#193 Tools and Tips for Teachers: Episode 14 (with Ollie Lovell)

Craig Barton
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Episode sponsors

This episode of the Mr Barton Maths podcast is proudly supported by Learning Resources. Check out their fantastic range of products to help support children’s understanding of maths here: learningresources.co.uk

Episode details

Ollie Lovell is a maths and science teacher from Australia, an author, and my longtime, bitter podcasting rival. We have decided to get together once a month to share three things we have each learned and get the other’s take on it.

Time-stamps

  1. Should school teaching and learning playbooks be constructed? (07:54)
  2. Reflections on Doug Lemov CPD (29:17)
  3. Effective training focusses on developing habits (44:08)
  4. The power of writing (59:01)
  5. During tricky conversations, push to a higher level (1:08:43)
  6. The importance (and perils) of models during CPD (1:22:04)

Episode summary

In this conversation, Craig Barton and Ollie Lovell discuss various topics related to teaching and professional development. They touch on the importance of aligning pedagogy in schools and the potential benefits and drawbacks of co-constructing instructional practices. They also discuss effective strategies for delivering CPD, including cold calling participants and switching partners during activities. Craig shares his takeaways from attending CPD sessions by Doug Lemov and from Ollie’s conversation with Harry Fletcher-Wood. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of thoughtful and intentional approaches to teaching and professional development. In this part of the conversation, Craig and Ollie discuss the importance of effective training and the role of habits in learning. They also explore the power of writing as a tool for participation and reflection. They highlight the need for visible writing to facilitate discussion and the benefits of rewriting to deepen understanding. They also discuss the importance of pushing conversations to a higher level to uncover underlying beliefs and assumptions. Finally, they reflect on the challenges of one-off PD sessions and the value of distilling wisdom into actionable takeaways.

Takeaways:

  • Aligning pedagogy in schools is underrated and can lead to more effective teaching practices.
  • Co-constructing instructional practices may not always be necessary or efficient, and it’s important to focus on ongoing development and refinement.
  • Cold calling participants and switching partners during CPD activities can be uncomfortable but effective strategies for engagement and learning.
  • Providing handouts with page references can help participants navigate the content more easily.
  • Building relationships and connections with participants is important in PD, but it should be balanced with the need to cover content and convey information. Effective training focuses on building habits and should be optimized around habits that will stick.
  • Writing is a powerful tool for participation and reflection in the classroom.
  • Visible writing is essential for meaningful discussion and to avoid the transient information effect.
  • Pushing conversations to a higher level can uncover underlying beliefs and assumptions.
  • One-off PD sessions can be more effective when they serve as a springboard for ongoing learning and engagement. Attending CPD sessions that include models and examples can be highly impactful, especially when they focus on specific aspects and provide clear guidance on what to focus on and what not to focus on.
  • Deliberate practice, combined with feedback, can be a game-changer in CPD, allowing for continuous improvement and refinement of teaching techniques.
  • Visiting schools and observing effective teaching practices can provide valuable insights and inspiration for professional growth.
  • Reading books and engaging with research can be a powerful form of CPD, providing access to knowledge and ideas that can inform and transform teaching practices.
  • The most effective CPD experiences are those that lead to meaningful changes in teaching practice and have a lasting impact on professional growth.

Ollie’s stuff

  • Sign up for Ollie’s newsletter here: edthreads.ollielovell.com
  • On Twitter, Ollie is @ollie_lovell
  • Ollie’s website is ollielovell.com 
  • You can check out Ollie’s podcast, The Education Research Reading Room here
  • Ollie’s first book, Cognitive Load Theory in Action, is available from Amazon
  • Ollie’s second book, Tools for Teachers, is available from Amazon

My usual plugs

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