In my last article, I argued that all students are novices. For some of you, this may have seemed “off.” After all, doesn’t this ignore the many ways in which our students are different? Doesn’t this pretend that each day we aren’t faced with daunting diversity in terms of our students’ prior knowledge, preparedness, interests, […]
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The Expert Equation
What differentiates an expert from a novice? I unpack a few distinctions in the Principles of Learning Course. Looking at this list, it’s obvious to me that, though my classes contain a vast diversity of student strengths and interests and abilities and preparedness, they’re still all novices. (Because of this, one of the first recommendations […]
Great Ways to Learn with Colleagues
In my last article, I unpacked a powerful choir teacher’s lesson that I was privileged to witness not long ago. In this one, I want to give you an exclusive peak at one of the 40+ videos in the new Principles of Learning Course I’ve got available. This video lesson comes in the ninth module […]
The Science of Teaching Choir
Recently I was given the chance to observe a choir teacher in action. I watched the warm-ups, the instruction, the practice, the closing. What I saw was a beautiful class period. And what I saw was a clinic of many of the concepts I describe in the Principles of Learning Course. Making abstract concepts clear […]
Chris Hemsworth Can Lift More Weight than Me
It’s true. I can’t deadlift as much as Thor. Below, please find photographic evidence. If you look hard, you’ll find differences in our physiques. In every single school I’ve visited, I’ve yet to find a teacher who doesn’t struggle with the RANGE of students we teach. Urban or rural, affluent or free/reduced lunch, remedial or […]