The hottest Teaching Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Education Topics
The Recovering Academic β€’ 554 implied HN points β€’ 20 Feb 24
  1. Higher education is facing challenges of scarcity in access, instruction, and credentials, leading to market power exploitation by institutions.
  2. The proposed shift towards digital education may widen the class divide in higher education rather than solving existing problems.
  3. The current trend in education, as proposed by Michael D. Smith, risks devaluing PhDs and academic jobs, leading to a potential collapse of the system.
The Biblioracle Recommends β€’ 668 implied HN points β€’ 04 Feb 24
  1. Genius and expertise are different - expertise is achieved through practice, while genius is often seen as innate.
  2. Expertise can be just as valuable as genius - like the skillful drum tech behind a famous drummer.
  3. Dedication to a hobby or skill can enhance confidence and ability in other areas, showcasing the value of practice and expertise.
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Mathworlds β€’ 550 implied HN points β€’ 31 Jan 24
  1. Research suggests emergency-hired teachers during COVID may not differ significantly from traditionally licensed teachers.
  2. Education is complex and difficult to measure, making it challenging to understand teacher influence on student learning.
  3. Great teachers may be born, but good teachers can be made through diverse experiences and supportive tools.
The View from Rural Missouri by Jess Piper β€’ 537 implied HN points β€’ 15 Jan 24
  1. Dr. King's 'Letter from Birmingham Jail' is an important text to study, offering a different perspective than his 'I Have a Dream' speech.
  2. Dr. King's legacy and messages have been whitewashed; it's crucial to revisit his work with fresh eyes to truly understand his stance against racism.
  3. In light of current challenges like book bans and whitewashing of history, it becomes even more critical to engage with Dr. King's radical ideas to push for change.
The Recovering Academic β€’ 197 implied HN points β€’ 23 Feb 24
  1. Professors in higher education may allocate teaching resources in a way that doesn't prioritize student demand, which can impact the quality of education.
  2. There can be a disconnect between faculty expertise and student interest in niche subjects, leading to limited access for students.
  3. The current system may not provide enough incentives for professors to focus on delivering a quality education to their students.
The Recovering Academic β€’ 534 implied HN points β€’ 28 Nov 23
  1. Workshops should be places of respect where the focus is on the work itself, not personal attacks or fears.
  2. Creating in a workshop may not always be comfortable, but it should be a space of caring and deep respect for the work.
  3. Balancing belief in the work and constructive doubt can help writers grow without falling into extremes of pure praise or relentless criticism.
Reality's Last Stand β€’ 1965 implied HN points β€’ 16 Feb 23
  1. The author expresses concerns about DEI initiatives impacting academic freedom and professional standing in universities.
  2. The author discusses the pressure to conform to diversity requirements in academic curricula, leading to challenges in maintaining academic integrity.
  3. The author highlights instances of intolerant behavior and ideological conflict in academia related to DEI measures.
ailogblog β€’ 139 implied HN points β€’ 02 Feb 24
  1. Bureaucracy is essential for large organizations to manage data and control, but it can hinder community-building, and many share grievances about bureaucratic systems.
  2. Generative AI has the potential to transform bureaucratic processes in universities, leading to anxiety and excitement among bureaucrats, requiring a shift towards positive and pragmatic change.
  3. Educational bureaucracies can benefit from design thinking, incremental experiments, and a hybrid persona of intellectual-bureaucrat to create better structures that support teaching and learning.
Logging the World β€’ 637 implied HN points β€’ 24 Sep 23
  1. COVID optimism might be on the rise based on recent data trends like the BA.2.86 growth rates and hospital investigations.
  2. Studies show a concerning decline in mental health among school children during the pandemic, indicating the need for better support.
  3. Personal experiences such as being locked out of social media and starting a large teaching session can affect one's daily routine.
Bet On It β€’ 644 implied HN points β€’ 05 Sep 23
  1. Getting tenure involves a complex process of academic achievements and connections.
  2. Tenured professors have minimal job responsibilities and are difficult to fire.
  3. The tenure system in academia may be sustained by perverse incentives and weak selection pressure.
Scott's Substack β€’ 117 implied HN points β€’ 24 Jan 24
  1. Workshop offering discounted price of $95 for non-tenure track professors or those with high teaching loads
  2. Workshop covers topics like potential outcomes model, unconfoundedness, and instrumental variables
  3. Teaching style focuses on comprehension, confidence, and competency in applying causal inference methods
ailogblog β€’ 79 implied HN points β€’ 09 Feb 24
  1. Blogging and sharing insights on generative AI can have a significant impact on educational discourse.
  2. Challenges in education, such as misinformation, ethics in AI tools, and historical issues, require continuous attention and thoughtful consideration.
  3. Approaching educational reform, including incorporating generative AI, as a collaborative effort towards a slightly better world is essential.
imperfect offerings β€’ 159 implied HN points β€’ 03 Jan 24
  1. Building an ethical ecosystem for AI in academia requires collaboration and coordination within the sector to meet regulatory requirements and promote openness.
  2. Designing assignments that make the use of generative AI tools less compelling can enhance learning outcomes and reduce the need for detection methods that undermine trust.
  3. Individual educators should challenge the idea that students can act ethically in a context lacking supportive infrastructure for informed ethical decision-making, and focus on conversations about writing practice to foster understanding and development.
Bram’s Thoughts β€’ 98 implied HN points β€’ 26 Jan 24
  1. Teaching juggling effectively involves using stepping stones for gradual progression.
  2. Using a collaboration between a beginner and an expert can make juggling easier and more motivating.
  3. Starting with simpler patterns like four balls and three hands can lead to successful juggling skills.
Overthinking Everything β€’ 419 implied HN points β€’ 31 Aug 23
  1. Decisions depend on who is making them, as individual factors influence the best choice.
  2. Even in games with 'objective' optimal strategies, decisions are subjective based on each player's abilities and knowledge.
  3. Beginners should consider their own strengths and weaknesses when making decisions, rather than just emulating experts.
Logging the World β€’ 418 implied HN points β€’ 15 Aug 23
  1. The proposal for compulsory math education until age 18 in the UK received mixed reactions, highlighting the importance of making math appealing and accessible to a wide audience.
  2. Implementing math education until 18 requires consideration of factors like shortage of math teachers and effective delivery methods such as leveraging online resources.
  3. Math education should cover areas such as practical number skills, understanding uncertainty and randomness, and exploring connections between math and other subjects like art and music.
Mathworlds β€’ 569 implied HN points β€’ 22 Jun 23
  1. Students often feel worse about math class compared to other subjects because of the pressure to only have one correct answer for each question.
  2. Math should be taught as a creative discipline that embraces human subjectivity, not just a set of memorized steps.
  3. Teachers can help students deconstruct the idea of one right way to do math by introducing activities that show multiple paths lead to the same solution.
Overthinking Everything β€’ 279 implied HN points β€’ 26 Sep 23
  1. Sometimes explaining something you already know can help you understand it better.
  2. Vertical explanations build on existing knowledge, while lateral explanations connect different parts of your knowledge.
  3. Lateral explanations can create a more solid foundation for understanding, making it easier to build vertical explanations on top.
Mathworlds β€’ 550 implied HN points β€’ 01 Jun 23
  1. Schooling has a multidimensional shape with various purposes like cognitive development and social development.
  2. AI models need to align with the full visions for learning, beyond what AI can currently model well.
  3. In classroom settings, AI may have potential for teacher support and professional development, but may not fit within the primary vehicle for student learning.
Insight Axis β€’ 276 implied HN points β€’ 11 Sep 23
  1. Math education should focus on real-world problems to make it interesting and meaningful for students.
  2. Students should be taught a structured process of defining, abstracting, computing, and interpreting problems in math.
  3. School math should prioritize applied mathematics to show the practical utility of math, cater to the majority, and prepare students for the future.
Rod’s Blog β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 02 Feb 24
  1. AI in education offers personalized learning paths based on student's needs and abilities, making learning more effective and engaging.
  2. AI assists teachers by automating tasks like grading and providing insights for improving teaching methods, enhancing the overall teaching experience.
  3. Innovative learning experiences are enabled through AI technologies like virtual reality and gamification, making education interactive and fun.