Out-of-Field Teaching Toolkit Podcast

What happens when a research project doesn’t go to plan? In this short episode, I share how my PhD project onout-of-field teaching is evolving. Hear how teacher time pressures, public Reddit threads, and ethical netnography are shaping a new, triangulated approach to understanding teacher success. This is the last episode for season5 of the pod. Season 6 starts on Tuesday, 22 July 2025.

Links:

Association of Netnographic Research

http...

What do Victorian parents really think about out-of-field teaching? In this episode, Parents Victoria CEO Gail McHardyshares insights from years of advocacy on behalf of public school families. We explore how teacher qualifications, continuity, and communication shape trust in schools - and why relationships are everything. Gail also unpacks the limitsof school councils, the rising visibility of workforce issues, and how parents ca...

Out-of-field teaching doesn’t happen in a vacuum - and Professor Jillian Blackmore makes that crystal clear in this far-reaching, provocative conversation. A Distinguished Professor of Education at Deakin University and a long-time critic of education reform, Jill unpacks the systemic and political shifts that have weakened public education, casualised the teacher workforce, and deepenedinequality in Australian schools.

From neolibe...

In this bonus episode, I share details about my PhD research into how out-of-field high school teachers in NSW define and experience success when teaching maths or science. If you've ever taught outside your subject area, I’d love you to be part of this study. I explain what’s involved, how your input will be used, and why your story really matters.Links: 

To find out more about the research project – including the plain languag...

What happens when you’re asked to teach a language you don’t speak—let alone teach? In this episode, I quiz Dr Christine Biebricher from the University of Auckland, whose research digs deep into the experience of New Zealand primary teachers tasked with teaching Mandarin out of field. We chat about courage, classroom strategies, professional identity, and why some teachers thrive while others struggle. If you’ve ever found yourself...

Katelyn Mclaren, a public high school maths teacher based in far western NSW shares her inspiring journey from teaching Kindergarten to retraining in high school maths. She shares her passion and some of the challenges in teaching number and algebra, her strategies for connecting abstractmathematical concepts to real-world applications, and the importance of focusing on understanding rather than procedures. She explains how ‘slow m...

What happens when the niggle to return to teaching meets the hard reality of classroom life? In this episode, I reflect on a short-lived (fly on the wall) return to secondary maths teaching, my ongoing microcredential journey, and the challenge of learning to “speak maths” as an out-of-field teacher. From false starts to fresh insights, I share what I’m learning about access strategies, differentiation, and what (out-of-field teach...

Annie Termaat, a PhD candidate at Deakin University's Art and Education faculty, shares her journey as a science teacher—from growing up in West Papua and Papua New Guinea to teaching in Turkey, Norway, and Malaysia. She reflects on thechallenges of teaching out-of-field, including behaviour management and working with diverse students, and discusses her experience writing science textbooks and researching metacognition. Annie ...

Associate Professor Mary Copeland from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia,  unpacks calculus, describing it as “a way of measuring change over time.” She explains its two core concepts—understanding rates of change and totalling small parts to find a whole—and connects these ideas to real-life applications, from speed cameras to retinal treatments.

Mary highlights the foundational maths skills of algebra, functions, and ...

Dr Greg Ashman, an experienced maths teacher and school leader from Clarendon College in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia shares practical strategies for out-of-field educators. Drawing on evidence-based practices like explicit instruction and cognitive load theory, Greg explains how these approaches can help teachers navigate unfamiliar maths content while building student understanding and confidence.

With a focus on clarity, scaffo...

Dr Mauricière de Govia, a New York-based education leadership consultant, shares transformative insights for teachers stepping into unfamiliar subject areas. Drawing from decades of experience, Dr de Govia discusses the power of mentorship, the importance of consistent support structures, and the role of school leaders in fostering teacher and student success. Find out how ‘blackboard configuration’ consistency across a school help...

Former elementary school music teacher, Dr Guilana Conti, shares her insights into K-8 music pedagogies. She’s the Director of Operations and Equity at Music Workshop, a not-for-profit organisation. Dr Conti talks about the new hip hop curriculum launching late 2024 and shares how culturally responsive teaching can transform out-of-field teaching experiences.

Music Workshop was founded in the US by Amy Richter in 2012 and now offer...

This episode explores OOFT with Ebony Love, who has 15 years in education, now leads continuous improvement for teacher preparation in Texas and is tackling a PhD. She talks about how alternative certification, mentor programs, and new policies are changing the landscape for Texas teachers. Ebony’s story of moving from a chemistry background into debate coaching and gaining multiple teaching certifications highlights the possibilit...

Tired of the blame-and-punish cycle in your classroom? Learn how restorative practices can offer a more effective and empowering approach to discipline and classroom management. Adam Voigt, a leading expert in the field, joins us to discuss how out-of-field teachers can implement restorative practices to create a positive and inclusive learning environment for all students.

Links:

https://adamvoigt.com.au/about/

https://realschool...

Michaela Epstein, a former president of the Mathematical Association of Victoria (Australia), discusses her work with Maths Teacher Circles, an initiative she started in 2020 to offer professional learning opportunities for in-field and out-of-field teachers of mathematics. It’s all about collaboration. In this pod, Michaela highlights the value of making connections within maths and encouraging mathematical reasoning. She also emp...

Internationally renowned expert in science and sustainability education, Associate Professor Peta White, from Deakin University, Australia, shares her tips & insights for educators. Out-of-field teachers will learn about a range (and sequence) and super-practical pedagogies to enliven science and sustainability curricula in your classrooms, and how explicit teaching features as part of the mix. Sustainability is a cross-curricu...