Episode #2 When Will They Learn?

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Feb 19, 2026

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INSIGHT

Critical Thinking Depends On Knowledge

Generic 'critical thinking' skills are largely ill-defined and depend heavily on domain knowledge rather than a transferable standalone skill.
Greg Ashman argues imagination or 'ask why' routines fail when learners lack subject knowledge, using inability to imagine C++ code as an example.

ANECDOTE

Made-Up WWII Claim Shows Power Of Facts

Greg gives a made-up example: claiming General de Gaulle started WWII illustrates how factual knowledge instantly reveals nonsense without generic routines.
He contrasts that with 5G brain-cancer claims requiring science knowledge to dismiss.

INSIGHT

Knowledge Is What You Think With

To be critical consumers of information students need substantial background knowledge because knowledge is what you think with.
Caiti Wade and Greg reference Daniel Willingham and cultural literacy examples to show knowledge builds situation models for comprehension.

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In this episode, Greg and Caiti take on the idea of ‘critical thinking’ in schools. They respond to a recent EducationHQ article on teaching critical thinking and unpack the assumptions behind calls to prioritise it in classrooms. They explore what ‘critical thinking’ actually means, whether it can be taught as a general skill, and what the evidence from cognitive science suggests. They then turn to a discussion paper published by the Sydney Social Sciences and Humanities Advanced Research Centre (SSSHARC) at the University of Sydney, examining broader critiques of ‘evidence-based practice’, where education research is argued to come from, and whether schooling and education are truly positioned in opposition to one another.

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Greg Ashman

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

Substack – Filling the Pail

LinkedIn – Greg Ashman

X/Twitter – @greg_ashman

If you’re interested in working with Greg at Ballarat Clarendon College, please see here for open roles and expressions of interest.

Caiti Wade

Caiti is a leader of pedagogy at a boys’ secondary school in Brisbane and is doing her EdD in applications of cognitive load theory to secondary mathematics.

Substack – The Disruptive Educator

LinkedIn – Caiti Wade

X/Twitter – @caiti_wade

Episode resources

* Teaching kids critical thinking skills early may help ensure our future - EducationHQ

* Hearing Educator Perspectives: From ‘Evidence-Based Practice’ to Valuing the ‘Enriched Evidence-Based Practice’ of Education

Acknowledgement of country

We would like to acknowledge The Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we record this podcast, the lands of the Wadawurrung People, and those of the Jagera and Turrbal Peoples, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whenwilltheylearn.substack.com