Does intelligence even matter? And what role does IQ play in this? Can we use IQ scores to predict important life outcomes for people and populations? Ever wondered why intelligence matters—and why it’s both powerful and controversial? This podcast tackles these tricky questions by exploring what intelligence means for education, career success, social relationships, health, and even who we choose as partners. From academic debates to real-world impacts, I unpack the evidence, controversies, and...
Jun 17, 2025•23 min
What is Intelligence? 🧠Ever wondered what intelligence really means — and why it matters so much for school, work, and life? This episode takes you on a journey from the wax tablets of ancient Greece to modern neuroscience, exploring the story of human intelligence - good, bad, and indifferent. This is the audio extract. If you'd like to watch the original video, please access it here: https://youtu.be/WsYR9u5etcEWhat You’ll Learn:• A Brief Origin Story: From Plato’s wax tablets to Homer’s epic...
Jun 10, 2025•21 min
Are we entering an age of Artificial Intelligence… or Human Stupidity? In this provocative recording, Dr. Luke Rowe takes us on a tour of the most pressing questions in education today. With clarity and balance, he explores how AI is not just transforming how we teach—but threatening how we think. AI poses both risks for stupidity and opportunities for intelligence like we've never seen before. This is an audio-version of the original video presentation found on YouTube here : https://youtu.be/X...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 8 min
In this episode (Part 2 of 2), we dive even deeper into the science of intelligence and how Google's Notebook LM measures up. Dr. Luke Rowe continues to put Google's Notebook LM podcast feature to the test, exploring cutting-edge research on how intelligence develops, changes, and can be nurtured throughout life. From the genetics of intelligence to the impact of emotions and brain health, we tackle the science behind what makes us smart—and how we can stay sharp. In this episode: ✅ The CHC Mode...
Jan 18, 2025•58 min
In this episode (Part 1 of 2), an intelligence expert puts Google's new Notebook LM podcast feature to the test. Join Dr. Luke Rowe, as we listen to a podcast on the topic of intelligence that was generated by Google's Gemini LLM via Notebook LM. Can we trust AI to give us an accurate account of human (and non-human) intelligence? Where does AI go wrong and what does it get right? We'll explore what truly shapes intelligence. Is it genetics or environment? Can intelligence be improved, or is it ...
Jan 12, 2025•1 hr 9 min
Are you really learning as effectively as you think, or are hidden mental shortcuts holding you back? This episode involves a 'Masterclass' in which we unpack the world of cognitive biases and mental bottlenecks in learning—those subtle psychological tendencies that skew how we perceive, absorb, and evaluate information. What You’ll Learn: • Spot Your Blind Spots: How confirmation bias keeps you stuck in old beliefs. • Get Real About Skills: The Dunning-Kruger effect and why it’s easy to overest...
Dec 18, 2024•1 hr 13 min
The Ultimate Guide to Learning Anything Better - with Scott H. Young's "Get Better at Anything: 12 Maxims for Mastery" (Book Summary and Review; see original YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/w63A7WvR9bo?si=_4VKhP7YY7qTSyh0) In this episode of Powerful Learning, we take a look at some of the biggest insights from Scott H. Young's transformative book, "Get Better at Anything: 12 Maxims for Mastery." Forget the endless productivity hacks and caffeine-fueled study marathons. Young flips conventi...
Nov 14, 2024•20 min
Ever wondered why we forget more than we remember? Why do memories with personal meaning tend to stick? Are memories more about the past, the present, or the future? In Professor Charan Ranganath’s groundbreaking book, Why We Remember, these secrets are uncovered as we discover how our brains shape our memories to help us navigate the world. In this episode, we explore five BIG ideas from Ranganath’s book: 1️⃣ Memory is a Storyteller, Not a Camera Our brains don’t record events like a video came...
Oct 08, 2024•36 min
🎓 5 Scientifically Proven Study Tips for Success, Ace Your Exams, and Get Into College with Dr. Luke Rowe 🎓 This is an abridged version of the episode and the discussion about the scientific literature in support of these study tips has been edited out. If you'd like to hear the extended version, see the previously published epside. Unlock your full potential with these 5 powerful study tips from Dr. Luke Rowe! Whether you're a high school student, college freshman, or lifelong learner, these ...
Sep 27, 2024•32 min
In this episode, we explore the powerful role of metacognition in learning and education. Metacognition, or "monitoring and regulating our thought processes," is a critical skill that helps students become more aware of their learning processes, enabling them to self-regulate, improve performance, and ultimately become independent learners. This episode is the third and final part of a 3-part Learning and Teaching seminar series at the Australian Catholic University (Part 3 of 3): The Elevating ...
Sep 27, 2024•57 min
🎓 5 Proven Study Tips to Ace Your Exams and Get into College (Backed by Science) | EXTRA EVIDENCE EDITION with Learning Scientist and University Lecturer, Dr. Luke Rowe. This is the 'extended edition' with extra discussion of the scientific evidence in support of the 5 study tips. If you'd prefer to skip this extended edition and go straight to the study tips without all of the scientific fluff, feel free to skip to the next episode. But for those of you who are interested in the science behind...
Sep 27, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Level-up your learning and unlock your expertise with Luke's R.I.D.E Model of Powerful Practice to help you master ANYTHING! (Part 2 of 3) This video is the second part of a 3-part Learning and Teaching seminar series at the Australian Catholic University (Part 2 of 3): The Elevating Learning Seminar Series, presented by Dr Luke Rowe. It was originally presented at ACU on the 9th of August, 2024. We focus on the four pillars of powerful practice from Luke's forthcoming book 'Powerful Practice'. ...
Sep 27, 2024•1 hr 5 min
Rethinking How We Learn: The Power of Deep and Meaningful Learning Join me on another learning adventure by rethinking how we learn. We'll investigate some extremely powerful theories and techniques about the brain and the science of learning. Discover Friston's Bayesian Brain, Ausubel’s Meaningful Learning, and Craik and Lockhart's Levels of Processing theories can transform your understanding and enhance your learning experience. Learn the importance of storytelling, deep questioning, and know...
Sep 27, 2024•48 min
Unlock the secrets to powerful learning with our deep dive into ‘Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning’, by by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, Mark A. McDaniel. In this book review, we discover how to transform your study habits with these 5 evidence-based strategies: 1. Retrieval Practice: Move beyond rereading and embrace active recall for lasting memory. 2. Interleaving: Mix up your learning topics to enhance categorization and application skills1. 3. Learning from Errors: ...
Sep 27, 2024•18 min
Mastering Influence: Brain-Based Strategies for Impactful Learning Welcome to the "Powerful Learning Podcast"! 🌟 In this episode, I summarize some big ideas from the book Stop Talking, Start Influencing: 12 Insights from Brain Science to Make Your Message Stick by Dr. Jared Cooney-Horvath. This book is a treasure trove of practical tips and scientific principles to enhance your influence. Join me as I delve into the fascinating world of brain science and behavioral insights to help you communic...
Jun 05, 2024•31 min
In this evidence-rich episode we are joined by our guest, A/Professor Sean Kang, as we explore scientifically proven principles of practice to supercharge your learning journey. Sean is a cognitive psychologist whose research focuses on applying the cognitive science of human learning and memory towards improving instructional practice. He has written and published extensively on the topics of effective practice covering retrieval, distributed, and interleaved practice. Join us in our journey to...
Feb 24, 2024•1 hr 25 min
What's the purpose of education? Could it have something to do with human flourishing? In this episode, we invite guest and human flourishing expert, Dr. Kylie Trask-Kerr, to explore the topic of human flourishing in various educational contexts, including at the level of individuals, classrooms, schools, and broader communities. Kylie is an experienced educator at both the secondary and tertiary levels and has spent the better part of two decades honing her knowledge and skills in educational p...
Jan 21, 2024•1 hr 19 min
EXTENDED VERSION This is an extended version of episode 14, with Dr. Mike Witter. It's been provided to support those of you who would like to take a deeper dive into the notion of 'teacher quality'. Some additional topics that we discuss on this extended version include: Teacher-performance pay Professional Learning and Development to Improve Teacher Quality How would Mike spend a billion dollars on Education? What’s getting Mike excited in his work? So if you'd like to 'geek out' on the detail...
Sep 25, 2023•1 hr 43 min
What does it mean to be a good teacher? This is a multifaceted concept that has been the subject of research for over a century. While we've made significant progress, there are still many questions that remain unanswered about the purpose of education, the distinction between teacher quality and quality teaching, how to measure effective teaching, and most importantly, how to improve and upskill teachers to achieve excellence in education. In an effort to address these important and complex que...
Sep 21, 2023•1 hr 13 min
How much classroom discussion involves the teacher talking compared to their students? For most teachers, the reality is sobering: the typical teacher spends far more time talking and asking questions than their students and this is often detrimental to learning and engagement. Sadly, research even suggests that some students can go through an entire school day without sharing a single conversation with another human being, including their teacher. This highlights the importance of today's topic...
Jul 05, 2023•1 hr 10 min
Have you ever heard of the ‘ feedback sandwich ’? What about the idea that the best feedback is often given immediately after performance and without delay? And if feedback is simply a transfer of information from one person to another, then why does the research suggest that feedback given is often vastly different from feedback received? In this episode, we'll discuss some of the topics in which educators tend to habour wonky beliefs and misconceptions about feedback. And these aren’t just ben...
Jun 02, 2023•38 min
What do we mean by the term ‘Feedback’ – is it really just as simple as giving a student information about their performance? Or is there more to it? And what are some of the models and strategies that underpin high-impact feedback in various educational settings? In today’s podcast, I’ll attempt to tackle some of these tricky questions by standing on the shoulders of many of the intellectual giants who've written and published extensively on the topic of feedback using a science of learning len...
May 30, 2023•29 min
What does it mean to be engaged in your learning? When superficially understood, engagement refers to the level of involvement and participation that students have in their own learning process. But that’s an impoverished view of engagement. In today’s podcast, we’re going to take our understanding of student engagement to the next level with my guest and friend, Dr. Amy Berry. Amy is a research fellow at the Australian Council for Educational Research and an honorary fellow at the University of...
Jan 15, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Do schools really “kill creativity”? ( a claim famously made by the late Sir Ken Robinson ). Does a tightly structured curriculum stifle creative potential among some students while rewarding a conformist mentality among others? How can we best foster and nurture creativity in schools whilst maintaining academic excellence? In today’s podcast, I’ll be discussing these issues with John Munro, a distingushed Professor of Educational Psychology and Exceptional Learning at the Australian Catholic Un...
Jan 11, 2023•1 hr 10 min
iPads, podcasts, vodcasts, YouTube, interactive books, the metaverse, zoom, virtual and augmented reality, eBooks, laptops, social media, antiscocial media, creators, consumers, coding and maker spaces... Welcome to the 21st century classroom where students engage with text through multiple modalities that are fundamentally shifting the way we think about learning. And for those of you who’re unfamiliar with this term, Multimodal texts combine a variety of different modes of communication, such ...
Dec 16, 2022•1 hr 3 min
Feedback is one of the most widely-used and regularly deployed strategies in the toolkit of educators. And rightfully so. Much of the research points to the fact that feedback can be extremely powerful at improving student learning. Yet did you know that major reviews of the scholarly literature on feedback suggest that up to one-third of all approaches to feedback can actually harm rather than help learning? And not all effective feedback is equal. Some forms of feedback have a much deeper and ...
Nov 09, 2022•57 min
How important is the notion of ‘health and wellbeing’ in schools? Should schools simply 'stay in their lanes' and avoid this topic altogether? Or should they play a pivotal role in the lives of learners in how they develop their health and wellbeing? And if you agree with the latter point, then to what extent should teachers be responsible for the health and wellbeing of their students? And when is it better to defer this responsibility to a health professional or to the child’s parents and care...
Oct 28, 2022•1 hr 8 min
In 2008 Professor John Hattie released his landmark publication, Visible Learning. This book synthesised research from over 800 meta-analyses representing findings from research involving millions of students and over 100 different influences on academic achievement. John’s book was widely celebrated for having built that elusive bridge between the field of educational research and practising teachers. Some reviews even described it as the ‘Holy Grail’ of education. But not all of those in the t...
Aug 27, 2022•45 min
How do you know if you're an effective teacher? How do you interpret and evaluate evidence to inform your teaching practice? At least part of the answer to these questions must have something to do with the impact a teacher has on the learning of their students. But the next question of course is ‘How do we know that our students are learning?’ One way to answer this question is to make learning visible so that teachers and students can habitually monitor and evaluate the impact of their efforts...
Aug 19, 2022•48 min
Do you want to integrate ‘Evidence-Based Teaching’ into your practice? If so, where should you begin? What are some of the key steps and working 'models' that we can adopt to help integrate evidence-based teaching into our educational practice? In this podcast, we'll look into some of the key features of different models of evidence-based teaching that have had currency over the last few decades. These include Gagne's Nine Events of Instruction, Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction, and John H...
Jul 12, 2022•33 min
