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 action on things they see as important. We explore a range of issues and potential challenges in this territory: teachers’ lack of knowledge and comfort with civics and citizenship curricula, through to students’ disassociation, lack of connection points and inability to link their learning back to their everyday lives. We find out more about a range of citizens: the personally-responsible citizen, the participatory citizen, and the justice-oriented citizen, that is someone, such as a young person, who is capable of recognising the causes of inequality and injustices in the world, and then takes action against those root causes. With students often being equal partners in their learning, Keith offers insights into popular curriculum themes and approaches including experiential and student-led learning, action-oriented learning with impact on the wider community, development of critical literacy and student advocacy for making the world a better place.

Links:

https://twitter.com/keithheggart
https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789813346932
https://profiles.uts.edu.au/Keith.Heggart/publications
https://www.acara.edu.au/reporting/national-report-on-schooling-in-australia/national-report-on-schooling-in-australia-2013/national-policy-context/educational-goals

Ep25: Keith Heggart, Civics & Citizenship Educator & Researcher

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 practice, Liron seeks to explore the connections that humans have with nature, and with each other, and the possibilities of transformation. Liron shares insights into her practical techniques and creative approaches in her art practice, including metaphor and symbolism and work with found objects such as fallen branches and leaves. We explore some of her sources of inspiration in the form of shapes, colours and patterns in moth and butterflies wings as well as more conceptual ideas around natural phenomena such as tropism - that is, the turning of plants in the direction of light. Liron shares her thoughts on challenges and obstacles to creativity and expression - the overthinking mind and the inner critic - and ways to address these by spending time in nature and using techniques such as mindfulness and meditation. Finally, we explore profound concepts related to perfection and control, and how these contrast with a more comfortable, free-flowing and natural celebration of the organic, irregular and unexpected.

Links:

http://www.lirongilmore.com/
https://www.instagram.com/lirongilmore/
https://www.wangarattaartgallery.com.au/Exhibitions/Current-exhibitions/Wangaratta-Contemporary-Textile-Award-2021-ONLINE-exhibition 
https://indd.adobe.com/view/a81d7623-87a2-4e9d-90fc-d3ca43fc479a 
https://www.britannica.com/science/tropism

Ep26: Liron Gilmore, Multi-disciplinary Artist

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 within electronic games and associated fields, including roles as artist (for comics, trading cards and short films) and as art director (for electronic games), through to short film director, and teacher. Alister offers insights into some of his illustration techniques, which usually start with a rough sketch. Rather than focusing on simple physical attributes, Alister asks the fundamental questions of story telling, that is, the who, what, where, when, why and how? to explore a character’s background and story, vital to how they’ll come to life and become visually expressed for an audience. In our conversation, we also explore some straight-forward thoughts around job satisfaction and some of the more profound ideas related to one’s career, following your own path and living a creative life that fires your imagination. 

Links:
https://www.alisterlockhart.net/galleries
https://www.instagram.com/caveatscoti/
https://www.facebook.com/AlisterLockhartart
https://www.eccomics.com/
Short film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfK79Xblpus&t=9s&ab_channel=Omeleto

Ep27: Alister Lockhart, Illustrator & Digital Artist

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. We find out more about Michael’s plans for using non-fungible tokens - or NFTs - as a way of acknowledging, recording and tracking students’ achievements across a range of transferable, or “soft”, skills such as teamwork, problem-solving and communication. We also explore the value of Minecraft, the online virtual building and creating platform using storytelling, game mechanics and student agency, as well how these concepts can be applied in designing real-world classroom spaces that can contribute to how students interact with each other and increase student engagement and learning. Along with the technology, Michael also offers insights into the more human, relational aspects of teaching such as connecting with other teachers and students - both locally and across the globe.

Links:
https://theflippedscientist.blogspot.com/
https://wakelet.com/@Doctor_Harves
https://twitter.com/Doctor_Harves
https://linktr.ee/Doctor_harves

Ep31: Dr Michael Harvey, Science Teacher

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-minute survey attracts responses from thousands of respondents in over 80 countries, asking workplace trainers, facilitators and other professionals a single question: What will be hot in workplace learning and development this year? We explore approaches to survey scope and design, the data gathering processes and the final reporting. In our conversation, we find out some of the current trends including reskilling and upskilling, the use of data to inform L&D planning and practice, the recent spike in interest of collaborative and social learning, and preferred technologies, along with regional trends, such as a strong interest in collaboration in Sweden, and of micro learning in New Zealand. 

Links:
https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/

Ep33: Donald H Taylor, Workplace Educator & Researcher

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’ latest book, Practical Reading Strategies: Engaging Activities for Secondary Students, which introduces teachers to what good readers do, and the ideas that underpin “reading for meaning.” We find out how teachers can support and guide students to make connections between the text and their own lived experiences, as well connections with the student’s broader world. We explore a range of teaching strategies including visualisation and questioning, the value of empathising with the book’s characters and stepping into their world, and how teachers can support their students to make inferences - that is, reading between the lines - as they engage more meaningfully with a text. We discover there’s more to English assessment than the dreaded “death by comprehension questions” as Leon shares his thoughts on some alternative approaches, including his current collaboration with the University of Melbourne entitled New Metrics for Success. We find out about the value and practical use of learner profiles and folio-based assessments that help students structure and organise their evidence. Finally, Leon offers a range of insights on the significance of trust and teacher autonomy within education and assessment systems.

Links:
https://leonfurze.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonfurze/
https://twitter.com/lfurze
Instagram.com/Leon.furze

Ep35: Leon Furze, Teacher Educator & Author

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 is disseminated, and how this is tied to one’s professional identity. 

We explore a few specific job roles: Academic Developers - best represented in the published research in the field, Learning Designers - the largest part of the working population, and Educational Technologists - essentially the bridge between IT and teaching. 

Colin offers clarity on the fuzziness and overlap that often exists within and around these roles, as linked to an individual’s professional identity. We also explore the shifting dynamics when working within a central team, in contrast to closer working relationships within, say, a specific faculty or department. Colin is especially interested in how these potentially liminal roles relate, connect, and overlap, offering opportunities for collaboration with others including Academics, Educational Advisors, and institutional leaders. Colin outlines his fundamental research aim of strengthening the contribution and meaningful impact of Educational Advisors, raising pedagogical standards, and improving equitable learning and teaching practice in higher education, with lessons that can learned across educational sectors. Here’s my conversation with Colin Simpson.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-simpson-edtech/
https://www.screenface.net/ 
https://twitter.com/gamerlearner
https://twitter.com/TELedvisors

Ep36: Colin Simpson, Education Innovation Designer

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 higher education where students usually have more freedom and autonomy to shape and determine their own pathway. We further explore how this greater learner autonomy in higher education might then relate to how educational programs and courses are designed, developed and delivered.  Shaun reflects on some of the practicalities of their university experience, including the various challenges of balancing work and study, the ideas that underpin the “first-in-family” concept, and the so-called hyphenated literatures embodied by their Greek/Australian identity - being neither one or the other, but something in between. We also explore some of Shaun’s perspectives on cultural assumptions at university, especially those related to students who come from a background of privilege - as compared to those from low socio-economic status, or from diverse cultures, - and how this relates to a student’s essential rights to knowledge, education and learning. Shaun outlines their day-to-day role as a Learning Designer and the practical tasks, challenges, and considerations ranging from technical troubleshooting and problem solving through to those involving creativity, flexibility, and using new ways of doing things to design a range of sustainable educational solutions. Shaun sees value in bringing a range of new perspectives and approaches to university systems in order to improve student experiences and outcomes. Shaun outlines some of his aims, as well as a range of tools, techniques, and strategies he uses when designing courses. Shaun draws on both established research and teaching skills in their approach, such as making explicit and coherent the skills, procedural knowledge and links between content so that students, especially novice learners, are well supported. Shaun offers insights into the “in-between” experiences with academics, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), students, and facilitators. Shaun outlines their approach when designing scenario-based solutions and interventions, such as those involving large amounts of reading and other required course content, and how they uses digital tools to address gaps and expand on opportunities for course improvement.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-bell1/
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=iZuu8oEAAAAJ&hl=en
Transcript: https://pastebin.com/bLBJf8EL

Ep37: Shaun Bell, Learning Designer

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 organise music gigs and festivals. Enda also shares his strong drive, interest, and experiences working with disadvantaged communities - in areas including social justice, and environmental activism - and the role played by film, video, and other community arts. We also find out more about the Irish Film Festival and telling Irish stories through film. Enda reflects on his early inspiration for creating the festival and getting a conversation to happen in Australia about Irish issues. We find out about the various day-to-day practical tasks of planning such a film festival, including interactions with film producers, directors, distributors, cinemas, and sponsors as well as responsive and ongoing coordination of the festival team, largely made up of community volunteers. Enda offers insights into the conventional film festival cinema experience, as well as the various the challenges and opportunities of increasingly popular online streaming options. We chat about the often complex issues related to Irish history, culture, and identity, especially within an Australian context. Enda reflects on the shared and universal experiences of a range of social groups: culturally and linguistically diverse, low socio-economic, Indigenous, ethnic minorities, migrants, and others. We explore the value of ethnic film festivals in providing an important community voice that helps to connect with culture, as well as facilitating broader connections, conversations and cultural exchange.

Links:
https://irishfilmfestival.com.au/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/enda-murray-48a9004/ 
http://virusmedia.com.au/
Transcript: https://pastebin.com/E8zk8NDa

Ep38: Dr Enda Murray, Media Producer & Film Festival Director

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 their way through, for example, a “Choose your own adventure” book, shaping a unique story along the way. We explore how this approach is similar to the use of non-linear branching scenarios sometimes used in online workplace training. Christy shares some ideas on why she uses this engaging approach, how she plans the scenario content and then gets organised to manage often complex collections of content. We also explore the multiple decisions that learners need to make in order to travel through such a scenario, leading to many potential learner pathways. To manage the complexity of this, we explore Twine, an open-source tool for telling interactive, nonlinear stories. Christy also shares insights into the different approaches she uses when designing and developing learner feedback, such as intrinsic feedback as compared to instructional feedback, with both approaches having value within a training experience. We find out about the value and practical use of learner profiles and folio-based assessments that help students structure and organise their evidence. Finally, Christy offers a range of insights on a few fundamentals in this space, especially around well-written learning outcomes and the use of good writing.

Links:
https://www.christytuckerlearning.com/ 
https://twitter.com/christyatucker 
https://www.christytuckerlearning.com/build-a-branching-scenario-in-google-forms/
https://www.christytuckerlearning.com/twine-makes-branching-scenarios-easier/
http://twinery.org/

Ep39: Christy Tucker, Learning Experience Designer

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 also for students and teachers within schools. We explore project-based approaches to teaching and learning and some of the engaging ways to incorporate digital technologies into the classroom, such as the use of robotics and drones. Tom shares stories of his students’ robot bugs and other mechanical critters that formed part of a cross-curriculum art installation incorporating subject like Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths, English and Creative Arts. Along the way, we also find out about the more human elements, such as students communicating, collaborating, critically thinking, managing projects, and generally being creative. Tom offers insights into virtual environments which allow students to engage with the programming and other valuable technical aspects, without the cost of  physical robots or other equipment. We find out about some of the potential opportunities presented by the emerging and often abstract concept of Web 3.0, the idea of citizens owning their own data and identity, and how this might potentially fit in with schools and education in areas such as certifications, micro-credentials and blockchain technology. Tom encourages his students to engage with new and emerging technology to see its value and purpose and how it might relate to their own lives as they prepare for an ever-emerging future.

Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-oliphant/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web3 
https://twitter.com/mroliphantadl

Ep40: Thomas Oliphant, Teacher & Industrial Designer

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 decisions and judgements. Jonathan offers insights into a range of professional practices and approaches in the field of data analytics, such as statistical models, hierarchical linear modelling, business intelligence, the scientist/practitioner model, adaptive clinical trials and structured feedback loops. Jonathan talks us through some of his evaluation activities and how his team investigated a “compressed curriculum” for high school students, evaluating its impact on Higher School Certificate (HSC) results and a range of other more subjective areas such as teacher and student beliefs and attitudes, and other school-level effects. Mindful that data is often about real people and situations, such as data sets related to mental health and suicide, Jonathan offers insights into some of the moral and ethical elements. We explore some of the social responsibilities associated with data, and how these might be managed by generally treating the data and its communication with appropriate care and respect. For example: the increasing acknowledgement and use of collaboration and conversations with relevant research stakeholders. We explore how ethics relates to new and emerging technology such artificial intelligence and machine learning, algorithms and bias, and the importance of bringing members of the public along on the journey, so they get to realise the value of the data as well.

Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcguirejonathan/
Transcript: https://pastebin.com/WpAr1ug3

Ep41: Jonathan McGuire, Data Analyst & Evaluator

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 turn, influence their teaching role. We chat about the various factors that influence classroom dynamics including trust, power, reflection, and teacher agency. Tom reflects on dominant ideologies, standardised - or cookie-cutter - classroom approaches, belief systems that see education as a service, addressing individual and collective student needs, and the role of teachers in making professional judgements in their own classroom contexts. Tom offers some deeper considerations related to the broader and more holistic purpose of teaching within social and collective educational systems.

Links:
https://tommahoneyedu.wordpress.com/ 
https://twitter.com/TomMahoneyEdu

Ep42: Tom Mahoney, Teacher & Educational Researcher

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 different perspectives and strengthen their critical thinking and analytical skills. We explore teaching as a multifaceted and contextually dependent practice that benefits from continuous and multiple perspectives, and how these often help teachers frame their thinking and practice. Cameron provides insights into his podcast, Teachers’ Education Review (TER), which seeks to bridge the gap between education research, policy, and practice in an ongoing conversation with various voices and points of view. The podcast features topical education policy analysis and opinions, as well as interviews with educational researchers, policy experts, academics, leaders, teachers, and other practitioners. We find out how Cameron brings ideas to people, helps teachers get a sense of how they connect with the teaching profession and encourages further thinking and activity on improving educational standards. We also talk about the inherently political nature of education, the value of public discourse, and why it’s important to maintain a public space for discussion and critical analysis of education policy. Cameron encapsulates his work in education in a simple philosophy that relates to understanding yourself, encouraging a teacher's voice, and then being able to advocate for yourself and others from an informed position.

Links:
https://terpodcast.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-malcher-b5103586/ 
https://twitter.com/Capitan_Typo

Ep43: Cameron Malcher, Teacher & Podcast Producer

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 teachers often place on themselves, and burnout. Amy reflects on her writing and development process, drawing on her own experiences and stories, as well as additional psychology science and research. Amy outlines the potential trap of surface-level self-care activities and the pursuit of happiness which, as positive as they are, might involve a relatively superficial approach - simply ticking items off a list. This is in contrast to the more considered and long-term approach of psychological wellbeing, an approach that seeks to identify and tackle the root cause of the issues such as workload, workplace systems or workplace relationships. Amy explains how she works closely with teachers to find out what might be causing stress and overwhelm. For example, systems that aren’t working, or systems that don’t exist and need to. We explore Individual and collective responsibilities of teacher wellbeing and the significance of self-efficacy, that is, the belief that an individual can have an impact and can make a difference. We find out how this then relates to collective efficacy and the value of a positive and supportive school-wide culture. Amy’s clarifies her aim of creating happier and healthier school environments that teachers want to be a part of in the long term.

Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amygreen/ 
https://www.thewellnessstrategy.com.au/ 
https://ambapress.com.au/products/teacher-wellbeing
https://twitter.com/amygreen_

Ep44: Amy Green, Teacher & Author

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 and insights that got him moving with his writing process about ten years ago. We learn more about Brett’s central aim of supporting teachers to teach and learn in the digital age. Brett outlines the opportunities introduced with digital technology and the value of online connections, community, and conversation, such as those embodied by the group #aussieED, the largest online network of teachers in Australia. Brett emphasises the lesson in the metaphor, that is, the crossroads on which educators find themselves and the significance of core principles in addressing the challenges that prepare students to adapt and develop new skills, tools and approaches in a changing world. 
 
Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-salakas-13380999/
https://twitter.com/MRsalakas
A Mammoth Lesson: Teaching In The Digital Age https://amzn.asia/d/cay6uIs 
https://twitter.com/aussieEDchat

Ep45: Brett Salakas, Teacher, Speaker, Poet, & Author

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 lump of clay, and shaping it on a potter’s wheel then preparing it for firing. Greg emphasises the nuance and significance of touch and feel in relation to balancing and shaping the spinning clay. Greg offers insights into the ancient and specialist technique of saggar firing, where various materials, as diverse as metal wire, salt, wood, oxides and seaweed, are kept close to the surface of the pots as they are fired in a kiln. When heated at a very high temperature, the essence of the materials, in the form of smoke and fumes, work their alchemical magic to transform the surface of the clay and create unique and compelling shapes, patterns, and textures.  Greg offers personal insights into his art-making process, including the affect of shaping, releasing, and then sharing the profound beauty hidden within the clay.

Links:
https://www.instagram.com/gregcreganceramics/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/tv/ClfoYoJBXLy/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

Ep46: Greg Cregan, Ceramic Potter

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. Matthew outlines his most recent role as Producer of “The Wild One”, a micro-budget short film currently in final post-production, set on the North Queensland coast in the mid-1800s. The film tells the story of British shipwrecked sailor James Morrill rescued by the Indigenous Birri Gubba people, with whom he lived for 17 years before reconnecting with European culture. Matthew outlines some of the practicalities of producing a short film, with insights into to protocols and on-the-ground interactions with local Indigenous people relating to actors, approvals, locations, and crew, as well as content, language and translations to ensure story accuracy and authenticity. Matthew emphasises the importance of engaging with the broader understanding of historical events, such as actively exploring Indigenous perspectives and points of view when expressing history on the screen. Matthew offers further insights into the importance of trust, connection to the land and to people, and the creative and practical dynamics between a Director and Producer.

Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-phillips-745b5138/ 
https://triggermediapro.com.au/
https://twitter.com/triggermediapro 
THE WILD ONE Trailer (2022) True Survival Story https://youtu.be/cib3UECU3cY  
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-03/james-morrill-film-focuses-indigenous-rights/101030328?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web

Ep47: Matthew Phillips, Media Producer

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 Narratives of Technology and Imagination in Higher Education. As part of this, we discuss the concept of intelligence and how information might be closely linked to, but might also quite disconnected from, meaning and understanding. We chat about the role of assessment, as well as some of the contexts in which AI might be used, the ideologies that inform and influence these technologies, and with this, some of the associated risks, possibilities, and opportunities. Of course, central to our conversation is the importance and value of human factors. 

Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/popenici/ 
https://popenici.org/ 
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0323-2945
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781003266563/artificial-intelligence-learning-futures-stefan-popenici

Ep48: Stefan Popenici, Academic & Educational Researcher

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 Leon Furze about Artificial Intelligence in teaching and learning. We explored some of the potential advantages and opportunities, along with some of the complexities around assessments and the ethics of use.

https://leonfurze.com/

Chatting with Mark: Leon Furze & Artificial Intelligence in Education

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 April 2023, when I chatted with Amber Boardman about her creative art practice during the past few years. We also chat about Amber’s experiences and perspectives on teaching art online during the pandemic, as well as teaching and learning that favour a theory-based or conceptual approach vs those focused on studio techniques. We explored the process and benefits of social learning in the form of artist dialogues, one-on-one studio visits and mentoring. We end with a brief discussion about Artificial Intelligence and its potential impact on visual art marking.

Links:
https://www.amberboardman.com/
https://www.instagram.com/amberboardman/
https://www.facebook.com/amberboardman
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberboardman/

Chatting with Mark: Amber Boardman, Art Practice & Approaches to Learning

Today my guest is Dr M David Merrill, an Instructional Researcher and professor emeritus at Utah State University. David has been engaged in the study of effective, efficient and engaging instruction for more than 50 years. In this episode, we chat about David’s early studies and research, including his PhD at the University of Illinois in 1964. We chat about David’s additional research activities throughout his extensive career, partly inspired by fellow educational researchers B.F. Skinner and Robert Gagné. David outlines the central role of problems and, more significantly, problem-solving in instruction and how this relates to content, steps and procedures, comprehending processes and responding to conditions. We explore a simple yet profound metaphor of drawing a picture with just three coloured crayons: red, yellow and blue, as the inspiration for his approach to designing effective instruction. David offers insights into his first principles of instruction: telling information, showing examples, asking people to remember information, and finally, taking that information and applying it to solve a problem. Finally, we chat about alternative representations of knowledge and content in an era of advanced technology and artificial intelligence, such as simulations, as well as some of the other future possibilities of instructional design.
Links: 
mdavidmerrill.com
https://mdavidmerrill.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/firstprinciplesbymerrill.pdf 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._David_Merrill

Ep53: Dr M David Merrill, Instructional Researcher

Today my guest is Mark Boulet, a Sustainability Educator and Behavioural Researcher, working at BehaviourWorks Australia at Monash University. Mark reflects on his early interest, study, and work related to zoology, animals, and wildlife which led to further interest and activities in environmental and sustainability community education. Mark offers insights into his teaching approach, which emphasises active and dynamic student-led pedagogies. In relation to his research activities, Mark outlines how, to tackle a complex problem and create change, it’s often best to start with human behaviour, and to look for relevant influencers, motivators, biases, and other factors that might encourage, or stop, people from acting. Mark outlines how he and his colleagues design their behaviour change programs - in collaboration with government, not-for-profit, business, and other groups - to solve environmental problems and challenges. We explore how the research team use human psychology and behaviour change to reduce household food waste by taking the time to understand behaviour from another person’s perspective. Finally, we explore some straight-forward strategies in this territory, such as the recently launched “Use It Up” tape by OzHarvest, and simply looking in your fridge before you go to the shops, writing yourself a shopping list and sticking to it. Mark’s aims are to ensure we, as a society, have processes in place for a healthy and sustainable future.

Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-boulet-78a65846/ 
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/
https://www.ozharvest.org/
https://www.behaviourworksaustralia.org/

Ep54: Mark Boulet, Sustainability Educator and Behavioural Researcher

Today my guest is Mark Bennett, a Teacher, Educational Leader & Instructional Coach. In this episode, we find out about the role of coaching and conversations in educational leadership and teacher professional development. Mark reflects on how he and other teachers adjusted and responded during the pandemic, and the lessons learned in terms of teaching, learning, education design, and how teachers relate to each other. Mark also reflects on the value of teachers collaborating and becoming learners again, to quickly solve problems or when there are opportunities for deeper and more considered responses including those leading to new thinking, change and growth. We explore the often-central role of teacher-expertise and its relationship to alternative approaches to teaching, learning, and teaching professional development. We chat about the profound simplicity and power of a conversation, the significance of simply being present. Mark believes that the best thing we can do for each other is to be conscious in our conversations, whether they be in the form of a corridor chat, a quick knock on the door, or a more planned event. Underlying all meaningful conversation is the idea that ‘I have time for you, and I want to hear what you have to say’. We chat about the deceptively simple day-to-day skills and non-verbal gestures—such as closing a laptop lid—as a signal you’re ready to create a space for listening and engagement. Mark outlines the value of noticing your own and another person’s responses and experiences during a conversation, such as excitement, nervousness, a frown, or a smile. Finally, Mark talks about the profound role of conversation in shaping a school culture and beyond.

Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbennettcoach/

Ep60: Mark Bennett, Teacher, Educational Leader & Instructional Coach

Today my guest is Vanessa Hamilton, a Sexual Health Nurse, Educator & Author. In this episode we chat about Vanessa’s professional experience as a nurse and her various roles delivering professional development and educational workshops to a wide range of audiences including doctors, healthcare workers, teachers, and parents. Vanessa brings her experiences from human sexuality and reproductive nursing to outline that sex is much more than just the physical act or being male and female; it’s about relationships, respect, diversity, reproduction, consent, pleasure, health and sexuality. Vanessa believes that teaching young people about sex and sexuality needs to be age-appropriate, ongoing and use suitable language. Significantly, it doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. On this point, we talk about how parents and teachers might engage in everyday conversations with young people about human sexuality, and other ideas outlined in her new book ‘Talking Sex: A conversation guide for parents’. Just so you’re informed, as you might have guessed by now, we chat about potentially confronting topics, including those associated with child sexual abuse rates and sexual violence, as well as other less-confronting topics like pleasure, consent, and abstinence. Even the clitoris, the familiar bulb-shaped yet often misrepresented female organ, it’s sole function - pleasure,  gets a mention. We explore how the word itself – sex – can often present challenges and obstacles when having conversations. We chat about some of the recurring parental concerns, often coming from a social context of fear, shame, negativity, hushed tones, and the idea that ‘this is unspeakable, and we don’t talk about it’ often associated with this topic. Vanessa shares insights into her writing process and how she manages the potential overwhelm of information in this territory. Vanessa believes human sexuality is at the heart of being human, that young people deserve a better outcome through life, and how this can be addressed with education - at home and in the classroom. That is, getting good information about sex, sexuality, respectful relationships and consent to be healthy, happy and well. Here’s my conversation with Vanessa Hamilton.

Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-hamilton-943495102/ 
https://www.talkingthetalksexed.com.au/ 
https://ambapress.com.au/products/talking-sex

Ep61: Vanessa Hamilton, Sexual Health Nurse, Educator & Author

Today my guest is Jennifer D Klein, an Author, Speaker, Facilitator and Coach. In this episode, we ask ‘What does good education look like if we place the student at the centre of their learning?’ Jennifer outlines how she and co-author Kapono Ciotti approached the development of their recent book ‘The Landscape Model of Learning’ by collaborating remotely during the pandemic, engaging with established and emerging educational theories, and gaining further insights through dialogue and conversations with teachers, school leaders, parents, and other stakeholders. Jennifer shares her thoughts on teacher professional development and the power of story, that is, an individual’s authentic lived experience, and how this might shift how we think and feel about classroom practice. We explore the fundamentals of The Landscape Model of Learning, including the use of metaphors. There’s ‘the ecosystem’ – with an understanding of the context that each child brings to their learning, ‘the horizon’ – where teachers co-construct with students with the aim of understanding student goals, aspirations, passions and interests, and ‘the pathway’ – where teachers using pedagogies that allow students to work on slightly different pathways so what they’re doing feels personally relevant and appropriate to where they are in their learning journey. All going well, this encourages a student-centred classroom, ideally with students doing most of the thinking and talking in class. We also explore other metaphors sometimes used by educators, such as racetrack, a dominant yet limited representation that fosters competition but fails to acknowledge the diverse needs of the learners within a typical class. Jennifer shares some ideas and practicalities of ‘inclusive prosperity’ with every student prospering and thriving, and every voice being valued and honoured; learning to value all the voices. We also chat about Jennifer’s first book, ‘The Global Education Guidebook’ which seeks to humanise K-12 classrooms worldwide through equitable partnerships. Jennifer offers insights into the intersection of writing, improving education and encouraging students to increase their influence and positive impact on the world.
Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdeborahklein/ 
https://www.principledlearning.org/
https://www.principledlearning.org/the-landscape-model-of-learning 
https://www.principledlearning.org/the-global-education-guidebook

Ep62: Jennifer D Klein, Author, Speaker, Facilitator & Coach

Today my guest is Chris Curtis, a Cancer Advocate and founder of the UK-based Swallows Head & Neck Cancer support group and charity. In this episode, we find out about Chris’ early life and his love of sport, football, food, cooking, hospitality and marketing. Chris offers insights into his more recent life and his diagnosis and treatment of stage-four throat cancer. We chat about the mental, physical, and psychological impact on Chris’ everyday life and how, in the months following his treatment, he felt the need for comfort, support and hope from someone who had gone through a similar experience. We learn how Chris took a moment to reflect and engage with “his previous self” – someone who was skilled in management, advertising, sales, marketing and promotion – to turn his dream into a reality. Beginning with a marketing plan and laminated posters, Chris soon found support from willing and compassionate healthcare workers to expand and grow the Swallows group and to offer support and hope to other head and neck cancer patients.  Chris reflects on the fundamental purpose of the group: a friendly and safe social space with open conversations between patients, caregivers, family and friends. We chat about running a successful group – both face-to-face and online, training of support group leaders and using community education strategies to address the various social inequalities which exist around public health and head and neck cancer. Chris brings an optimistic and positive voice in helping make a difference to thousands of cancer patients around the world.
Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-curtis-advocate/ 
https://twitter.com/swallowsgroup 
https://theswallows.org.uk/

Ep63: Chris Curtis, Cancer Advocate

Today my guest is Leanne Tobin, a Multidisciplinary Artist. In this episode, we find out about Leanne’s early life and upbringing in Sydney and her connections with Irish, English and Aboriginal (Dharug) heritage. Leanne shares insight into what she describes as ‘the hidden generation’ and profound ideas around secrets, suppression, and identity. We chat about Leanne’s ancestors, including Yarramundi (who met with Governor Phillip in the late 1700s) and Yarramundi’s daughter, Maria Lock, the first Aboriginal landowner in the Liverpool region. Leanne shares insights into her motivations to bring Dharug stories and history of places to the surface and how this has informed her current exhibition at the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, ‘Memories of Water (Badu)’. We learn how Leanne’s artwork reveals glimpses of life from pre and post colonisation in the Liverpool/Casula region, where the Georges River flows. We explore how Leanne uses mixed media – oil pastels, acrylic paint, ochre, glass, audio and other media - to nurture respect for the stories of Country and of Dharug people, past and present. While listening, you might like to check out Leanne’s Facebook page ‘Tobin Art’ to see photos of her various artworks. The link is in the show notes. Here’s my conversation with Leanne Tobin.

Links:
Tobin Art (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063743792327 
Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre: https://www.casulapowerhouse.com/whats-on

Ep64: Leanne Tobin, Multidisciplinary Artist

Today my guest is James Watt, a Palliative Care Nurse. In this episode, we find out about James’ early life and upbringing in New Zealand and his study and training as a nurse. James shares insights into topics that are hard to talk about, for example those universal experiences such as death, dying and grief. 
James is particularly interested in how communication might be improved in health care, especially in palliative care, that is, supporting people who have a life-limiting illness. We chat about how James develops communication skills of his healthcare colleagues, and the micro skills in this area: naming an emotion, using the seemingly simple phrase ‘tell me more’, validating and listening as a way to acknowledge the patient, summarising and reflecting back. We also discuss the central role of empathy, a skill that can be developed, and the use of non-verbal communication and words that demonstrate that empathy and making it explicit. James reflects on his clinical and staff training experiences during COVID and his thoughts on trauma, anger, fear, anxiety, isolation and collective grief in a post-pandemic world. We explore how James uses learning design skills to further expand and enhance his training and development techniques within health care, helping staff recognise and understand the complexities of grief. James emphasises how all people can use these valuable communication skills in their everyday lives. 

Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-watt-0669b7244/

Ep65: James Watt, Palliative Care Nurse

Today my guest is Monica Davidson, a Creative Practitioner and Business Educator. Monica believes that creativity gives our world a soul. In this episode, we find out about Monica’s early life and her love of creative culture and expression. Monica recounts her early studies in communication and post-graduate studies in screen arts, business, leadership, and finance. Monica offers insights into supporting other creative practitioners – writers, film makers, artists, designers, and others – through education, advocacy and mentoring. We explore the creative practices of writing and film making, and those additional insights related to business, finance and marketing. We learn how Monica helps creative practitioners to develop these essential business skills, within the context of creative practice, to support creative and financial success. We find out about social enterprises, that is, commercial organisations with the heart of a non-profit, leading to positive outcomes for the community and world. Monica shares insights into the various approaches to teaching. For example, applying mathematics to practical, real-world situations such as calculating money. Some of Monica’s more creative and sparkly pedagogy has involved teaching ideas around GST (Goods and Services Tax) through interpretive dance! Monica emphasises the simple, yet profound idea that creative people are businesspeople. Monica wants creatives to feel valued, and to encourage a broader culture that values creativity.

Links:
https://creativeplusbusiness.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicadavidson/ 
Freelancing for Australians For Dummies: https://www.wiley.com/en-au/Freelancing+for+Australian+For+Dummies-p-9780731407620

Ep66: Monica Davidson, Creative Practitioner and Business Educator

Today my guest is Daniel Bourke, a Creative Media Practitioner. In this episode, we find out about Daniel’s background and current professional practice in creative media production with a focus on animation and video. We explore how Daniel communicates to an audience with video. He guides us through some of the ‘how-to’ technical skills he uses, as well aspects that inform the ‘craft of storytelling’, especially with technology. Daniel outlines how he used video and other technology to create public health communication campaigns – mini documentaries – working with actual people from the community as they share their experiences. Daniel shares insights on how he uses a respectful, human-centred approach to negotiate and plan productions with actors and community members, and how he guides conversations during on-camera interviews. We chat about video production strategies, questioning techniques, building emotional rapport, and encouraging a comfortable conversation with on-camera speakers, as well as more complicated issues such as the ethics of documentary production. We explore how Daniel uses more technical, precise and mathematical approaches in motion graphics and animation to still communicate human-centred stories and ideas which evoke emotions from an audience. As you might have guessed, we talk about AI – artificial intelligence, and the role this technology might play in creative media production. Daniel emphasises how, fundamentally, humans connect with stories and how we might use video as a social communication tool in our technologically fluid world.
Links:
https://www.dbmedia.com.au/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielbourke92/ 
https://www.instagram.com/dbmedia.aus/

Ep67: Daniel Bourke, Creative Media Practitioner

Today my guest is Peter Quarry, a psychologist, media presenter and writer. In this episode, we find out about Peter’s early life and upbringing living between Australia, Germany, and other parts of Europe, his burning urge to be an actor, further studies in law, psychology and philosophy, his professional practice as a psychologist and counsellor, and forty years as a corporate training and development presenter and video producer. Peter shares his life highlights: being a presenter for several years on the popular live national television program ‘Good Morning Australia’, dropping LSD, and marrying his husband. We discuss adaptability, resilience, and constructive feedback. Peter shares his reflective self-dialog - in the form of writing and answering letters to different aspects of himself, switching hats and perspectives between Pete and PQ – in correspondence. This approach, based on an established therapeutic technique, informed his recently published psychological memoir ‘If I were you: A psychologist puts himself on the couch’. We also chat about delivering effective training workshops, engaging with an audience, the role of silence, and how to improve an educational video. Peter offers tips and advice on scripting, performance, practicality, purpose, addressing a learning need and generally moving away from ‘death by PowerPoint’ approaches with large amounts of text on screen. Peter emphasises the importance of humility, connections and networks, the value of trying out new things outside of your comfort zone and having an approach to life that’s energised and full of self-awareness and ongoing learning. 


Links:
https://www.peterquarry.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterquarry/

Ep68: Peter Quarry, Psychologist, Media Presenter & Writer

Today my guest is Matt Pitman, a Leader, Educator and Author. In this episode, we find out about Matt’s early career as a teacher, as well as Matt’s post-graduate studies. Over several years Matt was awarded not one, not two, but three Masters-level qualifications in educational leadership, student wellbeing, and evidence-based teaching, with each area linked back to the practicalities within a school. Matt provides insights into his context and motivations and how he decided to combine these big ideas into what eventually resulted in his recently published book: ‘The Connection Curriculum: Igniting Positive Change in Schools Through Sustainable Connection’. We chat about the positive impacts of connection - between schools, teachers, students, parents, and communities – and how the essential role of human connection is often overlooked in the rush for measurement, data-collection and achievement. Matt emphasises whole-school connectedness, the incredible people that work in schools, the value of dialog and the sharing of ideas and thoughts, the value of ‘student voice’, and creating positive change within a school by having an openness of heart.

Links:
https://www.mattpitman.com.au/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattlukepitman/

Ep69: Matt Pitman, Leader, Educator & Author

Today, my guest is Helen Perris, a singer-songwriter and teacher. In this episode, we explore Helen’s early life in Bundaberg, Queensland, where she grew up in a musical family surrounded by the rhythm and clickety clack of sugar cane trains. We explore her journey as a singer-songwriter and performer, her experiences as a teacher, and her ongoing passion for music that has been a constant throughout her life.
Helen shares insights into her creative process, how she uses music as a therapeutic tool, and the challenges faced by independent artists in the music industry. We also discuss her new album - Remove This Shield - which emotionally reflect a range of personal stories and experiences. Helen is dedicated to fostering creativity, both in herself and in others and shares her thoughts on the power of music in personal expression, personal growth and healing.
Helen emphasises the importance of creativity in education, the value of resilience, and the need for systemic changes to better support music students, artists and educators alike.

Links:
https://helenperris.bandcamp.com/album/remove-this-shield 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-perris-a1945229b/  
https://helenperris.com/ 
https://helenperrismusic.com/

Ep70: Helen Perris, Singer-songwriter & Teacher

Today my guest is Astrid Pickup, a Yoga Teacher and President of the International Yoga Teachers Association. In this episode we explore the ancient practice of yoga and its place within contemporary western culture. Astrid reflects on her early enthusiasm for physical activities and outdoor sports such as hockey, cross-country skiing, canyoning and rock climbing, which lead to the physical techniques and practice of yoga. From this perspective, Astrid brings a practical and down-to-earth approach to yoga’s mental, emotional and energetic aspects. We explore Astrid’s experiences in training to be a yoga teacher, including knowledge and practice of the five integrated energy bodies: physical, energetic (or breath), mental, intuitive, and the ultimate, often elusive goal of bliss (that is, realisation: to become one with everything around us). During our conversation, Astrid briefly guides us through a simple technique: Humming Bee breathing, beneficial in calming the nervous system and cutting out mental chatter.

Links:   
http://gaiayoga.com.au/  
https://iyta.com.au/

Ep18: Astrid Pickup, Yoga Teacher

Today my guest is Heather MacDonald, an Education Specialist and Primary School Teacher. Heather has been designing, developing and implementing education programs and strategies for non-profit and other organisations for over 20 years. In this episode we explore a range of global sporting events, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games and how they provide a meaningful, engaging and practical context for learning and community connection. Heather outlines the value of “twenty-first century skills” including problem solving, critical thinking, and teamwork. She also explains some of the practical adjustments made to her programs in response to the global pandemic and the increasing significance of student-voice in tackling a range of problems: big and small, local and global.

Links:
https://educationpartnerships.com.au/
https://www.olympics.com.au/resources/community-and-schools/
https://www.paralympic.org.au/

Ep19: Heather MacDonald, Education Specialist & Teacher

Unexpected and profound insights from smart people you’d like to meet. Mark Parry has a perspective, but as a conduit, he wants you to hear the perspectives of others. Mark’s longstanding commitment to learning, teaching and communication gets more engaging than ever as he chats with a broad and diverse range of intelligent, friendly and interesting people—artists, researchers, scientists, psychologists, film makers—who are thinking up new ideas and then getting on with making a big or small impact on the world. Mark takes time to listen to their perspectives, and so can you. If you ever wanted to know what the shattered ideology of the American dream looks like as a self-aware oil painting on instagram or how reflection and creative thought helps a scientific researcher in pursuit of a cancer cure or what melodramatic sex on 70s Australian television tells us about the politics of our society, then look no further. The goal: to get big, complex, challenging, important and contemporary ideas out to listeners that never knew they were interested. This is Perspectives in Parryville.
Music by Oly Marlan www.olymarlan.com/

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