Episode #18 Department for Despair

In this episode, Greg and Caiti begin with ACPUE, who are back to reassure everyone that their work is absolutely not a targeted attack on AERO, despite it appearing as though it is exactly that. We look at the newest defence of their work and how that stands up against their own claims and the broader suite of future projects listed on their website.

From there, we head to the UK (figuratively) and Lucy Powell’s address on the future of schooling, including proposals for new vocational pathways, all coming through the wonderfully optimistic-sounding Department for Hope. Unfortunately, the proposals and history of education reforms in the UK might suggest that there are lesser grounds for hope than one might hope with these new pathways.

Then it’s back to Australia for a discussion of ten strawmen of the Science of Learning. We work through some of Penny Van Bergen’s terrific arguments against the made-up versions of the Science of Learning that are often seen posted all over media.

And finally, just when we thought we were done, a university posts something that stops us in our tracks. Listen to find out more about the big shocker.

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Greg Ashman

Greg is a school leader at Ballarat Clarendon College and holds a PhD in instructional design from UNSW.

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