Ep. 89 - Looking into the Teacher's Mirror with Dr. Ross Laird

What if teaching was less about tradition and more about breaking the rules? What if teaching put less emphasis on predetermined learning outcomes and standardized tests and more emphasis on discovery and inquiry?

What you would have would be an educational system that inspires, that evokes meaning and puts the learner first, even over the dusty lesson plans that would have fit right in if they were delivered 20 years ago.

This is the mind of Dr. Ross Laird, a post-secondary educator, an educational consultant and a progressive thinker who forges ahead with the right kind of change, even in the face of resistance from the mainstream institution of school. A man after my own heart.

Ross was preaching to the choir in this conversation. And I hope you'll join us for the next chorus, because as I like to say, teaching really can be this way.

But let's let Ross explain. He speaks so well and his evidence-based points are so well made.

Please find more of his work at https://www.rosslaird.com where you will find his blogs, articles and his Tedx talk.

I'm also going to link to my book "Beyond the Classroom". We talk about the section of the book where I wrote about Ross after his visit to my school over 15 years ago.

You can get in touch with Ross and have him come to your school for a brilliant pro-d if you email him at [e-mail]

Be sure to check out more episodes of Science 360 such as my discussion with Dr. Marika Cullis-Suzuki where we discuss the intrinsic value of scientific knowledge and how important it is to inspire our students with the wonder of nature. Or how about a discussion about AI with Dr. Tim Dasey. There are lots of conversations that will amplify what you do at school and in your science classroom.

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