

TeachLab with Justin Reich
MIT Teaching Systems Lab
TeachLab is a podcast that investigates the art and craft of teaching. There are 3.5 million K-12 teachers in America, and we want to explore how they can become even better at what they do. Hosted by Justin Reich, MIT Professor and director of the MIT Teaching Systems Lab.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 25, 2024 • 1h 1min
The Arrival of the Homework Machine
Jesse Dukes leads a project on teacher and student experiences with generative AI. The podcast discusses implementing AI tech in education, concerns about low-quality content and academic dishonesty, and the fun of using AI to create. It explores text-generative AI models like GPT, challenges in creating accurate images, and the intersection of AI and education, emphasizing the importance of adapting to technological changes.

Nov 3, 2023 • 1h 13min
Upper MiddleBrow - Tales of Teachers
Today we share another great episode from our friends at Upper MiddleBrow. As students, parents, and teachers happily (or wrenchingly) returned to school, Upper MiddleBrow invited TeachLab host Justin Reich to talk about stories with teachers. They identify many examples of bad teachers and bad teaching in fiction, and while film and TV often present sympathetic teacher protagonists, they wonder if the Great American Teacher novel is yet to be written. Resources and LinksCheck out Upper MiddleBrow, a podcast where hosts Jesse Dukes and Chris Bagg discuss high-craft works of popular cultureOrder Justin Reich’s new book Iterate: The Secret to Innovation in SchoolsSee Upper MiddleBrow’s Teacher Protagonist’s graphicWatch our documentary film We Have to Do Something Different Follow TeachLab on Twitter and YouTubeFollow our host Justin Reich on Twitter

Oct 27, 2023 • 30min
Civics 101: Civics Education 2 - When the Curriculum is Against the Law
Civics 101 is a podcast refresher course on the basics of how the U.S. government works, born from the brain trust at New Hampshire Public Radio and hosted by Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice. This is the second part in their series about the state of civic education in the US. In this episode, TeachLab host Justin Reich joins the Civics 101 team to talk about how teachers choose what to teach, so-called "divisive concepts laws," and how we can approach disagreements without falling prey to "division actors."This episode features: Justin Reich, Director at MIT Teaching Systems Lab and host of the TeachLab podcastLouise Dube, Executive Director of iCivics and member of the Implementation Consortium at Educating for American DemocracyCherylAnne Amendola, Department Chair and teacher at Montclair Kimberly Academy and host of the podcast Teaching History Her Way Resources and LinksCheck out Civics 101: A Podcast, a production of New Hampshire Public RadioOrder Justin Reich’s new book Iterate: The Secret to Innovation in SchoolsClick here to see a map of all the states that have passed legislation limiting what teachers can say regarding race, sex, gender, etc. Click here to see the Interactive Roadmap by Educating for American Democracy.Watch our documentary film We Have to Do Something Different Transcript https://sonix.ai/share/XBF9ue1HSi1uek4spV3fHohu Follow TeachLab on Twitter and YouTubeFollow our host Justin Reich on Twitter

Oct 20, 2023 • 29min
Civics 101: Civics Education 1 - What Do We Teach?
The podcast discusses the challenges and controversies surrounding civics education and the teaching of history in the US. It explores the lack of consensus on the narrative of American history that can be taught to students. The state of civics education in America is discussed, including the controversy surrounding critical race theory and the decline in commitment to democracy among younger generations. The podcast also examines the history and flaws of civics education in the US, the racist roots of civics education, the inconsistent standards compared to other subjects, and the current controversy surrounding civics education.

Oct 13, 2023 • 24min
Iterate: Haley McDevitt
In our final episode in our Iterate series, we are joined by one of our favorite collaborators here at the Teaching Systems Lab: artist, creative professional and graphic recorder, Haley McDevitt. Haley is a master of listening, synthesizing, and creating visuals that support big ideas. And, Haley is the illustrator of our host Justin Reich’s new book, Iterate: The Secret to Innovation in Schools.Justin and Haley go behind the scenes to share the creative process for the book’s illustrations. We also hear about Haley’s own experiences with iteration and growth mindset in her creative life, and learn about the amazing resources that she created to support educators who read Iterate. Resources and LinksOrder Justin Reich’s new book Iterate: The Secret to Innovation in SchoolsTake a look at our free downloadable materials for Iterate, designed by Haley McDevittCheck out Haley McDevitt’s amazing graphic recording work Watch our documentary film We Have to Do Something DifferentExplore our course Youth In Front, with illustrations by Haley McDevitt Transcript https://teachlabpodcast.simplecast.com/episodes/iterate-haleymcdevitt/transcript CreditsHost Justin ReichProduced by Aimee Corrigan and Garrett Beazley Recorded and Mixed by Garrett BeazleyFollow TeachLab on Twitter and YouTubeFollow our host Justin Reich on Twitter

Oct 6, 2023 • 34min
Iterate: Mel Ching
This week on TeachLab, we continue our series of conversations with innovative educators with Mel Cheng, a lifelong educator and learner. Mel is the Director of Engagement at What School Could Be, and before that worked as a classroom teacher, technology facilitator and coach, and administrator at Hawaiʻi’s first public charter school for 23 years. A maker enthusiast, Mel believes that intentionally designing environments in which learners are free to tinker builds stronger communities and richer connections.We talk to Mel about her experiences with the Cycle of Experiment and Peer Learning, and the idea that people who can really change the teaching and the learning in schools are the classroom teachers.“Intuitively we know that teachers are the driving force of change and administrators need to create the conditions for this to happen but rarely is that articulated, much less given a road map” Mel Ching’s review of Iterate:The Secret to Innovation in Schools Resources and LinksVisit the What School Could Be platform to find resources for educators and join the community.Order Justin Reich’s new book Iterate: The Secret to Innovation in SchoolsWatch our documentary film We Have to Do Something Different Transcripthttps://teachlabpodcast.simplecast.com/episodes/iterate-melching/transcript CreditsHost Justin ReichProduced by Aimee Corrigan and Garrett Beazley Recorded and Mixed by Garrett BeazleyFollow TeachLab on Twitter and YouTubeFollow our host Justin Reich on Twitter

Sep 29, 2023 • 41min
Iterate: Ronni Moore
This month on TeachLab, we’re releasing a series of conversations with innovative educators to celebrate the release of our host Justin Reich’s new book, Iterate: The Secret to Innovation in Schools.This week we’re lucky to be joined by Ronni Moore, an educator who is passionate about re-envisioning what school can be. Ronni is the director of high schools for Crystal House Indianapolis, and was part of the founding team of Purdue Polytechnic High School North, a design thinking high school in Indianapolis, Indiana. We talk to Ronni about the power of relationships, achieving big change through small steps and leading throughout the pandemic. Resources and LinksLearn more about the innovative schools from Ronni’s interview, Christel House Indianapolis & Purdue Polytechnic High SchoolOrder Justin Reich’s new book Iterate: The Secret to Innovation in SchoolsWatch our documentary film We Have to Do Something Different Transcripthttps://teachlabpodcast.simplecast.com/episodes/iterate-ronnimoore/transcript CreditsHost Justin ReichProduced by Aimee Corrigan and Garrett Beazley Recorded and Mixed by Garrett Beazley Follow TeachLab on Twitter and YouTube

Sep 22, 2023 • 51min
Iterate: Erik Burmeister
This week, our host Justin Reich released his new book, Iterate: The Secret to Innovation in Schools. To celebrate the launch and dig into the themes of the book, we’re releasing a series of conversations with innovative educators. In this episode, we’re joined by Erik Burmeister, an award-winning teacher, principal, and superintendent who worked as a highly impactful educator in California for over 20 years before launching his strategic consulting firm, Solutionary Advisors. We talk with Erik about his experiences leading change using design and innovation principles. Resources and LinksPre-Order Justin Reich’s new book Iterate: The Secret to Innovation in SchoolsLearn more about Erik Burmeister’s work at Solutionary AdvisorsWatch our documentary film We Have to Do Something Different Transcripthttps://teachlabpodcast.simplecast.com/episodes/iterate-erikburmeister/transcript CreditsHost Justin ReichProduced by Aimee Corrigan and Garrett Beazley Recorded and Mixed by Garrett BeazleyFollow TeachLab on Twitter and YouTubeFollow our host Justin Reich on Twitter
Sep 11, 2023 • 49min
Teacher Speech and the New Divide: Katie Rinderle
In the eighth and final episode of our series on Teacher Speech and the New Divide, we talk with Katie Rinderle, a 10 year veteran educator from Cobb County, Georgia. Katie is the first teacher in Georgia to be terminated for violating the state's divisive concept laws. What did Katie do? She went to a school book fair, sponsored by her school, and bought the best selling picture book, My Shadow is Purple, which touches on gender identity. Her 5th grade students selected the book for a read aloud, and Katie read the book and invited her students to do a reflection poem. Then, a parent complained, and Katie was fired. Katie's case has garnered national attention as a test of what public school teachers can and can't teach in the classroom. We’re joined in our conversation with Katie by her attorney, Michael Tafalski, from Southern Poverty Law Center. Special thanks to our friends at Learning for Justice, and the Justice in Schools team at the Harvard Graduate School of Education for their collaboration on this work. Resources and LinksGeorgia Teacher Fired for Reading Children’s Book About Acceptance - SPLC ArticleKatie Rindele’s Opinion piece on MSNBCSouthern Poverty Law Center’s latest Press Release on Katie’s CaseLearn more about My Shadow Is Purple and Author Scott StuartPre-Order Justin Reich’s new book Iterate: The Secret to Innovation in SchoolsWatch our documentary film We Have to Do Something Different Transcripthttps://teachlabpodcast.simplecast.com/episodes/teacher-speech-e8/transcript CreditsHost Justin ReichProduced by Aimee Corrigan and Garrett Beazley Recorded and Mixed by Garrett BeazleyFollow TeachLab on Twitter and YouTubeFollow our host Justin Reich on Twitter
Aug 25, 2023 • 46min
Teacher Speech and the New Divide: Book Bans Revisited
In the seventh episode of Teacher Speech and the New Divide, we dive back into our exploration of book bans and challenges throughout the United States. We sit down with Jen Varney and Barb Fecteau of the Massachusetts School Library Association, to hear about how the current climate is impacting the lives of school librarians, and their strategies for navigating these times. And, we talk to Sabrina Baêta, Program Consultant from the Freedom to Read Program at PEN America to better understand the current state of book bans, how they’re increasing throughout the United States, and what concerned citizens can do. Special thanks to our friends at Learning for Justice, and the Justice in Schools team at the Harvard Graduate School of Education for their collaboration on this work. Resources and LinksLearn more about PEN America’s important work on Book BansFind great resources from the Massachusetts School Library Association Take our course on supporting youth activism at www.youthinfront.orgPre-Order Justin Reich’s new book Iterate: The Secret to Innovation in SchoolsWatch our documentary film We Have to Do Something Different Transcripthttps://teachlabpodcast.simplecast.com/episodes/teacher-speech-e7/transcript CreditsHost Justin ReichProduced by Aimee Corrigan and Garrett Beazley Recorded and Mixed by Garrett BeazleyFollow TeachLab on Twitter and YouTubeFollow our host Justin Reich on Twitter


