The hottest Pedagogy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
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The American Peasant β€’ 738 implied HN points β€’ 02 Nov 24
  1. Difficult teachers can actually help students grow. They might seem tough, but their strictness often leads to better learning and skill development.
  2. Experiencing challenges in learning can make students better. When pushed to perform at a high level, students may realize their true potential over time.
  3. Feedback from teachers can sometimes feel harsh, but it's important for improvement. Learning to accept and understand this feedback is crucial in any craft.
In My Tribe β€’ 182 implied HN points β€’ 09 Jun 25
  1. The project aims to create an interactive seminar experience, but it's currently more like reading a textbook with an AI assistant. It’s not quite the same feel as a real seminar.
  2. Using AI can help shape effective dialogue, but it requires careful prompting to get the right tone and perspective, especially if it needs to reflect a specific viewpoint.
  3. The goal is to develop structured and authentic discussions in educational content, which could fill a gap by balancing sterile lectures and chaotic forums.
Freddie deBoer β€’ 5971 implied HN points β€’ 02 Dec 24
  1. In education, there's a big debate about the best way to teach reading. Some say phonics is better, but it's not as clear cut as people think.
  2. Many believe that teaching methods can completely change students' success, but individual talent and background often play a bigger role in how well they do.
  3. The media and education discussions often ignore important questions about ability differences among students, focusing instead on minor teaching method fights.
Freddie deBoer β€’ 2908 implied HN points β€’ 16 Dec 24
  1. Not all writing advice is helpful; some common tips can actually hinder writers. It's important to find advice that really benefits your style and needs.
  2. Tools like pronouns and the passive voice can be useful in writing, contrary to popular belief. Embracing different writing styles can enhance your work.
  3. Improving as a writer involves a lot of practice and feedback. It's normal to struggle with gaining an audience or making money, even if you see your writing getting better.
Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality β€’ 238 implied HN points β€’ 28 Jan 25
  1. Students today need basic data science skills to succeed after graduation. It's like letting them leave school without knowing how to read or write.
  2. Teaching data science can be tricky because students have different backgrounds. Some find it confusing, while others think it's too basic.
  3. It's important to keep trying to teach data science. Finding the right way to do it is necessary for better education and understanding.
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Disaffected Newsletter β€’ 999 implied HN points β€’ 06 Aug 24
  1. A documentary called 'Stolen Youth' explores how a toxic adult created a harmful cult at Sarah Lawrence College.
  2. The college's approach to education is criticized for promoting extreme ideologies, which some believe contributed to the cult's formation.
  3. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding the effects of educational philosophies on students' lives.
SPARC '24 JC Blog β€’ 199 implied HN points β€’ 27 Aug 24
  1. Stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to personal growth. Trying new activities and meeting different people helps you learn more about yourself.
  2. Learning can happen in unexpected ways. Sometimes, you realize you've grown just by reflecting on your experiences rather than actively studying something new.
  3. Creating a supportive social group can inspire creativity and curiosity. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals makes it easier to explore new ideas and develop your passions.
The Bell Ringer β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 25 Aug 24
  1. Teaching reading is a mix of art and science. Teachers need to use research but also rely on their own experience to help students learn.
  2. Meaningful knowledge helps students connect what they learn to related ideas. This makes learning more useful and encourages deeper understanding.
  3. Building strong relationships between teachers and parents can help support students. Parents should talk to their kids about learning and current events to strengthen this connection.
I Might Be Wrong β€’ 15 implied HN points β€’ 16 Jan 25
  1. Without grades, college can become a joke, leading many students to slack off instead of genuinely engaging with learning. It’s important to have some accountability to encourage real effort.
  2. Professors often pass students regardless of their actual participation or effort, which undermines the purpose of education and makes it hard to assess true performance.
  3. To improve education, grades need to mean something again so that employers can better understand which students truly excel and which do not. Making grades meaningful is a better alternative than removing them altogether.
Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet β€’ 622 implied HN points β€’ 30 Jan 24
  1. There can be a philosophy of whatever we intuitively imagine there can be a Form of, which is close to saying whatever is universal.
  2. Introducing a creative dimension into philosophy is urgent in an era where machines handle knowledge tasks, making it necessary to reconceive humanities as partly creative endeavors.
  3. Philosophy can also be seen as incitement of the imagination through creative means, presenting a valuable approach to understanding the world in different ways.
Book Post β€’ 314 implied HN points β€’ 14 Jan 24
  1. New legislation is being introduced to protect library collections from political interference.
  2. Efforts are being made to provide free books and support for restricted books through private initiatives.
  3. There is a debate over teaching methods in early childhood education, with concerns about prioritizing 'Science of Reading' and its impact on student-directed reading and diverse classroom libraries.
The Bell Ringer β€’ 79 implied HN points β€’ 31 May 24
  1. John Mighton emphasizes the importance of understanding math concepts rather than just memorizing formulas. This helps students develop deeper problem-solving skills.
  2. Focusing on problem-solving in math education encourages critical thinking and creativity in students.
  3. Teaching math should be about making connections and understanding rather than just practicing procedures. This approach can make learning more enjoyable.
State of the Future β€’ 34 implied HN points β€’ 26 Mar 25
  1. The current education system is outdated and doesn't prepare kids for a future dominated by AI, which will take over many jobs. We need to rethink education to emphasize skills that AI can't replicate.
  2. Key human skills like authentic presence, accountability, and emotional intelligence will be essential as we move away from traditional work roles. These are things that make us truly human and can't be replaced by machines.
  3. We should focus on educational approaches that develop children's emotional and social skills, such as Montessori and Waldorf. The goal is to help kids find purpose and meaning, rather than just preparing them for jobs.
The Bell Ringer β€’ 99 implied HN points β€’ 10 May 24
  1. Kids can get confused easily when we push them too hard with complex ideas. It's important to teach in a way that builds understanding step by step.
  2. Real learning happens when we focus on what students can grasp, not just on covering a lot of content. It's better to let them understand the basics well.
  3. Using evidence from research helps improve how we teach math. This can help solve the ongoing debates about the best ways to learn math.
The Science of Learning β€’ 219 implied HN points β€’ 24 Jul 23
  1. Retrieval practice helps all students remember what they learned better, whether they know a lot or a little about a topic. It involves recalling information, like through quizzes, and boosts memory retention.
  2. Studying over spaced intervals is more effective than cramming all at once. Mixing up different subjects or topics during study sessions can also improve learning by making it more engaging.
  3. Many college students don't realize how beneficial spacing and mixing subjects can be for their studying. Teaching them about these techniques can help them study smarter and remember better.
The Bell Ringer β€’ 59 implied HN points β€’ 22 Mar 24
  1. Understanding how people learn is crucial for effective teaching. Teachers need to know learning styles to help students better.
  2. There are new resources and issues focusing on how novices learn. This can guide both educators and parents in supporting students.
  3. The importance of evidence-based approaches in education is growing. Relying on research can improve teaching strategies and student outcomes.
Unconfusion β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 31 Mar 24
  1. Using silly examples to teach correlation and causation can let students off too easily. It's important to challenge them with examples that make them think.
  2. Most teaching examples use time-series data, but many real-world correlations don't fit this model. We should focus on typical variations found in research.
  3. Mixing random correlations with spurious connections creates confusion. Teaching should clearly explain how confounders can lead to false relationships.
The Science of Learning β€’ 139 implied HN points β€’ 07 Jun 23
  1. Giving students worked examples in math can help them feel less anxious and learn better. It makes math easier for those who usually struggle with it.
  2. Being in nature can help people feel more relaxed and focused, while watching videos of nature doesn't have the same benefits. For real restoration, you need real nature.
  3. Brain training apps may help you get better at their specific games, but they don’t really make you smarter in everyday life. They haven't shown strong proof of boosting general brain skills.
Yascha Mounk β€’ 2 HN points β€’ 29 Aug 24
  1. Grade inflation is a big problem. At top universities, students are getting higher grades, making it hard to tell who is really doing great work.
  2. A grading system should help students understand how they're doing, but if everyone's getting A's, they may think they are doing better than they really are.
  3. To fix this, universities could make grades pass-fail, which would stop misleading people about student achievements and encourage students to take harder courses.
The Science of Learning β€’ 4 HN points β€’ 26 Jun 23
  1. Children benefit from memorizing multiplication tables because it helps them solve math problems more easily. When students know their math facts, they can focus on more complex thinking instead of getting stuck on basic calculations.
  2. Research shows that students who memorize math facts do better in math overall. This memorization builds a strong foundation for advanced math skills later on.
  3. It's important to strike a balance between memorization and understanding in math education. Teaching kids to remember math facts can actually support their overall learning and make problem-solving easier.
resonantbrain β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 04 Aug 23
  1. Traditional education systems with passive learning methods may not be effective for all students.
  2. Active, exploratory learning experiences can be more beneficial for children than traditional methods like worksheets and textbooks.
  3. AI models have the potential to revolutionize education by providing personalized and interactive learning experiences, making learning more engaging and effective.