Knowledge for Teachers

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S04E02 - David Didau on Five Things Teachers Should Stop Doing

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Feb 7, 2026

Guest

David Didau

David Didau, educator and author known for evidence-informed teaching and books like What If Everything You Knew About Education Was Wrong?, challenges common classroom habits. He explains why visible success can be an illusion, how retrieval and practice go wrong, why over-scaffolding creates dependency, and why unguided struggle can widen gaps. Short, provocative takes on making learning truly stick.

01:34:16

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Episode notes

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INSIGHT

Performance Isn’t The Same As Learning

Performance in the lesson often misleads teachers into thinking durable learning occurred.
Robert Bjork's distinction shows in-the-moment success is a poor predictor of long-term retention.

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ANECDOTE

The Student Who 'Wasn't Learning'

David thought a disengaged student named Carl wasn't learning, then Carl got an A in the exam.
Carl told him, simply, "oh yeah, it was all going in."

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ADVICE

Make Retrieval Practice Intentional

Use retrieval practice with calibrated difficulty, meaningful content, and repetition.
Expect 100% initial success, log errors, and revisit important items regularly.

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David Didau's teaching background

03:18 • 7min

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How experience and reputation matter

10:40 • 6min

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Mistaking performance for learning

16:47 • 11min

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Making retrieval practice meaningful

Common retrieval practice errors

35:31 • 6min

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Compliance versus understanding

41:19 • 4min

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Using mini whiteboards to check understanding

45:20 • 7min

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Ensure every student speaks

52:32 • 7min

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Building psychological safety for participation

59:35 • 4min

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Don't let students practice mistakes

01:03:34 • 4min

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Do less for longer: master components

01:07:53 • 3min

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Success before struggle

01:11:06 • 3min

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Sat-nav vs map-reading instruction

01:14:04 • 5min

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Productive struggle's equity issue

01:18:34 • 3min

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Why PD often fails to change practice

01:21:54 • 6min

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Modeling practice to create psychological safety

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

What If Everything You Knew about Education Was Wrong?

David Didau

What If Everything You Knew About Education Was Wrong? challenges conventional wisdom in education by examining prevalent teaching practices through the lens of cognitive science. David Didau encourages educators to question their assumptions and re-evaluate their methods in light of empirical evidence. The book covers topics such as learning styles, the role of knowledge, and effective teaching strategies. It advocates for a shift towards evidence-based approaches that enhance student learning and retention. Didau argues that many popular educational beliefs are not supported by research and can even be detrimental to student outcomes. By debunking myths and offering practical guidance, the book aims to empower teachers to make informed decisions and improve their practice.

#91517

Intelligent Accountability

David Didau

Intelligent Accountability explores how schools can move beyond superficial measures of success to create meaningful systems of accountability. David Didau argues for an approach that balances external pressures with internal goals, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The book examines different accountability models, highlighting the importance of evidence-based practices and professional development. It also emphasizes the role of school leadership in creating a supportive environment where teachers are empowered to innovate and take risks. By focusing on holistic outcomes and fostering a sense of shared responsibility, Intelligent Accountability offers a roadmap for schools seeking to enhance their effectiveness and impact.

Have you ever taught a "perfect" lesson where every student got the answer right, only to find they remembered absolutely nothing the next day? In this episode, education author David Didau joins me to reveal why what looks like learning is often just a "performance"—and how our best intentions might be fueling the illusion.

We dig into five common teaching habits you need to stop immediately, including why "Sat Nav teaching" is creating dependency rather than independence and why the popular idea of "productive struggle" might actually be setting your students up to fail. David challenges deep-seated beliefs about practice, compliance, and memory, offering a provocative look at what it really takes to make learning stick.

Resources mentioned:

Books

David Didau – What If Everything You Knew About Education Was Wrong?
David Didau – Intelligent Accountability

Websites & Tools

Carousel Learning

People

Robert Bjork
Adam Boxer
Carl Hendrick
Christina Milos

You can connect with David:

Twitter/X: @DavidDidau

Substack: https://daviddidau.substack.com/

Website: https://learningspy.co.uk/

David Didau Events: Canberra - Thursday 12th March - https://events.humanitix.com/david-didau-full-day-event Melbourne - Thursday 19th March - https://events.humanitix.com/coach-to-5k-writing-workshop-with-david-didau About David Didau

David Didau is an educator, author, and professional learning leader known for his evidence-informed work on teaching, writing, and curriculum. He is the author of several highly regarded books including What If Everything You Knew About Education Was Wrong? and The Secret of Literacy. David writes in his blog The Learning Spy, a widely read platform supporting educators to translate research into classroom practice.

You can connect with Brendan:

Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee

Facebook: @learningwithmrlee

Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft

Website: learnwithlee.net

Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:

https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast

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This is a three day online course for teachers where we focus on how learning happens and how to design maths lessons that support acquisition, build fluency and help students generalise what they know.

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This is a two day online course for school and middle leaders and it is all about implementation. We look closely at curriculum and lesson design, assessment, coaching and the systems that help teachers change practice in a sustainable way.

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