Science 360

What if teaching was less about tradition and more about breaking the rules? What if teaching put less emphasis on predetermined learning outcomes and standardized tests and more emphasis on discovery and inquiry?

What you would have would be an educational system that inspires, that evokes meaning and puts the learner first, even over the dusty lesson plans that would have fit right in if they were delivered 20 years ago.

This is the mind of Dr. Ross Laird, a post-secondary educator, an educational consultant and a progressive thinker who forges ahead with the right kind of change, even in the face of resistance from the mainstream institution of school. A man after my own heart.

Ross was preaching to the choir in this conversation. And I hope you'll join us for the next chorus, because as I like to say, teaching really can be this way.

But let's let Ross explain. He speaks so well and his evidence-based points are so well made.

Please find more of his work at https://www.rosslaird.com where you will find his blogs, articles and his Tedx talk.

I'm also going to link to my book "Beyond the Classroom". We talk about the section of the book where I wrote about Ross after his visit to my school over 15 years ago.

You can get in touch with Ross and have him come to your school for a brilliant pro-d if you email him at [email protected]

Be sure to check out more episodes of Science 360 such as my discussion with Dr. Marika Cullis-Suzuki where we discuss the intrinsic value of scientific knowledge and how important it is to inspire our students with the wonder of nature. Or how about a discussion about AI with Dr. Tim Dasey. There are lots of conversations that will amplify what you do at school and in your science classroom.

Please rate and review and subscribe on your favourite podcasting platform.

What an exhilarating experience hosting Dr. Sarika Cullis-Suzuki, the host of The Nature of Things, the world's longest-running science show for over 60 years!

A cornerstone in science communication, it's now entering a new era on the CBC Gem app, offering modern content to enhance your science lessons. Make sure to explore the show for a fresh perspective that can invigorate your science curriculum.

Sarika, a passionate science communicator and planet advocate, stresses the vital role of educators, emphasizing our impact on climate awareness. Together, we affirm that education is paramount, but action starts today.

Infuse knowledge, hope, and action into your science classes, drawing inspiration from Sarika's infectious energy. This episode will reignite your excitement for the classroom, fueling your dedication to teaching science.

Tune in and let's collectively drive change in science education!

Dive deep into the oceanic realms as Science 360 brings you this riveting episode. Join me, Tim Stephenson in an engaging conversation with Dr. Isabella Reeves, a pioneering researcher delving into the genetic fabric of orcas.

Discover how her groundbreaking analysis links orca pods worldwide to a common ancestry, unveiling the intricate history of these marine dynasties. Hear the story of Old Tom, an orca that assisted whalers 100 years ago.

This episode is your backstage pass to the fascinating world of orca genetics and how it connects to your classroom. Get ready for a whale of a time as science takes center stage.

Connect with Isabella at the Cetacean Research Centre, Southern Shark Ecology Group, College of Science & Engineering, Flinders University, Australia.

X: @bellaa_reeves
LinkedIn: Isabella Reeves
Email: [email protected]

Jo-Anne St. Godard has had a circular economy mindset for decades. A simple Google search and you will see that Jo-Anne has been advocating for an economy that relies less on extraction and new goods from raw materials, and moreso on repurposing existing materials into a second, third and fourth life. A regular guest on news reports, a speaker at conferences and lobbying the government for a more responsible, lower carbon emitting, circular economy.

Now as the Executive Director of the Circular Innovation Council of Canada, Jo-Anne is one of Canada's leaders in the shift away from consumerism, and is a strong advocate for adding value to what has traditionally been "thrown away".

If you listen to enough of my episodes, you will know by now that I am right there with Jo-Anne. There is no "away", the planet cannot continue to be humanity's garbage can and the oceans our toilet. There are enough materials already made that with some planning and foresight, we can cut down on our selfish use of Earth's resources and make use of what we already have.

I also beleive that the path forward in all of this is education. I'm a teacher and quite possibly you are too. I use my platform to raise awareness and instill a "stop and think" approach to the behaviours of extract, manufacture, transport, use, break, toss and repeat. The solution to all of this is educating the young people and empowerin them with the opportunity to imagine and create the future that they want to grow up in.

Please follow the work of Jo-Anne St. Godard via the website:
https://circularinnovation.ca

This is a wide-ranging conversation covering topics such as Newtonian physics, the Copernican revolution, life in space, genetics, the interconnectedness of life and teaching. It kept coming back to teaching and the type of education we should be bringing to the classroom.

This conversation can affect the way you teach. It can refocus you on a modern approach to education and dare I say, what really matters. And, what really matters first and foremost is our relationships with the students, followed by our relationships with the curriculum, and getting to the heart of learning through stories that connect the brain to the heart…and it’s in that place that lasting learning takes place. It's there that students begin to learn, not because they have to but because they want to.

It was a pleasure and a privilege to speak with Dr. Gleiser. Be sure to check out all these links to his website and publications and socials and also to his latest book, which will soon be in my school’s library.

Website: https://marcelogleiser.com
YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3fqH16afbPKHx7ABOyQ0soOWyy0RlUOP&si=l5nfcWPscnzHajJj
Twitter: @MGleiser
Instagram: @Gleiserofficial
Blog series: https://bigthink.com/13-8/
Templeton page: https://marcelogleiser.com/media-templeton-prize
Templeton prize website: https://www.templetonprize.org

When my student, Peter, approached me about being a guest on my podcast, I wondered what we would talk about. However, I'm glad we recorded because what we have here is golden. Yes, a lesson in language, but more than that, a lesson in grit, passion, pursuit of knowledge and independent learning.

This episode will leave you amazed at what a young person can accomplish. If you know people like Peter, be sure to give them the platform they deserve to share the wisdom that lingers just beneath the surface.

Scott is committed to advancing nature-based solutions that benefit people and the planet.

His current work and experience has resulted in an inspiring and dynamic network that seeks solutions to the complex environmental challenges of our times. He work closely with various levels of government, industry, universities and non-profits to coordinate and amplify these efforts. In concert with a talented team at Ocean Wise, he designs, scales and optimizes solutions that have concrete benefits to people and the planet.

Scott was selected as the North American civil society representative for the third and fourth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), in Nairobi, Kenya. He also recently completed his Executive MBA at the Smith School of Business at Queen's University in early 2020.

Scott is fortunate to have worked and lived across Canada and internationally over the last decade. This has provided Scott with the unique opportunity to contribute to and lead an incredible variety of teams with different values, worldviews, and skill sets.

Connect with Scott via email: [email protected]

Oceanwise: https://ocean.org

Scott’s department at Oceanwise: https://ocean.org/climate-change/seaforestation/

Education resources including the SeaDome: https://ocean.org/learn-explore/education/

Oceanwise for teens: https://ocean.org/learn-explore/youth-programs/youthtosea/

Oceanwise for young adults: https://ocean.org/learn-explore/youth-programs/ocean-bridge/

Dr. Tim Dasey knows how to push educational buttons, and let me be clear, this is a good thing!

I found this out as I recorded this episode and listened to Tim’s theories on how schools need to evolve. These theories come from a 30 year career in AI development at MIT. Now compelled to ‘rattle the cage” and “poke the bear”, Tim is attempting to nudge educators into what I would call “hard but essential” conversations about what we’re teaching and how it needs to evolve.

In his book Wisdom Factories, Tim says that AI in the classroom isn’t going to be the biggest challenge—it will be preparing students for an AI work world.

Wisdom Factories asks “What if the fundamentals of schooling don’t fit the AI era?” Tim’s premise is that AI will be the work experts, so humanity has to supply the wisdom. This requires upending a century of educational dogma.

Dr. Dasey reckons with an unavoidable conflict—schools currently spend most of their energy teaching students to do what AI does best. The solution for schools and work is to focus on wisdom skills like critical thinking, creativity, relating, and teaming. These complement AI, not compete with it.
Learning wisdom can only be done well, he says, with a new educational model that’s nearly upside down from the current one—a model that changes the curriculum, teaching, and even the structure of schooling.

In this episode, Tim speaks extensively on experience, play, meta-knowledge, and multidisciplinary curricula as being the new fundamentals to be taught in schools.

Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timdasey
Website: https://www.timdasey.com
Email: [email protected]

Buy his book, Wisdom Factories: https://a.co/d/1tdwqcL

Bryce Coon and Emily Walker head up the education team at EARTHDAY.ORG which firmly believes that every learner in every school worldwide should receive fully integrated, assessed climate and environmental education with a strong civic engagement component.

Bryce joins as the Associate Director of Climate Education, while Emily joins as the Education Coordinator. As Associate Director of Climate Education, Bryce plays a central role in crafting the organization's overarching goals and roadmap to increase climate literacy worldwide. Moreover, Bryce is instrumental in driving the efforts dedicated to the climate and environmental literacy campaign, working year round to cultivate a nationwide movement aimed at bolstering climate literacy across various educational institutions, ranging from k-12 schools to universities, trade schools, and graduate schools.

As Education Coordinator, Emily plays a vital role in bolstering the growth and diversity of EARTHDAY.ORG’s education partners. She also conducts in-depth research and assists in the development and continuation of curricula, web resources, and supporting materials for Earth Day 2024. Furthermore, she keeps a close eye on federal, state, and local initiatives in the key policy areas EARTHDAY.ORG is dedicated to, ensuring the organization remains informed and actively engaged in advocating for impactful educational policies.

Prior to joining EARTHDAY.ORG, Bryce and Emily both dedicated their careers to education and climate literacy. For more than a decade, they have used their roles as educators to find opportunities to incorporate climate education into various courses and encourage youth climate advocates in the classroom. Outside the classroom, Bryce participated in various international fellowships where he studied climate education and policy in Asia, Europe, and Oceania, while Emily used her passions to promote sustainability through environmental literacy initiatives with park authorities.

EARTHDAY.ORG’s mission is to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day (1970), EARTHDAY.ORG is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in nearly 192 countries to build environmental democracy. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day actions each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. Learn more at earthday.org.

This episode is becoming one of my favourite recordings. I think the reason is because, through this discussion with Dr. Berger, I feel like I've gotten to know Albert Einstein like I never have before. Or maybe it's because as a result of my new connection to Gary, I am now the proud recipient of his brilliant book! As I descibe it, it's as much a work of art as it is a pictorial biogrpahy of Einstein.

As a science teacher, I subscribe to the theory that the work of a scientist becomes better if I know something about the scientist. It's like knowing the personal side of your favourite singer or football player. With a backstory, I am far more likley to enjoy watching the game or listening to the song.

Students today need this sort of connection. They're connected in every other aspect of their lives, so let's make learning science come alive by connecting them to people like Albert Einstein. Just think of the names we mention all the time: Stephen Hawking, Isaac Newton, Galileo...but who were these people and what motivated them? I make it my goal to teach these aspects of science to my students and I hope you do too.

Here is a link to purchase Gary's book:
https://www.amazon.ca/Einstein-Man-Mind-Hanoch-Gutfreund/dp/8862087845/

And for interest sake and because all proceeds from the book are being donated to the
Albert Einstein Archives at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, here is a link to that as well:
http://www.albert-einstein.org