The ThoughtStretchers Podcast

Join Rebekah Berlin, a product developer enhancing teacher-child interactions, and Jim Heal, a seasoned education practitioner and author, as they dissect their co-authored work, Mental Models. They discuss bridging gaps between beliefs and evidence in education, emphasizing the power of mental models in teaching. Dive into the importance of varied examples for rich learning, the role of inquiry in cognitive science, and how deep questioning boosts knowledge retention. Their insights promise to bring clarity and practicality to educators seeking to refine their teaching strategies.

Drew Perkins talks with Karen Vaites about navigating educational tribalism, the "Science of Learning," and the impact of knowledge-rich, coherent curricula on student outcomes. Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Drew Perkins talks with Rachel Curtis and Liz City, co-authors of the book Leading Strategically: Achieving Ambitious Goals in Education. Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Drew Perkins talks with Christina LaRose about her work with the Prohuman Foundation to develop a curriculum focused on learning character through literature. Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Michael Strong, founder of The Socratic Experience and longtime school innovator, explains his gentle daily Socratic practice and long-term mentoring approach. He describes techniques for parsing dense texts, coaching group dynamics and rubrics, balancing cognitive load with inquiry, and how student projects and entrepreneurship build real-world agency.

Rachael Jefferson, senior lecturer in human movement studies and seasoned teacher-educator, reflects on three decades of classroom and university work. She critiques top-down mandates and the politicization of cognitive science. Conversations cover teacher autonomy vs accountability, how context shapes pedagogy, and the need to balance evidence with creativity and inclusion.

The importance of nuanced conversations in educational settings is front and center. Explore the impact of social media on face-to-face dialogue and the role of educators in fostering understanding. Discover how inquiry-based learning encourages open-mindedness and diverse perspectives. The discussion tackles the challenges of polarization, emphasizing the need for respectful discourse to enrich educational dialogue. Aiming for a cohesive community, it advocates for the principles of enlightenment to combat societal divides.

Drew Perkins talks with Songyee Yoon, author and founder and managing partner of the venture capital firm Principal Venture Partners (PVP), where she focuses on investing in AI-native companies transforming industries. Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Drew Perkins talks with teacher and author, Richard Bustin, about his book What Are We Teaching? Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Fox DeMoisi, professional learning coordinator focused on scaling project-based learning in Kentucky. Dr. Cindy Niebel, medical-education leader applying learning science to practice. Andrew Watson, cognitive-science trainer and skeptical blogger. They discuss intersections of learning science, project-based learning, and inquiry. Short conversations cover implementation, fidelity, sequencing instruction and inquiry, equity risks, and long-term research challenges.