The Education Gadfly Show
Thomas B. Fordham Institute
For more than 15 years, the Fordham Institute has been hosting a weekly podcast, The Education Gadfly Show. Each week, you’ll get lively, entertaining discussions of recent education news, usually featuring Fordham’s Mike Petrilli and David Griffith. Then the wise Amber Northern will recap a recent research study. For questions or comments on the podcast, contact its producer, Stephanie Distler, at sdistler@fordhaminstitute.org.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 9, 2019 • 32min
Research Deep Dive: Everything we know about effective teachers - 10/09/19
On this week’s podcast, Dan Goldhaber, the director of CALDER, joins Mike Petrilli, David Griffith, and Amber Northern on the first edition of our research deep dive series to discuss what rigorous research says about identifying, developing, and retaining effective teachers.
Oct 2, 2019 • 20min
Charter schools lift all boats - 10/02/19
On this week’s podcast, Nina Rees, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Alliance for Public Charter School, joins Mike Petrilli and David Griffith to talk about David’s new Fordham study of how charter market share affects student achievement for kids in both charter and district schools. On the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines how the geographic isolation of K–12 schools affects education policies.
Sep 25, 2019 • 24min
The meaning of Success Academy's success - 09/25/19
On this week’s podcast, Mike Petrilli and David Griffith talk with Robert Pondiscio about his new book on Success Academy. On the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines whether providing more information to college admissions officers boosts the acceptance odds for low-income students.
Sep 18, 2019 • 21min
All about AP - 09/18/19
On this week’s podcast, Mike Petrilli talks with Checker Finn and Andrew Scanlan about their new book on the past, present, and future of Advanced Placement. On the Research Minute, Amber Northern explores why Texas’s fracking boom was a bust for its schools.
Sep 11, 2019 • 25min
Parents’ role in school improvement - 09/11/19
On this week's podcast, Patrick Corvington, executive director of DC School Reform Now, joins Mike Petrilli and David Griffith to offer advice on how parents can play a role in improving their kids' schools. On the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines the academic effects of early interventions for children born at a low birth-weight.
Sep 4, 2019 • 25min
Trends in public opinion on choice, testing, and teacher salaries - 09/04/19
On this week’s podcast, Martin West, Harvard professor and editor-in-chief of Education Next, joins Mike Petrilli to discuss the results of Ed Next’s annual survey of public opinion. On the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines whether video technology can improve teacher evaluations.
Aug 28, 2019 • 27min
Boosting student outcomes with end-of-course exams - 08/28/19
On this week’s podcast Mike Petrilli and David Griffith talk to Adam Tyner about the new Fordham report he co-authored with Matthew Larsen on end-of-course exams and student outcomes. On the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines efforts to improve the college application process.
Aug 21, 2019 • 20min
The homecoming court edition - 08/21/19
On this week’s podcast, Jeremy Tate, CEO of the Classic Learning Test, joins Mike Petrilli and David Griffith to discuss what classical learning is and why it’s important. On the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines whether popular children have an outsized influence on their peers.
Aug 14, 2019 • 29min
Media literacy in our schools - 08/14/19
On this week’s podcast, Alice Huguet, an associate policy researcher at RAND, joins David Griffith and Adam Tyner to discuss whether and how K–12 schools should teach students media literacy. On the Research Minute, Adam Tyner examines the effects of flipped classrooms.
Aug 6, 2019 • 30min
Should all students be prepared for both college and career? - 08/07/19
On this week’s podcast, Kate Blosveren Kreamer, deputy executive director of Advance CTE, joins Mike Petrilli and David Griffith to discuss whether we should change the conjunction in “college and career readiness” to “or.” On the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines how teachers and principals view social and emotional learning.
