The Learning Capacity Podcast: Recent Episodes
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Topics covered1. Running and out-of-school learning business 2. Learning difficulties 3. Growth Mindset 4. Using neuroscience programs to develop learning 5. Coaching parents to support their children 6. Support groups for women in business
People & organisations mentioned1. Dr Norman Doidge 2. Carol Dweck 3. Kerwin Rae 4. Gary Vaynerchuk 5. Wollondilly Women in Business, 6. Women with Altitude 7. Mums in Business
Resources/books/articles/places mentioned1. The Brain That Changes Itself by Dr Norman Doidge 2. Sarah 2.0: Recovering from Traumatic Brain Inflammation 3. www.brainwiselearning.com.au 4. Barbara Arrowsmith
Topics covered1. Progress on rehabilitation after brain inflammation 2. Effects of brain inflammation including:
Auditory processing difficultiesChronic painParalysisFatigueMental & Physical weaknessVertigoMemory lossPostural orthostatic tachycardia syndromePeople & organisations mentioned1. Dr Norman Doidge 2. World Age Group Triathlon Championships,
Resources/books/articles/places mentioned1. The Brain That Changes Itself by Dr Norman Doidge 2. Fast ForWord – cognitive and language training program 3. Yoga 4. Reading Assistant – online reading aloud practice & coaching
Topics covered1. How to dress for job interviews
People & organisations mentioned1. That’s My Style 2. https://thatsmystyle.com.au/ 3. https://www.instagram.com/thatsmystyle_bybernadette/
Topics covered1. Rehabilitation after brain inflammation
People & organisations mentioned1. Monique Peter at Learning Well MacArthur 2. Dr Norman Doidge 3. Dr Bernie Siegel 4. Celine Dion
Resources/books/articles/places mentioned1. The Brain That Changes Itself by Dr Norman Doidge 2. Fast ForWord – cognitive and language training program
Topics covered* Coaching for parents of autistic children * Using the child’s strengths * The role of “stories” in forming a parent’s mindset
People & organisations mentioned* Autism360 * Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) * Maria Sharapova * Kodi Lee * America’s Got Talent
Topics covered* Individual Learning Plans (ILP) * Individual Education Plans (IEP) * ILP meetings * Roles of teachers, parents, tutors, speech pathologists, occupational therapists * Neurodiversity, including ASD, ADHD, ADD, anxiety, depression.
People & organisations mentioned* Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme
Resources mentioned* Disability Discrimination Act * Disability Standards for Education
Read Transcript of this podcast. Click this link: The Learning Success Blog and search for the podcast’s name.
Topics covered* How artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used in education * What the future might be for AI in education & learning * A teacher’s experience with an AI enhanced online learning program * Brain plasticity * Educational neuroscience * Dyslexia and other reading disabilities * The Enigma Machine * Algorithms
People & organisations mentioned* “The Brain That Changes Itself” by Dr Norman Doidge * Sir Ken Robinson * Alan Turing * Winston Churchill * Professor John McCarthy * Ita Buttrose of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Resources/books/articles/places mentioned* The City of Parkes in New South Wales * Bletchley Park, UK * Dartmouth College, USA * USA Education Sector Report * Individualized Education Programs * Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve
Read Transcript of this podcast. Click this link: The Learning Success Blog and search for the podcast’s name.
Topics covered* Why family involvement is beneficial for students’ learning * Ways to involve parents, carers and other family members * Teachers and the tutoring relationship * Homework & parent support
People & organisations mentioned* Professor John Hattie * Tandem Tutoring
Read Transcript of this podcast. Click this link: The Learning Success Blog and search for the podcast’s name.
Topics covered* What is Plain Engish? * Examples of Plain English * Why it’s important * How to learn to write in Plain English * Tips for Plain English writers
People & organisations mentioned* Winston Churchill * Former US President Ronald Reagan * The movie “Amadeus” * The Law Reform Commission of Victoria * Google * Fawlty Towers and John Cleese * C.S. Lewis * Shakespeare
Resources mentioned* Grammerly App * Hemingway App * The Cambridge Dictionary
Read Transcript of this podcast. Click this link: The Learning Success Blog and search for the podcast’s name.
Topics covered* Learning difficulties * Literacy difficulties * Dyslexia * Dysgraphia * ADHD * Auditory processing * Autism * Developmental delay * Delayed language and articulation * Behavioural issues * Expressive & receptive language * Phonics * Phonological awareness * Spelling * Memory
People & organisations mentioned* Spalding * MultiLit * Sounds Write * Fast ForWord * Vita Sackville-West
Read Transcript of this podcast. Click this link: The Learning Success Blog and search for the podcast’s name.
Topics covered1. Early learning 2. The Mind/Body connection 3. Impact of movement on brain development & learning 4. Combining physical movement with brain exercises 5. Neuro-developmental model for early learning 6. The value of play for infants & toddlers 7. Emotional coaching for children 8. The network of BrainFit centres in 8 countries 9. Structured block play to support maths learning 10. Educating parents about how to support their child’s development
People & organisations mentioned1. BrainFit Singapore 2. BrainFit Thailand 3. BrainFit Malaysia 4. BrainFit Indonesia 5. BrainFit Philippines 6. BrainFit Hong Kong 7. BrainFit China 8. BrainFit Saudi 9. BrainFit Turkey
Resources/books/articles/places mentioned1. BrainFitStudioSG 2. www.brainfit.com.sg
Read Transcript of this podcast. Click this link: The Learning Success Blog and search for the podcast’s name.
Topics covered1. Teaching scripture at school as a volunteer 2. Religion & culture 3. Teaching scripture to a wide age range of students 4. Using stories to teach scripture 5. Advice for potential scripture teaching volunteers
People & organisations mentioned1. Vishva Hindu Parishad 2. NSW Department of Education
Read Transcript of this podcast. Click this link: The Learning Success Blog and search for the podcast’s name.
Topics covered1. Nursing in World War 1 2. A young Australian woman’s experience of war 3. Compassion, self-sacrifice 4. Taking care of a dead soldier’s dog 5. Racism in Australia 6. Australian aboriginal culture 7. Voice recognition reading technology
People & organisations mentioned1. New South Wales State Library 2. World War 1 3. ANZAC 4. 60 Minutes 5. Angus and Robinson 6. Weary Dunlop
Resources/books/articles/places mentioned1. http://www.annedonnell.com.au 2. Reading Assistant Plus 3. Diaries of Anne Donnell 4. Vietnam War 5. Gallipoli 6. Dardanelles & Lemnos
Read Transcript of this podcast. Click this link: The Learning Success Blog and search for the podcast’s name.
Topics covered1. Teaching STEM/STEAM in primary schools 2. “Soft” skills: Perseverance, Collaboration, Growth Mindset, Conflict Resolution
People & organisations mentioned1. Anzac Park Public School, Sydney, Australia 2. Higher School Certificate (HSC) in New South Wales 3. Dick Smith, Australian serial entrepreneur & record-breaking aviator 4. Macquarie University 5. Australian Catholic University 6. Bridges to Higher Education
Resources/books/articles/places mentioned1. Minecraft 2. Lego Robots 3. Dick Smith electronics kits 4. Jaycar electronics kits 5. Bankstown Airport, Sydney, Australia 6. All Roads Lead to Rome – school to career transition
Topics covered1. Educational neuroscience evolution in 21st century 2. Technology changes since year 2000 3. Learning difficulties 4. Teachers & speech pathologists 5. Using neuroscience technology for English language learning in China 6. Types of evidence 7. Cost versus value in educational decision making 8. The future for neuroscience-based education models
People & organisations mentioned1. Sentral (www.sentral.com.au)
Topics covered* How to help students succeed in maths * Prerequisite maths knowledge * Clarity of maths explanations by teachers * How maths connects to real life * How students can answer harder maths questions than they realise * Motivating students about maths
People & organisations mentionedDr Dion Khlentzos - dionkhl@hotmail.com
Topics covered* Coaching for parents of autistic children
People & organisations mentioned* Autismag * autism360club * Jonathan Brunot * New York Marathon * Autism Spectrum Australia * National Disability Insurance Scheme * Center for Disease Control * Social Express * Cool School - No More Bullying * Boardmake
Topics covered* Teaching theatre in India * Challenges and rewards of being a foreign teacher in India * Cultural differences between Indian students and UK students * Teacher training in India * Human photocopiers
People & organisations mentioned* The IGCSE program * The International Baccalaureate
Resources/books/articles/places mentioned* New Delhi, India
Topics covered1. Rehabilitation after brain inflammation
People & organisations mentioned1. Monique Peter at Learning Well MacArthur 2. Dr Norman Doidge 3. Dr Bernie Siegel 4. Celine Dion
Resources/books/articles/places mentioned1. The Brain That Changes Itself by Dr Norman Doidge 2. Fast ForWord – cognitive and language training program
Topics covered1. How to dress for job interviews
People & organisations mentioned1. That’s My Style 2. https://thatsmystyle.com.au/ 3. https://www.instagram.com/thatsmystyle_bybernadette/
Topics covered1. Pinocchio’s “growing nose” story 2. Career choices for secondary students 3. Facial trait profiling 4. Facial micro-expressions 5. Neuro Linguistic Programming 6. Career assessment tools (strengths approach, Myers-Briggs, DISC)
People & organisations mentioned1. The Disney organisation
Resources/books/articles mentioned1. The Face: How to get your ideal career to match your personality (e-book) 2. Facial Profiling Basics for Workplace Skills (online course)
Topics covered1. Career options enabled by digital communications 2. Benefits & challenges of a “free-range global career” 3. The laptop lifestyle & the gig economy 4. A day in the life of a global free-range career 5. Personality strengths needed fora global free-range career
People & organisations mentioned1. Butter Collective 2. Upwork 3. Uber Eats 4. Skype
Resources/books/articles mentioned1. Mt Annapurna in Nepal 2. Berlin, Germany 3. Australia
Topics covered1. How to simplify spoken and written communication 2. Teaching university students how to communicate across disciplines 3. Limitations in academic journal articles 4. Transition from school - skills needed
People & organisations mentioned1. University of South Australia 2. Toastmasters 3. University of Queensland
Resources/books/articles mentioned1. The Hemingway App 2. Three Minute Thesis Competition
Topics covered1. Brain Science 2. Neuroplasticity 3. Learning Difficulties
People & organisations mentioned1. Dr Michael Merzenich 2. Scientific Learning Corporation 3. University of Portland 4. Harvard University 5. Johns Hopkins University 6. Dr Bill jenkins 7. Dr Paula Tallal 8. Dr Steve Miller
Resources/books/articles mentioned1. Fast ForWord program 2. Science (the journal)
Topics covered1. Rapid Trait Profiling 2. Education & learning 3. Body Language 4. Australian Aboriginal Lore 5. What facial features reveal about learning style
People & organisations mentioned1. Paul Ekman Group 2. Australian Federal Police 3. Disney Films 4. Gillette 5. President Donald Trump 6. The Campfire Project 7. Naomi Tickle 8. Mens' Shed Association
Resources/books/articles mentioned1. Neuro Linguistic programming 2. Myers-Briggs psychometric profiling 3. DISC
Topics covered1. The Spalding Method 2. The Orton-Gillingham Approach 3. "The Reading Wars" 4. MultiLit 5. Davis Dyslexia 6. Fast ForWord
Topics covered1. Positive psychology 2. Using strengths in teaching
People & organisations mentioned1. Dr. Martin Seligman 2. Dr. Chris Peterson 3. Dr Carol Dweck 4. Professor Lea Waters 5. American Psychological Association 6. Geelong Grammar School 7. Bounce Back Program
Resources/books/articles mentioned1. Values in Action (VIA) 2. The Strengths Profile 3. Culture 101 by Penny Nesbitt 4. The PERMA model 5. Online Strengths/Positive Education courses
In today's episode, I talk with Dr Marianela Diaz.Topics covered1. Early education2. Bi-lingual educationPeople & organisations mentioned1. Cleverest Early Education – Panama2. Mulberry Learning, Singapore3. PISA test4. Reggio Amelia5. Howard Gardner – Multiple Intelligences6. Professor Costa from the University of California7. Singapore Ministry of EducationResources/books/articles mentioned1. Habits of Mind
Without student engagement, is there any point in trying to teach anything? These days the education conversation is clearly shifting back towards learning, rather than school work. But what if your students aren't engaged, or interested in what you think they should learn, or what the curriculum thinks they should learn? And what if teachers think that student centred learning is a great idea, but the students don't. Surely not every student is enthusiastic about learning. Is lack of student engagement the elephant in the room... or the classroom? My guest today is Richard Andrew, a specialist in online learning. He's had a wide range of experience in classrooms across Australia and interacted with hundreds of teachers through the professional development courses he delivers. In this episode we take a light hearted but serious look at possibly one of the most significant topics in the education debate.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about science based language, learning and reading programs for your school or child, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Part 3 of 3: An Industry in Crisis - Live Animal Export Just how much do we need to know about an industry before we shut it down? How much will people tolerate before enough is enough? Is it ethical to continue industries where we know for certain, that a great deal of animal suffering is involved? And perhaps the toughest question... is it worth the money?
This is part three of a three part case study on the ethics of the live animal export industry in Australia. To find all three episodes, you can subscribe for free to Learning Capacity on your favourite podcast app, and look for episodes 80, 81 and 82. My guest in the series is Dr Lynn Simpson, who's sailed 57 voyages on live animal export ships over 11 years, transporting live Australian sheep and cattle to the other side of the world for slaughtering and processing.
In this episode we talk about the industry here in Australia and some of the major players involved. It seems that even though there's plenty of research and evidence to suggest that significant change is needed for improved animal welfare... the industry continues largely unchanged. It immediately raises the question of viability... is it worth the money? Or is the money worth the suffering? And if we can't fix it, should we simply stop it?
And a warning... some listeners may find this story distressing.
To find out more about LearnFast, and science based language, learning and reading programs for your child, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Part 2 of 3: Strange events in foreign ports. Is it wrong to respond to a tragic situation with humour? Is it insensitive to be light hearted about something you feel is unjust? What if humour is your only remaining coping mechanism, and what does that say about the situation you're in? This is part two of a three part case study on the ethics of the live animal export industry in Australia. To find all three episodes, you can subscribe for free to Learning Capacity on your favourite podcast app, and look for episodes 80, 81 and 82. My guest in the series is Dr Lynn Simpson, who's sailed 57 voyages on live animal export ships over 11 years, transporting live Australian sheep and cattle to the other side of the world for slaughtering and processing.
In this episode, Dr Simpson tells a couple of stories of what happened when she arrived at her destinations. On one level they're quite comical, but on the other hand they're far from it. Just how far can humour go in helping people to deal with the stresses of extreme situations.
To find out more about language, learning and reading programs for your school or child, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Part 1: Life on the wharf, and life at sea. Ethics is something that everyone will have to deal with in their life. Like it or not, you're going to have experiences where your ideas on right and wrong will be challenged. How will you handle them? What will you do? Should you be concerned about them if they don't directly affect you, or if you don't know about them?
In this special three part case study series (episodes 80, 81 and 82), I'm going to take a closer look at an industry that has recently come under media scrutiny in Australia for its treatment of animals. It's the live... animal ... export ...industry. My guest in the series is Dr Lynn Simpson, a highly experienced vet who's completed 57 voyages over 11 years, shipping Australian livestock to the other side of the world for slaughtering and processing. Many questions are raised, and despite plenty of investigation and research, there are still precious few answers on what to do with this highly controversial industry. It's a complex story, and it involves a great deal of suffering. Is it ethical? Most of us will never see it, so...should we worry?
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about science based language, learning and reading programs for your child, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Educating with Neuroscience Conference 2016 Melbourne, Australia PRESS RELEASE Dr Steve Miller presents new wearable technology that monitors a student or employee's brain in real time to improve focus and attention. The new learning technology is named "attention adaptivity".
Spoon feeding students is a controversial topic that often gets talked about with a negative vibe. It's certainly something that teachers complain about having to do sometimes in order to get results, and yet, it also seems like something that our education systems are trying to stamp out. Why is that? My guest today is Richard Andrew, who's been working in teacher professional learning for the past 10 years, and now runs all of his courses in the online space. He recently wrote posted an article on LinkedIn as to why we shouldn't spoon feed students, 'claiming that spoon feeding robs students of the opportunity to take responsibility for their own learning'. But still, the question remains why... why should we stop, given that the world has produced plenty of talented and highly skilled people despite our misgivings about our education systems. In this episode, I tease out this issue with Richard a bit further and suggest some practical ways to make the shift towards a more student centred approach to learning.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about science based language, learning and reading programs for your school or child, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Part 8 of 8: Classroom Environments Cultures of Thinking is an educational framework that emerged from the work of Ron Ritchhart and the Project Zero team at Harvard University. This episode belongs to an 8 part series, where I delve into each of the 8 cultural forces that, according to Ron Ritchhart, we must master in order to truly transform our schools. My guest in the series is Simon Brooks, who spent years implementing cultures of thinking into his classrooms, and now helps teachers introduce the framework in their schools. In this series, we'll take a closer look at each of the 8 cultural forces, with an emphasis on practical ways to implement the theory behind it all. This is part 8, where we discuss the cultural force of environments.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about language, learning and reading programs for your school or child, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Part 7 of 8: Classroom Interactions Cultures of Thinking is an educational framework that emerged from the work of Ron Ritchhart and the Project Zero team at Harvard University. This episode belongs to an 8 part series, where I delve into each of the 8 cultural forces that, according to Ron Ritchhart, we must master in order to truly transform our schools. My guest in the series is Simon Brooks, who spent years implementing cultures of thinking into his classrooms, and now helps teachers introduce the framework in their schools. In this series, we'll take a closer look at each of the 8 cultural forces, with an emphasis on practical ways to implement the theory behind it all. This is part 7, where we discuss the cultural force of interactions.
Educating with Neuroscience Conference 26 August 2016 Melbourne, Australia
Register your place at www.learnfastforschools.com.au/conference
The educating with neuroscience conference 2016, hosted by LearnFast, will address the big questions about educational neuroscience, and provide practical insight for educators on how to use emerging knowledge of neuroscience to make student learning better. And if you dare to dream, you might realise that working people, and their brains, is one of the most exciting and rewarding things you could ever do.
Part 6 of 8 - Thinking routines in the classroom. More than just an activity?
Cultures of Thinking is an educational framework that emerged from the work of Ron Ritchhart and the Project Zero team at Harvard University. This episode belongs to an 8 part series, where I delve into each of the 8 cultural forces that, according to Ron Ritchhart, we must master in order to truly transform our schools. In this episode, part 6, I discuss the cultural force of 'routines' with my guest Simon Brooks, who spent years implementing cultures of thinking into his classrooms. I asked Simon if routines are more than just another classroom activity.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about science based language, learning and reading programs for your school or child, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Part 5 of 8 - 'Opportunities' for learning and cultures of thinking. Cultures of Thinking is an educational framework that emerged from the work of Ron Ritchhart and the Project Zero team at Harvard University. This episode belongs to an 8 part series, where I delve into each of the 8 cultural forces that, according to Ron Ritchhart, we must master in order to truly transform our schools. In this episode, part 5, I discuss the cultural force of modelling with my guest Simon Brooks, who spent years implementing cultures of thinking into his classrooms. We take a look at what it means to create 'opportunities' for learning in our classrooms.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about educational neuroscience based programs for language, learning and reading for your school or child, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Watching your child grow up is exciting and wondrous. You marvel at what they pick up and how they develop. For Kim Rackemann and her husband, the journey with their son Finn wasn't quite so straightforward, as Finn wasn't really hitting the usual milestones. He was found to be on the Autism Spectrum, and the main indicator was his language delay. Despite some scepticism, Finn started the Fast ForWord program, and in what seemed to be a short space of time, the improvements started. In this episode, Kim shares Finn's story.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. If you'd like to know more about Fast ForWord, and how it might be able to help your child, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au. Or, if you'd like to speak with a specialist, then call... Australia 1300 203 104 NZ 0800 451 959
To comment on this podcast, please send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Part 4 of 8: Cultures of Thinking is an educational framework that emerged from the work of Ron Ritchhart and the Project Zero team at Harvard University. This episode belongs to an 8 part series, where I delve into each of the 8 cultural forces that, according to Ron Ritchhart, we must master in order to truly transform our schools. My guest in the series is Simon Brooks, who spent years implementing cultures of thinking into his classrooms, and now helps teachers introduce the framework in their schools. In this series, we'll take a closer look at each of the 8 cultural forces, with an emphasis on practical ways to implement the theory behind it all. This is part 4, where we discuss the cultural force of modelling.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about science based language, learning and reading programs for your school or child, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
This episode tells a story that defies the odds. It involves years of illness, crushing diagnoses by doctors, and miraculous recovery. It demonstrates how the brain really can change itself. And it also involves the Fast ForWord programs; a neuroscience based program used for both remedial learning, and learning enhancement. Given the nature of the details involved, I'll be referring to my guest only as Esther, which is her real name, and her children.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about neuroscience based language, learning and reading programs, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Ticking away, the moments that make up a dull day. Is that your school day?
Cultures of Thinking is an educational framework that emerged from the work of Ron Ritchhart and the Project Zero team at Harvard University. This episode belongs to an 8 part series, where I delve into each of the 8 cultural forces that, according to Ron Ritchhart, we must master in order to truly transform our schools. My guest in the series is Simon Brooks, who spent years implementing cultures of thinking into his classrooms, and now helps teachers introduce the framework in their schools. In this series, we'll take a closer look at practical ways to implement the theory behind it all. This is part 3, where we discuss the cultural force of time.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about educational neuroscience based language, learning and reading programs for your child, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au.
The use of language in our schools: Do we take it for granted? Cultures of Thinking is an educational framework that emerged from the work of Ron Ritchhart and the Project Zero team at Harvard University. This episode belongs to an 8 part series, where I delve into each of the 8 cultural forces that, according to Ron Ritchhart, we must master in order to truly transform our schools. My guest in the series is Simon Brooks, who spent years implementing cultures of thinking into his classrooms, and now helps teachers introduce the framework in their schools. In this series, we'll take a closer look at practical ways to implement the theory behind it all. This is part 2, where we discuss the cultural force of language.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about individualised language and reading programs for your child, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au.
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Cultures of Thinking is an educational framework that emerged from the work of Ron Ritchhart and the Project Zero team at Harvard University. This episode belongs to an 8 part series, where I delve into each of the 8 cultural forces that, according to Ron Ritchhart, we must master in order to truly transform our schools. My guest in the series is Simon Brooks, who spent years implementing cultures of thinking into his classrooms, and now helps teachers introduce the framework in their schools. In this series, we'll take a closer look at each of the 8 cultural forces, with an emphasis on practical ways to implement the theory behind it all. This is part 1, where we discuss the cultural force of expectations.
Greg Miller is the new Principal Leader of the new St Luke's Catholic College in Sydney's Marsden Park, which begins to open its doors in 2017. Whist the opening of a new school doesn't sound all that remarkable, St Luke's will incorporate a complete, or whole school approach to innovation. It will also commit to continually working out how to move forward in an increasingly complex world. In this episode, Greg Miller shares how he sees this unfolding.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about LearnFast and individualised language and reading programs, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au.
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Ever hear the phrase, "use it or lose it"? What if that applied to your brain? In this episode I bring you another excerpt from the amazing book, "The Brain That Changes Itself" by Dr Norman Doidge. In addition, there's a link in the podcast directing you to the FREE download page, where you can download chapter 3 of the book for free. In this section of the book, we get an insight into Dr Michael Merzenich and some of the work he carried out that helped mainstream neuroscientists accept the plasticity of the brain. It's a fantastic read, and remember...use it, or lose it.
This podcast is brought to you by our major sponsor, LearnFast. To find out more about LearnFast, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Real innovation, or just talk? Greg Whitby is the executive director of schools for the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta, and is at the leading edge of education reform. He joins me in this episode to discuss the new St Luke's College opening from 2017 in Sydney's Marsden Park, where almost everything is up for a rethink. Starting with how the new Principal Leader is selected, the new school will provide a radical shift from traditional school thinking.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about LearnFast and individualised language and reading programs for your child or student, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Effective teaching of reading is a serious issue that deserves attention. But what happens after you've learned to read? How much should you read? Given that schools are such book intensive places, would you expect teachers to be readers? My guests in this interview are music educators Brad Fuller and Peter Orenstein who teach at Northern Beaches Christian School in Sydney. We take a light hearted look at the serious business of reading.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about LearnFast visit www.learnfasthome.com.au.
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Teacher centred vs student centred learning is one of the debates that's receiving a lot of attention around the world in modern education. And what about self directed learning? Are all students capable of being self directed, or does a student need a certain aptitude to make it work. My guest in this episode is Simon Brooks who now works with schools in the change management process as they consider new frameworks and ideas for education. Simon has worked extensively with the Project Zero team at Harvard University, and is a specialist in developing Cultures of Thinking. In this episode, Simon shares how his experiences influence his ideas on this debate.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about individualised language and reading programs for your child, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
John Spence is an international business thought leader and influencer, and also a guest lecturer at universities such as Harvard, Stanford and The University of Pennsylvania. According to John, reading is the path to success in business, and at school. John is an avid reader, and claims that reading has made a lasting impact on his life and career. I caught up with John to find out more about his story, and what insight he has for Australian students, parents and educators.
To find out more about John Spence, visit www.johnspence.com
To find out more about LearnFast and individualised reading programs for your child, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au.
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Simon Brooks has spent many years implementing the Cultures of Thinking framework in classroom contexts. He's worked closely with Ron Ritchhart and the Cultures of Thinking team at Harvard University's Project Zero. He now spends a great deal of his time helping teachers and schools implement Cultures of Thinking both at the individual level, and school wide. This kind of change often uses words and phrases like 'new' and 'transformation' or 'forces that shape culture'. Whilst these terms might represent a scary unknown, or just another thing to add to the list, Simon's passion to see children really learn helps him communicate that it's not just another program for implementation, but a long term process that is well worth the time and effort. I caught up with Simon to find out how he starts the conversation with schools and their teachers.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about LearnFast, and individualised language and reading programs, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
It's hard to believe, but 1 million Australian children are at risk of reading failure. A research report released by the Centre for Independent Studies titled Read About It: Scientific Evidence for Effective Teaching of Reading suggests most children will need significant or intensive reading instruction. In this episode, the editor of the report, Dr Jennifer Buckingham helps us understand the problem, and the five keys to reading that can help address it.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about individualised neuroscience based language and reading programs, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
To give feedback on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
This is the second of a two part interview with Dr Peter Goss, about a recent report released by The Grattan Institute on NAPLAN. The report uncovers widening achievement gaps, and the clear effects of disadvantage on students. The interview was conducted onsite, at the Grattan Institute in Melbourne. To hear the first half of the interview which focuses on widening achievement gaps, look for episode 54 on the Learning Capacity podcast.
Student disadvantage is a difficult topic that just doesn't seem to go away. Whether it's socio economic, school based, or regional disadvantage, it seems a bit like the ever present elephant in the room. Recent research by Dr Peter Goss and his team at the Grattan Institute has uncovered that the effects of disadvantage are real and easily detected in NAPLAN results. And it's not just the struggling students who suffer. The brighter ones are sometimes worse off in these conditions. Whilst it's easy to quickly think of shifting blame onto the schools, or teachers, or perhaps even NAPLAN itself, Peter Goss suggests that NAPLAN is an invaluable tool for identifying where support is needed most. As such, we should embrace the information it gives us and encourage our policy makers and educational leaders to take action.
The discussion continued with the question of whether there were any stand out factors of disadvantage...
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about LearnFast, and individualised language and literacy programs for learning remediation and enhancement, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
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Peter Hutton doesn't just talk about education revolution. He makes it happen. As principal of Templestowe College in Victoria, he's introduced innovations that some would either welcome, or strongly reject. Take for example the fact that as of 2015, the school does not organise its students into year levels; students can have phones in class; and they can take more, or less than six years to complete their secondary studies. Now in its sixth year of its transformation, Templestowe College has gone from being a basket case on the verge of closing, to a thriving school where they have to turn away new student enrolments, and even applications from teachers desperate to get in. Those lucky enough to get a place are willing to travel long distances for the privilege of being enrolled at TC. It begs the question... why aren't all schools like this, or at least more like this? And why does TC seem so radical and unusual?
I caught up with Peter at the Improving Initial Teacher Education conference in Melbourne, in April 2016, to find out more about this amazing story.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about LearnFast, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
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John Hattie is the Director of the Melbourne Educational Research Institute at the University of Melbourne. He's also the Chair of the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leaders, and co director of the Science of Learning Research Centre. His work is known widely throughout the world.
In June 2015 he wrote two papers that were intended to be read together, What doesn't work in education: The politics of distraction. What works best in education: The politics of collaborative expertise.
The titles alone sound provocative and controversial. But the message is in essence quite simple. He argues that one year of input should equal one year of progress, for all students, no matter where they start. It sounds obvious, but he argues that we are too easily distracted from the real issues, and that we don't harness enough, the power of collaborating with our best educators to create what he calls a coalition of the successful.
I caught up with John at the Improving Initial Teacher Education conference in Melbourne, in April 2016, to dig a little bit deeper into these two papers.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about LearnFast and individualised language and literacy programs, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
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NAPLAN often conjures up awful thoughts about standardised testing in schools that become the subject of controversy and debate. But regardless of what you might think of NAPLAN, recent research by The Grattan Institute indicates that there is a widening gap of achievement in our schools. Whilst rising gain scores, and charts that generally appear to show upward trends in results look convincing, Grattan Institute's new model of interpreting data called 'years of progress' tells a different story. In some cases, the spread of achievement between students in year 9 can be as much as 7 years. The findings have been described as alarming. I visited the Grattan Institute to speak with Dr Peter Goss, one of the authors of the report, about the findings, and the implications for Australian education.
Given the nature of the topic, this interview will stretch over two episodes. Be sure to catch part two, episode 57, where we discuss the effects of disadvantage on NAPLAN results.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about LearnFast, and individualised language and reading programs, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
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Brad Fuller and Peter Orenstein are music educators at Northern Beaches Christian School on the North Shore of Sydney. Together they run a unique music program that seeks to provide a rich environment for music students which is built on a collaborative model of teaching and leadership. Inspired by their unique talents, they benefit from their experiences as musicians to experiment with new ideas. Whilst there is a curriculum to deliver, the spirit of improvisation is strong in the way it is taught. There is also an emphasis on what they describe as a bidirectional model of leadership within the faculty, allowing for the free flow of ideas between them and the students who learn there. In this episode, Brad and Peter give us an insight into their creative and collaborative space. This interview is recorded is recorded in person, on site, where all the magic happens.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about LearnFast, including Fast ForWord, Cogmed and Nervanix Clarity, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
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Dr Steve Miller is the chief science officer for Nervanix Corporation. He's one of the driving forces behind the development of Nervanix Clarity, a wearable piece of technology that can listen in on your brain and track your concentration in real time. It might sound a bit like science fiction, but the technology behind it, known as EEG, is actually about 100 years old. Elite athletes and businesses are now using neuroscience to improve performance or make strategic business decisions, so the appearance of a product like Nervanix Clarity is not as surprising at you might think. And for education, there are significant implications. We can now more effectively monitor concentration, which is so often a problem for struggling learners. Conversely it also offers the opportunity to enhance learning for advanced students. In this episode, Dr Miller explains how it all works.
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This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about LearnFast, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
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Carolyn Mee is an edtech entrepreneur who wants to change the way children get screened for hearing loss. With a background in media, and a strong desire to improve learning outcomes for children, she's developed an app called Sound Scouts in collaboration with National Acoustic Laboratories, which is a research division of Australian Hearing. The app is a gamified test that invites children to participate in a story. Along the way, their hearing is tested in the comfort and convenience of their own home. Carolyn's work with Sound Scouts has the potential to radically improve detection rates of hearing loss, which in turn will help to provide intervention more quickly leading to better learning. It's a serious undertaking, backed by scientific research and ongoing development. In this episode, Carolyn, shares her journey with Sound Scouts.
To find out more about LearnFast, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
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Oppositional Defiant Disorder, or ODD, can be a very traumatic thing to deal with. The literature states that defiant behaviours need to be consistent and obvious for about 6 months, which can seem like a long time before decisions get made to do something about it. Dr Shan Ong is a developmental paediatrician with deep experience in this field. In this discussion, I ask Dr Ong what it means for parents to take the first steps in handling the situation and what they can expect. It's a mixture of experiences and emotions ranging from relief to denial as parents come to terms with the long road ahead. We also talk about the role of the school, and how that fits in with strategies at home and the working relationship with a medical professional. I started by asking Dr Ong to clarify what defiant behaviours might look like.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about LearnFast, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
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One of the great things about producing this podcast is the many interesting people I get to talk to from around the world. Occasionally, the tables get turned, and the people I meet start to ask me more questions than I ask them. Nick Kenny, hosts a radio program on Sydney based community station Northside Radio, FM99.3, called A Fair Call, which is a political commentary and current affairs talk show. He invited me to join him on the program to discuss what learning capacity is, what I thought about current developments in the education system in Australia, and why I thought reading is so important. He wasn't afraid of asking tough questions, and it made for a very enjoyable discussion. The program was recorded, and I'm pleased to add it to the growing list of interviews that make up the Learning Capacity podcast.
Mimma Mason is the Cogmed manager for Pearson Australia, and has previously been on the show to discuss working memory. But she also spends much of her time helping people understand the emerging field of educational neuroscience. Is it another band wagon, or pop science? We've asked this question before on the show, and it seems like the consistent message is that educational neuroscience is now increasingly informing educational practice and research. If it is for real, then how do we implement it? And what does this mean for future teacher education and professional development? In this episode, Mimma helps us understand what to make of it all.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about Cogmed working memory programs, Fast ForWord, and individualised language, literacy and reading programs for your child, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Ever wondered how to describe autism? Dr Norman Doidge provides a simple, yet insightful description of this baffling and severe disorder in chapter 3 of his best selling book, The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph From the Frontiers of Brain Science. Put simply, he describes it as a mind that cannot conceive of other minds. He then goes on to explain some incredible progress in understanding and dealing with autism. In this episode, I introduce you to that chapter, and provide you with the opportunity to download the chapter for FREE. You will be introduced to the ground breaking work in the field of neuroscience and the key people involved. Yes, it's about brain science, but it's a simple read, and the stories and science are very compelling.
To receive your download, visit http://www.info.learnfasthome.com.au/book
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Cameron Paterson is a teacher at a private school in Sydney, Australia, and first came across Project Zero a little over 10 years ago. The ideas presented at the time resonated strongly with Cameron, and he was attracted by the progressive nature of the thinking in the Project Zero team. Since then he's spent time at Harvard University where he studied learning and teaching and completed a Masters degree. He's worked extensively with Ron Ritchhart and March Church in creating Cultures of Thinking within his own school, and has much experience using thinking routines in the classroom. For Cameron, creating cultures of thinking is not just a passing idea or educational fad. Its backed by research and case studies from around the world. In this episode, Cameron shares how he's made it real and successful in the classroom.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. For more information about neuroscience based language and reading programs, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send your emails to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Startup businesses in the EdTech space seem to be appearing everywhere. Most of us might think of a new learning app, or some web based learning system that many schools are adopting. Monica Wulff regularly meets the people behind the scenes of these new technologies in her work at StartUp Muster, which is a kind of bureau of statistics for startups. It may come as a surprise, but Australia is thriving with startups, with a large proportion of founders having a background in education, and developing for education. On one hand, this really is uncharted territory. But on another, it represents incredible opportunity both for business, and for learners who previously have not had access to quality education. In this episode, Monica sheds light on this emerging space.
For more information about LearnFast, and individualised remediation and enhancement programs in language and literacy, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Mimma Mason is the Cogmed Manager for Pearson Australia, and spends much of her time raising awareness of working memory and its relationship to learning. Most of us might easily relate to long term memory, what we did a while back, or short term memory, like what we did yesterday. But do we give enough time to thinking about working memory? That's what's going on when we get exposed to new things, and it's a critical part of the learning process. Poor working memory makes learning that much harder. In this episode, Mimma helps us understand it, and more importantly, how we can develop it.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about LearnFast and the Cogmed programs, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Mike McKay is now a retired superintendent of the Surrey County schools district in British Columbia. He was a public educator for 35 years. The area he supervised is said to have over 160 languages spoken. You can imagine it would be extremely difficult, if not nigh on impossible to measure the potential problems with language and reading development in such a large and diverse region. But back in 2008 he attended a conference hosted by Scientific Learning Corporation, where he was exposed to the research behind the Fast ForWord programs. When he came back, he asked his board to trust him, and give him $300,000 to get started. It was bold pitch. In this episode, Mike tells the story of how things have panned out.
To find out more about LearnFast and the Fast ForWord programs, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Sally Wilcox noticed that her son Mac was becoming increasingly frustrated with writing and spelling when he was in grade 5. Thinking back, the early markers were already appearing in grade 1 when he had difficulty following instructions. In Mac's words, it was very simple - he hated writing. On deeper investigation, Mac was diagnosed with what was called an auditory delay, or auditory processing disorder. At first Sally was told that this was developmental and that Mac would grow out of it, and to some extent this was true. Yet the problems persisted and Sally knew that something else needed to happen. Eventually she found the FFW products, and that's when things started to change for the better. Fortunately Mac was very receptive to the issue, and his teacher was also familiar with auditory processing disorder. This combination of factors helped Mac make significant gains at school with regards to academic results, but also with respect to confidence and a stronger willingness to try. In this episode, Sally shares Mac's story.
To find out more about LearnFast, and individual language and reading programs for your child, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
When lawyer John Williamson-Noble began creating stories for his son about a Sydney ferry named Fergus, he had little idea about how influential they would become. Nor did he realise that he would soon develop a skill in writing beautiful stories in rhyming couplets. Inspired by the everyday happenings on Sydney Harbour, the stories began to take on a life of their own, complete with simple messages about life that could help young people navigate the challenges of growing up. Whilst it may seem unusual for stories in very simple English to emanate from the legal profession, John explains that in his line of work in corporate law, it's all about plain English, and that the match is actually not that unusual. The stories have positively influenced thousands of children, and now children are even starting to write their own stories about Fergus and his life on the harbour. In this episode, John shares his journey with Fergus Ferry.
This podcast is brought to you be LearnFast. To find out more about individualised language and reading programs based on neuroscience, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Gabbie Stroud loved her job as a primary school teacher. Eventually, what she calls the changing nature of teaching led to burn out, and her decision to leave the profession. In an essay she wrote for the Griffith review, she talks of her frustrations, but also of a future for education filled with hope and guided by a few dangerous ideas. Whilst not in the classroom, her passion for education remains strong, and she calls for things like profound commitment to teachers, trust, and renewed thinking on things like creativity, imagination and ingenuity. And she does this for the sake of a student she calls Australia. In her essay she asks, "Who would teach her? How would she learn?" In this episode, I continue this discussion with Gabbie as we search for the answers to some big questions.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. To find out more about LearnFast, and individual language and reading programs for your child visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
This is the story of Amelie, who as a young primary aged girl was often described as a 'busy child'. When Amelie's parents, Jane and Craig were given the diagnosis for Amelie of ADHD, there were mixed feelings of relief, but also devastation as they knew there was a problem that needed to be addressed. Amelie was assessed at well below the relevant standards, being two years behind in writing and maths when she started grade 3. After researching extensively, Jane and Craig eventually turned to Fast ForWord. They faced some big challenges along the way, but in the end they, and Amelie persevered with some amazing results. In this episode, Jane shares Amelie's story.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast. For more great stories of learning with Fast ForWord, explore the Learning Capacity Podcast archives at http://www.soundcloud.com/learnfast.
And you can send us your comments about our interviews by emailing us at feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Healthy Body. Healthy Brain. This special edition episode is brought to you by LearnFast in conjunction with Diabetes Australia for Healthy Weight Week, 2016.
Healthy weight is always a tricky issue, as everyone will have some kind of opinion on it. In this episode, accredited practising dietician Kim Duggan-Larkin, of Diabetes Victoria, makes it very clear that healthy weight is actually a very serious issue for general health, and the avoidance of health issues such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardio vascular disease. Put simply, we can't ignore it. But the good thing is that there are simple things we can do to help, namely cooking at home more often, watching our portion sizes, and keeping our cooking simple. Let's find out what we can learn about this tricky issue.
To find out more about LearnFast, visit learnfasthome.com.au
To find out more about diabetes, and diabetes related issues, visit diabetesaustralia.com.au
To make a comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Language and reading, are universal skills required by everyone across the world. And with English being such a dominant language across the globe, there's an increasing number of people looking for ways to improve their English literacy (especially for children), either because they have specific special needs, or because they need to improve their English for business reasons, or because for whatever reason there is an imperative to learn English.
Peter Carabi, vice president of Global Business Development for Scientific Learning is in the privileged position of being able to witness the effects of the Fast ForWord products as they help people with their language skills and provide them with new opportunities, often completely changing the trajectory of young peoples' lives. The program is based on neuroscience, and the concept that the brain is not fixed, but plastic, and has the capability to change itself. Peter describes it as one of the things that can give us all hope.
I caught up with Peter at the biannual LearnFast summit in January 2016, on a sunny day in Manly on Sydney Harbour.
To leave a comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
To find out more about LearnFast, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
Creating Cultures of Thinking. In this episode we talk with Dr Ron Ritchhart who's work is a part of Project Zero at Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Project Zero is a 50 year old organisation that began with just a few researchers, and yet now boasts over 30 employees.
Ron Ritchhart's work on Cultures of Thinking has helped transform the process of learning in classrooms around the world, and today we talk specifically about his book, Creating Cultures of Thinking: the 8 forces we must master to truly transform our schools. It's challenging, and in some places confronting, but the stories he tells are quite compelling.
To find out more about upcoming Project Zero events in Melbourne and Sydney Australia, in March 2016, visit casieonline.org/events/pz.
If you like to comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
Healthy body. Healthy brain. Are we eating too much sugar? In this episode we explore this issue again as we talk with Karissa Woolfe, an accredited practising dietician with Diabetes NSW. Whilst it appears that we are eating the right foods, it seems as though we are eating less of them in favour of what Karissa calls sometimes foods, or discretionary extras (now theres a mouthful). And on top of that, it seems as though these new foods are becoming what Karissa describes as more available, affordable and enjoyable. Where does all this lead us? Obesity, type 2 diabetes, or even just general bad health. Let's find out what we can do about it.
To find out more about Diabetes NSW, visit them at http://www.diabetesnsw.com.au
To comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
To find out more about LearnFast, and neuroscience based learning programs, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
You might be wondering what coal seam gas has to do with learning, but for ordinary Australian, and now film maker Dayne Pratzky, the Frackman, it's become a major issue. Australia is currently experiencing a "gas rush", and when the Queensland Gas Company arrived at Dayne Pratzky's home to inform him that drilling for coal seam gas was about to commence on his property, a battle started that would see Dayne become a global activist fighting against a multi-billion dollar industry. Dayne learnt much about the coal seam gas industry, but also about himself, and what people can do to help themselves in the face of seemingly insurmountable tasks. This is a message for all Australians, with particular focus on our next generations.
To comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
To find out more about Frackman the movie, visit http://www.frackmanthemovie.com
To find out more about LearnFast, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
As we enter 2016, this episode is dedicated to all those involved in helping people build better brains for learning.
Sure, this is a message about Fast ForWord, but it's also so much more. It's about great stories of learning, and at LearnFast, we collect those stories and podcast them to the world.
We've spoken with teachers, parents, scientists, policy makers, researchers and even film makers in the search for great stories of learning.
Just have a listen to these, and imagine what thousands more like them could do.
To comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au. To find out more about LearnFast, or Fast ForWord, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
In this episode we hear the story of Dr Con Kafataris, father of six, with two children currently working through the Fast ForWord programs. It was a little bit of a journey to find Fast ForWord for his children, but after trying a few avenues, including speech pathology, Dr Kafataris came across Fast ForWord through a book titled, "The Brain That Changes Itself" by Dr Norman Doidge. The science seemed plausible, so he decided to give it a go. In his own words, the changes have been phenomenal. Truly a heart warming story.
If you'd like to comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
To find out more about Fast ForWord, or LearnFast, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au, where you can also subscribe to the blog.
This is a 3 part mini series on Fast ForWord Success Stories. If you're listening to this on our SoundCloud page, you might be seeing this as a playlist. Alternatively, and if you're catching this on iTunes, look for episodes 9, 28 and 30.
There's quite a bit of talk going on these days in education about the emergence of neuroscience in education. Some are even talking about a scientific model of education, and not just pedagogy. But what is a neuroscience program? Fast ForWord is a product you may have heard of, but don't really know too much about. And it's hard to know exactly what to make of something like Fast ForWord, even if you've read about the science behind it, and maybe read a few testimonial reviews. Or perhaps you have heard about it, and are wondering if its going to work for you.
That's where this podcast mini series can help you. In three discussions, you'll hear people talk about real experiences they've had with Fast ForWord. They range from a parent managing one student in the home situation, to a small school in rural New South Wales that implemented a whole school program, to a public school in New Zealand. Three very different situations, but very real results with real people. And, some really great feedback from parents, teachers, students, and principals.
And of course, if you'd like to give us feedback, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au.
Or to learn more about LearnFast and Fast ForWord, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au, where you can also subscribe to the blog.
In this episode we talk with Dorothy Dore, Principal of Urana Public School. It's a small school of around 30 students, located in the Riverina region of New South Wales. For about 5 years now, the school has implemented Fast ForWord with some amazing results. Comments like "improved articulation, sequencing of ideas, concentration, and retention of concepts" are often used to describe student progress. Can this really happen? Dorothy tells an energetic and convincing story.
If you'd like to comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
To find out more about LearnFast and Fast ForWord, visit learnfasthome.com.au, where you can also subscribe to the blog.
In this episode you'll hear careers adviser Gordon Doyle answer the question, "What's in an ATAR?" It's getting close to the end of 2015 and no doubt students across the country will be wondering what their score will be, and if it will be enough. But what if it's not enough? Do we hit the panic button? What about bonus points? How does that work? Is there some other pathway. Is there hope? Fortunately Gordon has some helpful answers.
To get in touch with Gordon Doyle, call 0412 540 154 to make an appointment.
If you'd like to comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
To find out more about LearnFast, visit learnfasthome.com.au, where you can also subscribe to the blog.
In this episode we talk with Sasha Scott, the reading recovery teacher at Welbourn Primary School in New Zealand, about their success with Fast ForWord. Sasha explains that their decision to go with Fast ForWord was heavily influenced by their own research into the program, which led to them discovering some compelling scientific evidence that Fast ForWord could help their students. Can Fast ForWord really help students to improve their learning capacity, academic achievement, and general demeanour? Let's find out from Sasha.
If you'd like to comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
To find out more about LearnFast, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au, where you can also subscribe to the blog.
In this episode you'll hear careers adviser Gordon Doyle talk about transitioning from school to the wider world. Making the transition can often be very difficult for young people for a variety of reasons, but Gordon gives us some valuable insights as to what the sources of stress might be, and how to navigate them. Some listeners might even find themselves contemplating a gap year in India. According to Gordon, that could be just the ticket.
To get in touch with Gordon Doyle, call 0412 540 154 to make an appointment.
If you'd like to comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
To find out more about LearnFast, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au, where you can also subscribe to the blog.
In this episode you'll hear Damon Gameau, maker of That Sugar Film. Are we all eating too much sugar? How did we not notice the amount of sugar in our food system, and why haven't we caught on to this before now? In this light hearted conversation about a very serious issue, we consider the general health effects sugar, and what it could possibly be doing to young people in terms of mood and their ability to learn. It's controversial, but you never know, you may also feel quite liberated by the message.
If you'd like to comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
To find out more about LearnFast, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
In this episode you'll hear Steve Miller, chief scientist at Nervanix talk about the emerging field of educational neuroscience. It sounds like it could be just the next popular thing in educational talk, but Steve suggests that its much bigger, and not all that unusual compared to other new things. For example, there was a time when MRI scans were treated with some doubt in the medical field, but now they're commonplace. It seems that the same is emerging for teachers and educational neuroscience.
To provide feedback on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
To find out more about LearnFast, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
In this episode you'll hear Steve Miller, chief scientist at Nervanix, discuss his current research into the area of attention. If you're a parent or teacher you've probably told children to pay attention thousands of times, but do we really know what we're asking them to do? Is there a better way to express the need for paying attention, and are there better ways of understanding it? One thing that stands out is the language we use surrounding attention. Even suggesting that attention can be like the spotlight of our brain is useful. Let's attend to this discussion on his exciting research.
To comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast Australia. To find out more about LearnFast, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
In this episode you'll hear Dr Martha Burns, director of neuroscience education at Scientific Learning corporation discuss Oppositional Defiant Disorder, known as ODD. How do we tell the difference between a child who is presenting with ODD as opposed to a child that might simply be described as a handful? Some children may simply be strong willed or emotional, and this may be completely normal (especially between siblings). And what about medication? Where does that fit in? Dr Burns explains.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast Australia. To find out more about LearnFast, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
To provide feedback, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
In this episode we talk with Dr Martha Burns, director of neuroscience education at Scientific Learning corporation about the concept of critical thinking.
Do you ever think much about thinking? In this discussion we focus on the topic from the perspective of questions raised by two teachers.
Ever wonder why someone can't quite see things from your perspective, or why students find it hard to develop literary technique? Or how about artistic endeavours. Why is critical thinking such an important aspect to the artistic process?
As we'll hear, there's more to thinking than just saying, "I'll think about it".
If you'd like to comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
To find out more about LearnFast, visit learnfasthome.com.au, where you can also subscribe to the blog.
In this episode we talk again with Peter Goss from the Grattan Institute about NAPLAN. In a previous discussion, Peter Goss answered some broader questions about NAPLAN 2015, and due to listener feedback, we're now back for some deeper insights. Questions include... Can we make adjustments for behavioural culture in a school when considering NAPLAN results? If national averages are already quite low, what does it really mean when students achieve average results? Should NAPLAN move to sample based testing, rather than testing every student? Should NAPLAN be extended? How do we help students celebrate success?
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast Australia. To find out more about LearnFast, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
If you'd like to comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
In this episode you'll hear Dr Martha Burns, director of neuroscience education at Scientific Learning corporation discuss the emerging field of educational neuroscience. Is this a specialist area of knowledge, or just a title for intellectual sounding conversation? Are we moving from a philosophical model of teaching to a scientific model, and if we are, what are we to make of it? Some might say there's an art to being a good teacher. However, many now say there's a science to it. Let's dive into this potentially controversial topic.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast Australia, improving student learning outcomes with neuroscience programs since 1999. To find out more about LearnFast, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
If you'd like to comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
In this episode we continue the discussion with Brad Fuller about creating positive classroom culture, but this time we go into the back story behind the development of the innovative music learning space he created for Northern Beaches Christian School in Sydney. Brad then tells what it was like to share his story with teachers around Australia. As we find out, the reactions were subject to ... well, let's call it regional variation.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast Australia, helping students improve learning outcomes with neuroscience programs since 1999. To find out more about LearnFast, visit, http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
If you'd like to comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au.
In this episode we talk with Emeritus Professor Patrick Griffin, from the University of Melbourne, about his thoughts on NAPLAN 2015. Whilst the test results are mixed, and indicate that there is plenty of need for improvement, Patrick Griffin emphasises the need for future NAPLAN tests, and others like it, to also address other key skills required by our future graduates. These include skills like the 4 Cs and problem solving.
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast Australia. If you'd like to comment on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au.
To find out more about LearnFast, visit http://www.learnfasthome.com.au where you can also subscribe to the blog.
In this episode we talk with Dr Martha Burns, director of neuroscience education at Scientific Learning corporation, about whether or not you can have a maths brain. Most of us seem to have some command over language, but things change quickly when we start to talk about maths. Why is that?
To provide feedback on this podcast, send us an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
This podcast is brought to you by LearnFast Australia, improving student learning with neuroscience programs since 1999. To find out more about LearnFast, visit, www.learnfasthome.com.au
In this episode you'll hear Brad Fuller, music teacher at Northern Beaches Christian School in Sydney, describe how he creates an environment for learning with clever use of language. For Brad, it's all about isms and catch phrases. Using language that assigns magical names to mundane tasks can give a magic to learning - and to the gig.
To provide feedback on this podcast, send an email to feedback@learnfastgroup.com.au
To find out more about LearnFast Australia, visit www.learnfasthome.com.au
In this episode, we talk with Peter Goss from Australia's independent think tank - the Grattan Institute. The discussion centres around the 2015 NAPLAN results, and the report he co-authored with Jordana Hunter, titled:
Targeted Teaching: How better use of data can improve student learning.
Whilst headline NAPLAN results have been controversial, the results from the targeted teaching report provide insight into a way forward. It's challenging, but compelling at the same time.
Find the report at, http://grattan.edu.au/report/targeted-teaching-how-better-use-of-data-can-improve-student-learning/
Goss, P., Hunter, J., Romanes, D., Parsonage, H., 2015, Targeted teaching: how better use of data can improve student learning, Grattan Institute
In this episode we hear Dr Martha Burns, professor of communication sciences and disorders at Northwestern University, discuss the new science of learning. This talk was given at the TEDx Enola event on February 1, 2012. It involves neuroscience, and understanding individual differences in children. Most importantly, it's that educators don't just teach. They build brains.
This informative podcast discusses the idea that a student can be more ready to learn by improving their learning capacity. Students are more ready to learn both in and out of the classroom, improving outcomes, and making the experience of teaching more effective and enjoyable.
Interview with Peter Barnes, director at LearnFast Australia. We talk about the important things to look for in a program that can help build language and literacy skills, and how that can also improve performance in STEM subjects. The discussion makes particular mention of the four key cognitive skills of memory, attention, processing and sequencing.
Part 2 of a discussion with David Stanley on the benefits of learning maths tables and familiarity with mathematical concepts for learning success. This conversation takes a wide variety of paths, but eventually comes back to the concept of building learning capacity. David was a former mathematics teacher, and is now director of Learning Ecosystems Growth at LearnFast Australia.
Can learning maths tables help build learning capacity? In this interview with David Stanley, former mathematics teacher and current director of Learning Ecosystems Growth at LearnFast Australia, talks us through the benefits of learning maths tables for building learning capacity.
A delightful story Elaine Slawski, mother of Elliott, who managed to make significant improvements with his language and literacy skills as a result of working through the Fast ForWord programs.
Interview with neuroscientist, Dr Martha Burns about why dyslexia may not necessarily be considered a disorder, but thought of more in terms of brain organisation.
Interview with Dr Martha Burns, neuroscientist, on the connection between listening skills and reading, and the effects that talking to young children have on language and literacy development.
Interview with Devon Barnes, speech language pathologist, investigating three questions. 1. What is auditory processing disorder? 2. What is hearing acuity? 3. What causes auditory processing disorder? And, how do the above three issues affect learning?
A discussion with Devon Barnes, speech language pathologist, about how to identify symptoms of auditory processing disorder in the classroom and how to manage them.
Interview with Devon Barnes, speech language pathologist on understanding auditory processing disorder and how to manage it in the home situation.
3: Dyslexia - Understanding and Managing - Interview with Devon Barnes, Speech Language Pathologist by LearnFast
Discusses how the Arrowsmith program can help children with severe learning problems, and how Fast ForWord and Cogmed can be used as viable alternatives. http://www.learnfasthome.com.au
Discusses the connection between handwriting and boosting learning capacity by activating working memory and reading.