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Powerful Learning Podcast

Powerful Learning Podcast

Luke Rowe, Ph.D.

This is a podcast about evidence-based teaching and the science of learning. I’m your host, Luke Rowe, and I’m a lecturer and learning scientist in Melbourne, Australia. I’m extremely passionate about the education and the learning sciences, and I started this podcast with the hope of sharing this passion with you! The mission here at Powerful Learning is to help you know more, do more, and be more. Come join me and my guests on a learning journey into topics such as feedback, metacognition, memory, intelligence, health and wellbeing, emerging and established educational technologies, and motivation – as we explore their broader implications for educators and students. The current plan is to post shows at least once per month. If you have any comments, suggestions, or ideas, I welcome your feedback by sending me a DM on Twitter / X, posting a comment in one of my YouTube clips, or following me on Instagram. May you enjoy listening to the Powerful Learning Podcast!

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Top 10 Powerful Learning Podcast Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Powerful Learning Podcast episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Powerful Learning Podcast for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Powerful Learning Podcast episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Ever wondered why we forget more than we remember? Why do memories with personal meaning tend to stick? Are memories more about the past, the present, or the future?
In Professor Charan Ranganath’s groundbreaking book, Why We Remember, these secrets are uncovered as we discover how our brains shape our memories to help us navigate the world.
In this episode, we explore five BIG ideas from Ranganath’s book:
1️⃣ Memory is a Storyteller, Not a Camera

Our brains don’t record events like a video camera. Instead, they reconstruct and reshape our memories to prioritize what’s relevant and meaningful. 🖼️✨
2️⃣ The Stability vs. Flexibility Trade-off
Discover why forgetting isn’t a flaw but a feature—helping us stay adaptable in a constantly changing world. 🌍⚖️
3️⃣ Memory’s Battle of Resources
Our brains are under a strict energy budget. Learn how memory prioritizes only the most ‘fit’ and relevant information for survival. 🔋🔬
4️⃣ Infusing Facts with Concrete Experiences

Want to retain facts better? Connect them to personal experiences. This strengthens both semantic and episodic memory systems for lasting retention. 🔗🗺️
5️⃣ Curiosity and the Information Gap

Curiosity isn’t just about finding answers. It’s about resolving information gaps that keep our minds engaged and eager to learn - curiosity-driven learning! 🧠💥
📖 Why We Remember is filled with insights that will change the way you think about memory forever! From understanding the power of forgetting to utilizing curiosity-driven learning, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in psychology, neuroscience, or simply understanding how memory works!
👍 If you found this video helpful, don’t forget to like and subscribe for more content on the science of learning and memory!
Section Summaries:
0:00 - Introduction
1:57 - Big Idea 1: Memory Is Not a Video Camera, but a Storyteller and Survivalist
11:07 - Big Idea 2: The Stability vs. Flexibility Trade-off
16:10 - Big Idea 3: Memory’s Battle of Resources
21:00 - Big Idea 4: Infusing Facts with Concrete Experience
29:06 - Big Idea 5: Curiosity and the Information Gap
32:03 - Conclusion and Recap
The original YouTube video of this episode can be found here:
https://youtu.be/1W98k8uf_ec
The book, Why We Remember, can be purchased here:
https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Remember-Unlocking-Memorys/dp/038554863X?dplnkId=6efeac24-e3a5-4277-80b0-ab42946e857b&nodl=1
#WhyWeRemember #MemoryScience #CharanRanganath #Psychology #Neuroscience #ScienceOfLearning #MemoryTips #BrainScience #EducationalScience

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EXTENDED VERSION

This is an extended version of episode 14, with Dr. Mike Witter. It's been provided to support those of you who would like to take a deeper dive into the notion of 'teacher quality'. Some additional topics that we discuss on this extended version include:

  1. Teacher-performance pay
  2. Professional Learning and Development to Improve Teacher Quality
  3. How would Mike spend a billion dollars on Education?
  4. What’s getting Mike excited in his work?

So if you'd like to 'geek out' on the details about teacher quality, then please join us by clicking play now!
----------------------------Original Episode Description----------------------------
What does it mean to be a good teacher? This is a multifaceted concept that has been the subject of research for over a century. While we've made significant progress, there are still many questions that remain unanswered about the purpose of education, the distinction between teacher quality and quality teaching, how to measure effective teaching, and most importantly, how to improve and upskill teachers to achieve excellence in education.
In an effort to address these important and complex questions, I'll be joined by Dr. Mike Witter, a teacher quality expert and my esteemed colleague at Australian Catholic University. Together, we aim to enhance the educational experience by helping teachers become more effective and students become better learners.
Dr. Witter brings a wealth of experience from his work across various sectors of education, including elementary schools in New York, secondary schools in America and Australia, and now at the university level in the National School of Education. His expertise and insights make him one of the most nuanced and complex thinkers in the field of education. Our discussions often delve into the latest research findings, challenge assumptions about effective teaching practices, and lead to moments of intense debate, laughter, and profound insights.
I invite you to join us as we explore the topic of quality teaching and benefit from Dr. Mike Witter's remarkable ability to unravel the complexities and focus on what truly matters in education.

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Are you new to the Powerful Learning Podcast? Welcome to the club!
I'm your host Luke Rowe, Ph.D. I'm a researcher and university lecturer who specializes in evidence-based teaching and the science of learning.
I’m extremely passionate about understanding and improving learning and I started this podcast with the hope of sharing this passion with my university students and a broader audience of curious folk.
I look forward to sharing our learning adventure together as we dive into topics about evidence-based teaching and the science of learning.
Here are some ways you can follow me on social media and show your support for this podcast:

Music is produced by Zac Nelson (Pixelate).

Here are some ways you can follow me on social media and show your support for this podcast:

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

What does it mean to be a good teacher? This is a multifaceted concept that has been the subject of research for over a century. While we've made significant progress, there are still many questions that remain unanswered about the purpose of education, the distinction between teacher quality and quality teaching, how to measure effective teaching, and most importantly, how to improve and upskill teachers to achieve excellence in education.
In an effort to address these important and complex questions, I'll be joined by Dr. Mike Witter, a teacher quality expert and my esteemed colleague at Australian Catholic University. Together, we aim to enhance the educational experience by helping teachers become more effective and students become better learners.
Dr. Witter brings a wealth of experience from his work across various sectors of education, including elementary schools in New York, secondary schools in America and Australia, and now at the university level in the National School of Education. His expertise and insights make him one of the most nuanced and complex thinkers in the field of education. Our discussions often delve into the latest research findings, challenge assumptions about effective teaching practices, and lead to moments of intense debate, laughter, and profound insights.
I invite you to join us as we explore the topic of quality teaching and benefit from Dr. Mike Witter's remarkable ability to unravel the complexities and focus on what truly matters in education.

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Are you new to the Powerful Learning Podcast? Welcome to the club!
I'm your host Luke Rowe, Ph.D. I'm a researcher and university lecturer who specializes in evidence-based teaching and the science of learning.
I’m extremely passionate about understanding and improving learning and I started this podcast with the hope of sharing this passion with my university students and a broader audience of curious folk.
I look forward to sharing our learning adventure together as we dive into topics about evidence-based teaching and the science of learning.
Here are some ways you can follow me on social media and show your support for this podcast:

Music is produced by Zac Nelson (Pixelate).

Here are some ways you can follow me on social media and show your support for this podcast:

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

How much classroom discussion involves the teacher talking compared to their students? For most teachers, the reality is sobering: the typical teacher spends far more time talking and asking questions than their students and this is often detrimental to learning and engagement. Sadly, research even suggests that some students can go through an entire school day without sharing a single conversation with another human being, including their teacher.

This highlights the importance of today's topic: dynamic discourse in the classroom. It's extremely important because communication makes up an enormous chunk of what happens inside classrooms and can therefore have a HUGE influence on how students engage in the learning process.

If you've ever wondered how to take charge of your language in the classroom to help improve learning, then today's episode of the powerful learning podcast is for you.
I’ll be in discussion with educational consultant, researcher, teacher, and all round amazing human Dr. Sophie Specjal. Sophie has extensive experience working across all sectors of education, from early childhood through to tertiary and adult education. She’s spent the last 10 years leading professional teaching and learning communities to help them understand how they can communicate more effectively in their learning contexts.
Sophie has been a good friend of mine for years now, and every time I share a conversation with her, I feel inspired and buoyant about the future of education. I hope her passion and vision for change is equally uplifting for you and that her research challenges you to become a catalyst for effective and dynamic discourse in your teaching and learning environment.

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Are you new to the Powerful Learning Podcast? Welcome to the club!
I'm your host Luke Rowe, Ph.D. I'm a researcher and university lecturer who specializes in evidence-based teaching and the science of learning.
I’m extremely passionate about understanding and improving learning and I started this podcast with the hope of sharing this passion with my university students and a broader audience of curious folk.
I look forward to sharing our learning adventure together as we dive into topics about evidence-based teaching and the science of learning.
Here are some ways you can follow me on social media and show your support for this podcast:

Music is produced by Zac Nelson (Pixelate).

Here are some ways you can follow me on social media and show your support for this podcast:

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

Have you ever heard of the ‘feedback sandwich’? What about the idea that the best feedback is often given immediately after performance and without delay? And if feedback is simply a transfer of information from one person to another, then why does the research suggest that feedback given is often vastly different from feedback received?
In this episode, we'll discuss some of the topics in which educators tend to habour wonky beliefs and misconceptions about feedback. And these aren’t just benign beliefs – they often taint our thinking and undermine our efforts to improve student learning. The aim is to put these assumptions to the test by drawing upon the research literature from the science of learning to examine and scrutinize some of the more common misconceptions about feedback in education.

If you haven't done so already, you may also want to listen to the previous episode (Episode 11) and an earlier episode (Episode 7) with educational feedback expert, Dr. Luke Mandouit, who shares his research on what effective feedback looks like in the classroom.

Enjoy!
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Are you new to the Powerful Learning Podcast? Welcome to the club!
I'm your host Luke Rowe, Ph.D. I'm a researcher and university lecturer who specializes in evidence-based teaching and the science of learning.
I’m extremely passionate about understanding and improving learning and I started this podcast with the hope of sharing this passion with my university students and a broader audience of curious folk.
I look forward to sharing our learning adventure together as we dive into topics about evidence-based teaching and the science of learning.
Here are some ways you can follow me on social media and show your support for this podcast:

Music is produced by Zac Nelson (Pixelate).

Here are some ways you can follow me on social media and show your support for this podcast:

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

What do we mean by the term ‘Feedback’ – is it really just as simple as giving a student information about their performance? Or is there more to it? And what are some of the models and strategies that underpin high-impact feedback in various educational settings?
In today’s podcast, I’ll attempt to tackle some of these tricky questions by standing on the shoulders of many of the intellectual giants who've written and published extensively on the topic of feedback using a science of learning lens. We'll cover foundational issues such as key terminology, classroom effects, and three related models for effective classroom feedback.

If you haven't done so already, you may also want to listen to an earlier episode (Episode 7) with educational feedback expert, Dr. Luke Mandouit, who shares his research on what effective feedback looks like in the classroom.

---------------
Are you new to the Powerful Learning Podcast? Welcome to the club!
I'm your host Luke Rowe, Ph.D. I'm a researcher and university lecturer who specializes in evidence-based teaching and the science of learning.
I’m extremely passionate about understanding and improving learning and I started this podcast with the hope of sharing this passion with my university students and a broader audience of curious folk.
I look forward to sharing our learning adventure together as we dive into topics about evidence-based teaching and the science of learning.
Here are some ways you can follow me on social media and show your support for this podcast:

Music is produced by Zac Nelson (Pixelate).

Here are some ways you can follow me on social media and show your support for this podcast:

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

Do schools really “kill creativity”? (a claim famously made by the late Sir Ken Robinson). Does a tightly structured curriculum stifle creative potential among some students while rewarding a conformist mentality among others? How can we best foster and nurture creativity in schools whilst maintaining academic excellence?
In today’s podcast, I’ll be discussing these issues with John Munro, a distingushed Professor of Educational Psychology and Exceptional Learning at the Australian Catholic University, Melbourne.

John has been a tertiary educator for 45 years, and has a keen interest in creativity, gifted and exceptional learning, literacy and math learning, dyslexia and dyscalculia, indigenous learning, professional learning and instructional leadership, and school improvement.

Prior to his academic career as an educational and developmental psychologist, John started off as a secondary mathematics and science teacher. He later completed his doctorate in cognitive and developmental psychology, before becoming qualified as a primary (elementary) school teacher.

Two other interesting facts about John: First, he was one of my doctoral supervisors; second, it was one of his books, Powerful Learning, co-authored with David Hopkins and Wayne Craig, that inspired the name of my educational consulting business back in 2016, which ultimately led to the name of this podcast!

Prof. Munro is one of those rare people who embodies both academic and applied knowledge in his field, as both an educational psychologist and classroom teacher, he fully understands the challenges of day-to-day teaching and how difficult it can be to translate research into practice.

I hope this powerful learning podcast is an enjoyable and informative experience for you, as we tap John’s expertise and wisdom about creativity in the classroom.
A final point worth mentioning is that John was commissioned by the New South Wales Department of Education to write a report entitled ‘Creativity in education: what educators need to know’. This is a 26-page document that is freely accessible, and relatively easy to read, with plenty of diagrams, tables, and pictures to supplement its key ideas. It’s essentially a creative practice guide for teachers and I highly recommend you take the time to read it when you get a chance over the coming days and weeks. If you’re interested in obtaining a free copy of this document, just click this link or copy and paste the url below into your browser: https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/education-for-a-changing-world/resource-library/creativity-in-education--what-educators-need-to-know

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Are you new to the Powerful Learning Podcast? Welcome to the club! I'm your host Luke Rowe, Ph.D. I'm a researcher and university lecturer who specializes in

Here are some ways you can follow me on social media and show your support for this podcast:

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iPads, podcasts, vodcasts, YouTube, interactive books, the metaverse, zoom, virtual and augmented reality, eBooks, laptops, social media, antiscocial media, creators, consumers, coding and maker spaces... Welcome to the 21st century classroom where students engage with text through multiple modalities that are fundamentally shifting the way we think about learning.

And for those of you who’re unfamiliar with this term, Multimodal texts combine a variety of different modes of communication, such as visual, auditory, and written language, to convey meaning. They can be powerful tools for teaching and learning in schools, because they engage students with different interests and make complex information more accessible and interactive. It's hardly surprising that the breadth of multimodal texts on offer for students has grown exponentially with the progression of digital technologies.
In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing these trends and more with my guest, Kathy Mills, a research professor, author, and innovator in literacies and digital cultures at the Australian Catholic University, Queensland.

Prof. Mills' professional bio can be found here.
---------------
Are you new to the Powerful Learning Podcast? Welcome to the club!
I'm your host Luke Rowe, Ph.D. I'm a researcher and university lecturer who specializes in evidence-based teaching and the science of learning.
I’m extremely passionate about understanding and improving learning and I started this podcast with the hope of sharing this passion with my university students and a broader audience of curious folk.
I look forward to sharing our learning adventure together as we dive into topics about evidence-based teaching and the science of learning.
Here are some ways you can follow me on social media and show your support for this podcast:

Music is produced by Zac Nelson (Pixelate).

Here are some ways you can follow me on social media and show your support for this podcast:

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

Are you really learning as effectively as you think, or are hidden mental shortcuts holding you back? This episode involves a 'Masterclass' in which we unpack the world of cognitive biases and mental bottlenecks in learning—those subtle psychological tendencies that skew how we perceive, absorb, and evaluate information.
What You’ll Learn:
• Spot Your Blind Spots: How confirmation bias keeps you stuck in old beliefs.
• Get Real About Skills: The Dunning-Kruger effect and why it’s easy to overestimate your know-how.
• Stop Overselling Yourself: Overconfidence bias—and how to finally see where you stand.
• Balance Your Study Time: The hard-easy effect and finding that sweet spot between basic and tough stuff.
• Bust the Illusion of Competence: Why re-reading and highlighting aren’t cutting it for real understanding.
• Beat the Clock: The planning fallacy and simple hacks to finish projects on time.
• Ditch Perfectionism: When “good enough” is actually the key to better performance.
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro: Why Biases Matter in Learning
01:03 - Bias 1. Confirmation Bias: Stuck in Your Own Bubble
07:05 - Bias 2. Dunning-Kruger Effect: When You Don’t Know You Don’t Know
17:55 - Critically Appraising the Dunning-Kruger Effect
24:02 - Bias 3. Overconfidence Bias: Believing You’re Better Than You Are
36:20 - Bias 4. Hard-Easy Effect: Struggling with the Wrong Things
42:10 - Bias 5. Illusion of Competence: Thinking You’ve Got It...But You Don’t
47:20 - Bias 6. Planning Fallacy: Always Running Out of Time
53:30 - Bias 7. Perfectionism Bias: Letting “Perfect” Kill Your Progress
1:00:45 - Perfectionistic Striving vs. Perfectionistic Concern
1:09:50 - Recap
Note that some sections of this episode refer to images and diagrams that can be viewed at the following link:
https://youtu.be/6s-ErMcuqLQ
Why This Matters:
By understanding these biases, you can improve how you learn, teach, and grow. Whether you’re a student, educator, or lifelong learner, recognizing these patterns is the first step toward overcoming them. With deliberate practice, metacognitive training, and strategic self-testing, you can refine your judgments, manage your time more effectively, and cultivate a more resilient mentality in the face of challenge.
🎓 About Me: I'm Luke Rowe, Ph.D. in learning sciences, and I’m passionate about teaching and sharing the latest insights from brain and learning science to help you learn, teach, and communicate better.
👍 Enjoyed the episode? Rate it 👍 to support the podcast.
Subscribe 🔔 for more deep dives into the science of learning.
Comment 💬 with your thoughts or questions.
🔗 Join the community on YouTube via @PowerfulLearningHub

Here are some ways you can follow me on social media and show your support for this podcast:

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In this evidence-rich episode we are joined by our guest, A/Professor Sean Kang, as we explore scientifically proven principles of practice to supercharge your learning journey.
Sean is a cognitive psychologist whose research focuses on applying the cognitive science of human learning and memory towards improving instructional practice. He has written and published extensively on the topics of effective practice covering retrieval, distributed, and interleaved practice.
Join us in our journey to uncover research-informed practice strategies that help you go beyond what can be achieved by effort alone - to study smarter, not harder.
================ A video version of this podcast can be found here: https://youtu.be/Xb3zFeIoVRk?si=zsonsIRplCo8zksa ================
Key Questions Explored:
***Retrieval Practice: Understand why retrieval practice reigns supreme over passive review methods like rereading. We break down the concept and share practical tips for incorporating it into your teaching and study routines.
***Distributed Practice: Dive into the science behind distributed practice. Learn how spacing out your learning sessions optimizes memory retention. We’ll even touch on Carpenter’s groundbreaking ‘temporal ridgeline’ research.
***Interleaved Practice: Discover why mixing up different topics or skills during practice enhances learning. Explore the benefits of interleaving and how it compares to blocked practice in terms of both perception and outcomes.
***Timing Matters:
When should you employ these practice techniques? Is it during the initial acquisition phase or after mastering the content? We’ve got the answers.
***Debunking Myths:
Are the benefits of interleaving simply a result of the ‘spacing effect’ or is there something more to it? We’ll unravel the truth about interleaving and its impact on learning. Spoiler alert: It’s not just about spacing!
***Strategic Choices:
Are there scenarios where you should avoid distributed practice or interleaving? We discuss situations when massed or blocked practice might be a better fit.
Join us on this knowledge-packed journey and revolutionize your approach to learning!
A/Prof. Sean Kang's Academic Profile: https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/837588-sean-kang#:~:text=Sean%20is%20a%20cognitive%20psychologist,D.
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Are you new to the Powerful Learning Podcast? Welcome to the club!
I'm your host Luke Rowe, Ph.D. I'm a researcher and university lecturer who specializes in evidence-based teaching and the science of learning.
I’m extremely passionate about understanding and improving learning and I started this podcast with the hope of sharing this passion with my university students and a broader audience of curious folk.
I look forward to sharing our learning adventure together as we dive into topics about evidence-based teaching and the science of learning.
Here are some ways you can follow me on social media and show your support for this podcast:
X [Twitter] (@LukeIRowe)
Website (http://www.powerfullearning.net)
YouTube: https://youtu.be/Xb3zFeIoVRk

Here are some ways you can follow me on social media and show your support for this podcast:

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FAQ

How many episodes does Powerful Learning Podcast have?

Powerful Learning Podcast currently has 28 episodes available.

What topics does Powerful Learning Podcast cover?

The podcast is about Learning, Pedagogy, Performance, How To, Podcasts, Self-Improvement and Education.

What is the most popular episode on Powerful Learning Podcast?

The episode title 'Series 2. Episode 14. What Makes a Quality Teacher with Dr. Mike Witter' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Powerful Learning Podcast?

The average episode length on Powerful Learning Podcast is 52 minutes.

How often are episodes of Powerful Learning Podcast released?

Episodes of Powerful Learning Podcast are typically released every 12 days.

When was the first episode of Powerful Learning Podcast?

The first episode of Powerful Learning Podcast was released on Jul 5, 2022.

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