This is a special micro episode - Chatting with Mark - where I catch up with a previous guest about a topic that’s captured their attention. This episode was recorded in December 2022, when I chatted with Steven Kolber about Artificial Intelligence in education. We explored some of the potential risks of this type of technology, including the curious notion of teaching a class without a teacher, and some of the associated geo-political, quality, and critical evaluation issues. https://stevenkolb...
Jan 30, 2023•22 min
Today my guest is Stefan Popenici, an Academic & Educational Researcher. In this episode we find out more about Stefan’s early studies and learning in educational psychology including the cultural and educational value of folk tales and mythology. We also chat about the intriguing and emerging phenomenon of Artificial Intelligent (AI), and its implications for education. We explore Stefan’s recent research publication, a book called Artificial Intelligence and Learning Futures: Critical Narr...
Jan 24, 2023•49 min
Today my guest is Matthew Phillips, a Media Producer. Matthew shares memories of growing up along the coast of tropical North Queensland and his early enthusiasm for cameras, photography, boats, and sailing. Matthew reflects on his diverse range of professional experiences and roles working as an apprentice Sailmaker, a Soldier in the Australian Regular Army posted on peace-keeping exercises in Namibia, north-west Africa, as a police officer, and more recently as a media producer and film-maker....
Jan 22, 2023•53 min
Today my guest is Greg Cregan, a Ceramic Potter. This episode is very much grounded and down-to-earth. Of course, you might like to explore the links in the show notes for visual reference as we explore ceramics, clay, and creating decorative ceramics in a potter’s studio. Greg reflects on his early interest in art and drawing which eventually led him to explore working with clay and the potter’s wheel. We explore the process of creating decorative clay pots and other objects, from selecting a l...
Nov 23, 2022•58 min
Today my guest is Brett Salakas, a Teacher, Speaker, Poet, & Author. In this episode, we learn about Brett’s background as a primary school teacher in Australia and South East Asia. We find out more about Brett’s new book, A Mammoth Lesson: Teaching In The Digital Age. Brett shares insights into how he created this fictional story and its central use of metaphor to communicate ideas. Brett also reflects on why he wrote this book, recounting some of his professional and personal experiences a...
Nov 16, 2022•1 hr 6 min
In this episode, we explore the wellbeing of teachers and educators. Amy offers insights into her many years as a classroom teacher before her post-graduate studies in human behaviour, coaching, positive psychology, and wellbeing. We also chat about Amy’s new book, Teacher Wellbeing. We look beneath the surface of teaching including the job demands, habits, systems, structures, processes, and school culture. We chat about tiredness, occupational stress, emotions such as shame, expectations teach...
Oct 30, 2022•51 min
Today my guest is Cameron Malcher, a Teacher and Podcast Producer. In this episode, we explore Cameron’s driving curiosity and passion for teaching, education and communication, and his love of storytelling, drama, and community. Cameron reflects on his post-graduate studies in educational psychology, including the ways our minds construct knowledge by combining social, emotional, and cognitive processes. We find out about drama-based pedagogies and how these can support students to explore diff...
Oct 24, 2022•54 min
Today my guest is Tom Mahoney, a Teacher and Educational Researcher. In this episode, we explore Tom’s diverse teaching roles related to both Mathematics and Psychology. Tom recounts his previous studies as background to his current PhD research aims which relate to reflexivity and how teachers perceive themselves. Tom seeks to understand the different values and beliefs, ideologies, and philosophies that teachers bring to the classroom, where these might have originated, and how this might, in ...
Oct 14, 2022•51 min
Today my guest is Jonathan McGuire, a Data Analyst & Evaluator. In this episode, we explore data and statistics and how these are typically gathered, analysed, evaluated, and communicated across various fields including psychology, public health, business and education. Jonathan shares some of this early study and research activities - such as those involving honey bees, their foraging behaviour and how they learn - through to later research in human moral cognition, or how people make moral...
Oct 09, 2022•47 min
Today my guest is Tom Oliphant, a Teacher and Industrial Designer. In this episode, we explore the world of technology and its use in teaching and learning. Tom reflects on his early career as an Industrial Designer - developing prototypes for furniture, electrical appliances and other objects - before further study and his transition into teaching. Tom also reflects on the advances in technology over the past 20 or so years, and how these allow ideas to become reality across industries, and als...
Sep 05, 2022•54 min
Today my guest is Christy Tucker, a Learning Experience Designer. In this episode, we explore the world of storytelling, technology, and the use of scenarios in teaching, learning and other educational situations. Christy reflects on her experiences as a high school music and band teacher, and her pathway to working as an instructional designer for adult learners. We chat about stories with multiple pathways, that is, non-linear narratives, and the many decisions a reader makes as they work thei...
Aug 30, 2022•51 min
Today my guest is Enda Murray, a Media Producer & Director of the Irish Film Festival. The festival launches at the Chauvel cinema in Sydney on 25th August 2022, then travels to Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra on consecutive weekends, with online streaming options to follow. In this episode, we find out more about Enda’s upbringing in Ireland and his university experiences in Dublin in the early 1980s. Enda reflects on his interest in working with musicians and entertainers to organi...
Aug 23, 2022•59 min
Today my guest is Shaun Bell, a Learning Designer working in higher education. In this episode we find out more about Shaun’s university studies related to both Education and Arts, and their experiences as a high school teacher. We discuss Shaun’s post-graduate pathway, the completion of an honours thesis exploring the literary sub-genre of Australian magic realism. Shaun contrasts their own experiences as a generally disengaged high school student with the parameters and contexts typical of hig...
Aug 11, 2022•55 min
Today my guest is Colin Simpson, an Education Innovation Designer with a background and expertise in education, video and multimedia production, and how technology is used in learning and teaching. In this episode we find out more about Colin’s current PhD research related to higher education workplaces, systems and university culture. Colin explains his approach and methodology, informed by social practice theory - that is, understanding what makes up a practice, how that practice evolves and i...
Jun 14, 2022•52 min
Today my guest is Leon Furze, a Teacher Educator and Author. Leon is also the Director of Learning and Teaching at a regional Victorian high school. In this episode we explore Leon’s early enthusiasm and connections to reading and literature, growing up in a lower socio-economic area of England. Leon reflects on some of the texts that influenced him along his journey studying English and American literature at university, and further study in becoming an English Teacher. We chat about Leon’ late...
Apr 29, 2022•48 min
Today my guest is Carolyn Newall, an English Teacher and International Educator with an active involvement in digital technology, inequality and teacher professional development. In this episode we find out more about Carolyn’s early observations and experiences in India, Singapore and Australia, especially those relating to racism, inequality, reading and literacy. Carolyn offers some personal and professional reflections on the lessons learned from quick adaptation and response by teachers dur...
Mar 31, 2022•58 min
Today my guest is Donald H Taylor, an educator and researcher specialising in workplace learning and development (L&D). Donald has more than 30 years of experience across the globe, from English language teaching through to roles as director and vice-president of various software companies. In this episode Donald provides insights into the L&D Global Sentiment Survey, a survey he created over ten years ago to take the pulse of the global learning and development community. This one-minut...
Mar 09, 2022•42 min
Today my guest is Dr Sharon Kerr, an educator and researcher specialising in inclusive curriculum for students with a disability utilising assistive technologies and the training of community service professionals. Sharon has had over 30 years experience working with students with a wide range of disabilities. She is widely recognised as having expertise in maximising student engagement for students with intellectual, sensory, learning, psychological and physical disabilities. In this episode we...
Feb 12, 2022•45 min
Today my guest is Dr Michael Harvey, a Science Teacher from New Zealand. In this episode, Michael outlines aspects of New Zealand - or kiwi - culture, including Maori language. We also explore Michael’s previous role as an industrial research Chemist and the evolution into his current role as a high school teacher. With a strong interest in how technology can transform teaching & learning, Michael offers insights into how digital tools and approaches might be incorporated into the classroom....
Feb 05, 2022•42 min
Today my guest is Lottie Dowling, a global educator specialising in languages, culture, digital technologies and teacher professional learning. Much of Lottie’s work revolves around global citizenship, that is, how school students are increasingly interconnected with others across the world. This episode offers insights into some of Lottie’s collaborative approaches and practices as she works with teachers to incorporate and strengthen various domains in their teaching practice: knowledge (that ...
Dec 07, 2021•46 min
Today my guest is Kat Montagu, a Screenwriter and Instructor. In this episode we find out more about the precise, nuanced territory of screenplays, or more specifically, screenplay formatting that is designed to ensure that a screenplay not only tells an engaging story but also communicates the more technical details used in film and television productions. Kat provides insights into some of the industry-informed processes of creative writing, including the specialist tasks of a script analyst a...
Oct 23, 2021•44 min
Today my guest is Steven Kolber, Teacher, Writer & Researcher from Melbourne, Australia. Steven is one of 50 finalists in the Global Teacher Prize, 2021. In this episode we explore Steven’s role as an English and Humanities teacher at a public, Government high school. We also find out how, driven by a fundamental enjoyment of learning, Steven works globally with technology, instructional video and assistive technology to promote education. In our conversation, we explore the education readin...
Oct 07, 2021•54 min
Today my guest is Alister Lockhart, an Illustrator and Digital Artist. Since Alister’s work is highly visual, you might like to explore some of his artwork as we listen. You can find images and videos on his website: alisterlockhart.net (there’s link in the show notes. In this episode, we explore demons, goblins, and superheroes and capturing their form in illustrations and digital art. In our conversation, Alister shares thoughts on his generally open and responsive approach to employment withi...
Sep 20, 2021•51 min
Today my guest is Liron Gilmore, a Multi-disciplinary Artist. Since Liron’s work is highly visual, you might like to explore some of her art works as we listen. You can find images on her website: lirongilmore.com or instagram (there’s links to these in the show notes). In this episode we explore the use of fibre and textiles in art marking, including the techniques of machine-sewing, the value of practical tests and the use of mockups, and the importance of a finely crafted finish. In her art p...
Aug 18, 2021•56 min
Today my guest is Keith Heggart, a Civics & Citizenship Educator & Researcher. In our conversation, we explore civics and citizenship education in schools, that is, the way that students learn to take part in society. Keith offers insights into a range of teaching and learning approaches including the design of an interdisciplinary and integrated curriculum. Keith outlines how students that grow their own agency might become more active and informed members of their community and take ac...
Aug 12, 2021•47 min
Today my guest is Joyce Matthews, a Facilitator, Trainer and Writer from Scotland. Joyce works with leaders across the world, developing their skills, confidence and competence in andragogy - that is, teaching and leading adults. In our conversation we explore how Joyce supports participants to “find their own why” as they create their own route through their educational programs, correlating with their own mindset, values and beliefs. Along with discussion on pedagogy and androgogy, Joyce offer...
Jul 31, 2021•45 min
Today my guest is Sandy Nicoll - Dr Sandy - a Teacher Educator & Researcher. In her PhD thesis, Sandy asked the question: How do pre-service teachers engage students in learning during professional experience? in a process of narrative inquiry. The simple, yet profound ideas and practicalities around student engagement continue to inform Sandy’s enthusiastic, ongoing research and professional interests. In our conversation, we explore some of the struggles of teaching, and the value of refle...
Jul 10, 2021•50 min
Today my guest is Jane Messer, a writer, former Associate Professor in Creative Writing, and mentor for fiction and nonfiction authors. In this episode, we explore Jane’s early fascination with storytelling, leading to further study in literature, sociology and philosophy. Jane has published novels and anthologies of world literature, radio dramas, short stories and most recently, a narrative video game. Jane also shares insights into her current project Raven Mother, a memoir-biography that exp...
May 20, 2021•49 min
Today my guest is Sarah White, a Conversation Analyst and Lecturer. In her research, Sarah studies the often-unspoken rules of language and how people, in conversations, use words, phrases, tone of voice and even pauses. Much of the focus of Sarah’s research is conversation analysis in healthcare, for example, interactions between surgeons and patients in a clinic. In our conversation, Sarah outlines how language used in interactions can be more (or less) effective and can be used – most importa...
Feb 27, 2021•47 min
Today my guest is Professor Ronika Power, a Bioarchaeologist and teacher. Ronika’s research revolves around human skeletal and mummified remains from diverse populations across the world. Ronika's team made the cover of Nature for research that was named as one of the Top Ten Discoveries of 2016 by Archaeology Magazine. In this episode, we chat about Ronika’s very early interest and fascination with ancient Egyptian and other cultural artifacts associated with death. Ronika has a broad and quite...
Dec 12, 2020•55 min
