As we move to online instruction in more schools, what does science teaching look like? How do our roles as science teachers change? We don't necessarily have the answers but we think we're asking the right questions and offering some thoughts.
We also share "things that bring us joy." This week, that includes:
The Food Network show Chopped
Against the Rules podcast by Michael Lewis
Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind (https...
2020-09-0920 min