The hottest Teaching Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Education Topics

Maths until 18

Logging the World β€’ 418 implied HN points β€’ 15 Aug 23
🚌 Education Mathematics Teaching Curriculum Digital Literacy
  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.

The Art of Teaching

Opaque Hourglass β€’ 339 implied HN points β€’ 12 Nov 23
🚌 Education Teaching Learning
  1. Observing students' behavior can reveal their engagement and understanding in the classroom.
  2. Teaching should focus on empowering students with critical thinking skills rather than imposing one's own views.
  3. Effective teaching involves a delicate balance of authenticity, imagination, and adaptability to maximize student learning.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

How We Set Math Class up to Fail

Mathworlds β€’ 373 implied HN points β€’ 26 May 23
🚌 Education Mathematics Teaching Learning Abstract
  1. Math class often focuses on moving students towards abstract concepts, neglecting the value of concrete understanding.
  2. Teachers who can help students transition between concrete and abstract knowledge effectively engage students in math.
  3. Including both concrete and abstract elements in math problems can make learning more engaging and effective.

A Return to Teaching: The Spring 2023 Edition

Musings on Markets β€’ 859 implied HN points β€’ 21 Dec 22
🚌 Education Teaching Learning Philosophy Finance Business
  1. Preparation is crucial for teaching. Being ready for class helps make the learning experience better for everyone.
  2. Respect and empathy towards students are important. Treating students as capable individuals fosters a positive learning environment.
  3. Classes should be engaging and fun. Enjoying the teaching process makes learning more meaningful and impactful for students.

Driving and Dragging Loops

the shimmering void β€’ 116 implied HN points β€’ 24 Nov 24
πŸͺ‘ Design Experience User Interface Interaction Game design Teaching
  1. Good design is all about drawing people in. If users don't want to engage with your work, it doesn't matter how good it looks.
  2. The early experience matters a lot. If users struggle at the beginning, they might give up, so make sure to guide them through the initial steps smoothly.
  3. Creating an engaging experience is like making music. It's about balancing challenges with rewards, helping users feel a natural flow as they progress.

Primary Schools are the Cradles of Civilisation

The Joyous Struggle β€’ 296 implied HN points β€’ 19 Jul 23
🚌 Education Teaching
  1. Primary schools play a crucial role in shaping our beliefs, behaviors, and interactions, laying the foundation for civilization.
  2. Primary school teachers help us develop various skills, learn the importance of effort, compromise, and respect, and navigate the joys and struggles of growing up.
  3. Headteachers in primary schools shoulder immense responsibilities, from ensuring safety and happiness of children to managing complex tasks and challenges, all while maintaining a deep connection to the essence of education.

How To Fix Math(s) Education

Insight Axis β€’ 276 implied HN points β€’ 11 Sep 23
🚌 Education Mathematics Teaching Problem Solving Curriculum
  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.

Welcome to the Provost Dungeon

ailogblog β€’ 139 implied HN points β€’ 02 Feb 24
🚌 Education Technology Administration Learning Teaching Publishing
  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.

Whose ethics? Whose AI?

imperfect offerings β€’ 159 implied HN points β€’ 03 Jan 24
🚌 Education Ethics AI Learning Teaching Research
  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.

"Boule de Suif"

Story Club with George Saunders β€’ 41 implied HN points β€’ 20 Oct 24
πŸ“š Literature Fiction Poetry Essays Critique Teaching
  1. The story 'Boule de Suif' explores themes of sacrifice and morality. It shows how people's values can change in difficult situations.
  2. The character of Boule de Suif represents strength and resilience despite facing judgment from others. She's a strong woman in a challenging world.
  3. The setting of the story highlights the impact of war on individuals and society. It reveals how external conflicts can shape personal choices.

Equations are very confusing if you don't know what "X" represents

Defender’s corner β€’ 79 implied HN points β€’ 27 Mar 24
🚌 Education Mathematics Teaching Learning Metaphors Problem Solving
  1. In math, understanding the meaning and representation of variables like 'X' is crucial for problem-solving.
  2. Teaching effectively often involves asking questions and understanding the learner's mental model.
  3. Using metaphors and real-life scenarios can help clarify complex concepts and improve understanding.

Red Musical Notes

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies β€’ 79 implied HN points β€’ 25 Mar 24
β›ͺ Faith & Spirituality Teaching Transformation Love Music Self-development
  1. Thomas and Olga de Hartmann's lives changed dramatically after meeting Gurdjieff, shifting from outer happiness to inner transformation.
  2. Gurdjieff's teachings focused on differentiating between egoistic love and real love for personal development.
  3. During Thomas de Hartmann's illness, the symbolic act of Marfousha gathering and discarding 'evil' red musical notes highlights the essence of Gurdjieff's teachings on vibrations and transformations.

AI Γ— Education: Some Thoughts on How I'm Approaching My Courses This Fall

The Absent-Minded Professor β€’ 235 implied HN points β€’ 14 Jun 23
🚌 Education Technology Assessment Relationships Trust Teaching
  1. Spend time building relationships and explaining AI tools instead of blocking or preventing students from using them.
  2. Focus on building trust with students rather than setting traps or relying solely on technology to prevent cheating.
  3. Consider re-evaluating assessments to ensure they align with learning objectives, especially if AI tools expose weaknesses.

(4.) Nicoll 1 - THE FOURTH WAY - pp.11-15

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies β€’ 99 implied HN points β€’ 23 Feb 24
β›ͺ Faith & Spirituality Teaching Life Practice Understanding Balance
  1. The Fourth Way is a difficult path of self-improvement practiced amidst daily life, different from the paths of Fakir, Monk, and Yogi.
  2. Adapting to changing external circumstances while maintaining inner balance and work principles is crucial in following the Fourth Way.
  3. Achieving the state of 'No. 4 man' in the Fourth Way involves developing a well-rounded, flexible, and all-sided approach to life and situations.

Tenure Is a Total Scam

Bet On It β€’ 644 implied HN points β€’ 05 Sep 23
🚌 Education Research Teaching Academia
  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.

sunday memepool: gato's home schoolin'

bad cattitude β€’ 105 implied HN points β€’ 20 Oct 24
🚌 Education Teaching Learning Curriculum Homeschooling Child development
  1. The education system isn't broken; it's doing what it was designed to do. We need to recognize that and adjust how we teach to make it more effective.
  2. Teaching kids important skills is vital. If we don't step in, they might not be ready for tough jobs in the future.
  3. Homeschooling can be a good alternative to standard education. It allows for tailored learning that meets a child's specific needs.

Workshop announcement: $95 price for non-tenure track or professors with higher teaching loads

Scott's Substack β€’ 117 implied HN points β€’ 24 Jan 24
🚌 Education Workshop Teaching Causal Inference Pricing Learning
  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

Should You Pre-teach New Vocabulary?

Mathworlds β€’ 216 implied HN points β€’ 13 Apr 23
🚌 Education Teaching Vocabulary Math Webinars Learning
  1. For effective teaching, teachers and students need a shared set of experiences to talk about before introducing new vocabulary.
  2. Use 'contrasting cases' like 'Which one doesn't belong?' to surface older knowledge and make connections to new vocabulary.
  3. Provide opportunities for students to experience the need for new vocabulary in activities like Polygraph to enhance understanding.

Teaching Juggling

Bram’s Thoughts β€’ 98 implied HN points β€’ 26 Jan 24
🚌 Education Teaching Learning Skills
  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.

Renovations to the ivory tower

The Bell Ringer β€’ 59 implied HN points β€’ 22 Mar 24
🚌 Education Teaching Learning Pedagogy Curriculum Research
  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.

π€πˆ 𝐋𝐨𝐠 𝐑𝐨π₯π₯𝐬 𝐎𝐧

ailogblog β€’ 79 implied HN points β€’ 09 Feb 24
🚌 Education Technology AI Learning Teaching Reform
  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.

ONE SLIDE: Working on the Summary Review Materials for Econ 135: History of Economic Growth: The Post-1870 MEG-Economy

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality β€’ 61 implied HN points β€’ 25 Nov 24
🚌 Education Economics Academic Growth History Teaching
  1. Most economic activity in history happened after 1870. This shows how rapidly the economy can grow in a short time.
  2. Students should have a simple, useful summary of post-1870 economic growth. This will help them during exams and in their future understanding.
  3. The summary should include both political-economic and technical aspects. It's important to see how these areas work together in shaping the economy.

Book review: Math-ish and Math Mind

The Bell Ringer β€’ 3 HN points β€’ 30 Aug 24
🚌 Education Curriculum Teaching Learning Mathematics Child development
  1. Kids may not be learning math deeply if they only focus on concepts without practicing basic skills. Just like music, understanding math requires more than just thinking about itβ€”it needs practice and foundational knowledge.
  2. Two new books suggest that creativity and a positive mindset toward math can help kids learn effectively. However, it’s important to also teach the necessary skills and techniques for actually doing math.
  3. There's a concern that these books might promote a 'think system' approach to math education, which could overlook the important learning processes. Skills in math, as in music, come from practice and mastering the basics.

Decisions depend on the decision maker

Overthinking Everything β€’ 419 implied HN points β€’ 31 Aug 23
🚌 Education Decision-making Gaming Learning Expertise Teaching
  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.