Teach Effectively!

Here’s a “Welcome” to Kylie Sturgess and Podblack Cat. I’m routinely pleased to find folks with whom I share skepticism about the bologna that masquerades as reasoned discourse in education. Because of Ms. Sturgess’ focus on skepticism, education, and science, I’m noting here that I’ve added her site to the blogroll on Teach Effectively.

In describing herself, Ms. Sturgess wrote:

In short, I’ve gone from being ‘just a secondary-school English teacher’ …. to an M.Ed in Special Learning needs; a writer for the new Philosophy and Ethics course in my state; a research-assistant on retention and engagement in schools at a Perth university and the Education Department; an author for several journals on science and critical thinking and (best of all!) a teacher-trainer for the current and next generation of primary and secondary educators in my state.

I’m also writing my dissertation on paranormal and pseudoscientific beliefs in teenagers and work with other professionals in the field. All of these things at the same time, yes.

For a good introduction to Ms. Sturgess’ posts, read “Why can’t a teacher be more like a scientist, which addresses some recent articles that comment on the DORE approach to which I’ve referred previously. Link to Ms. Sturgess’ Podblack Cat. Flash of the electrons to Liz Ditz for alerting me to this source. For earlier posts about DORE, see here (2006 Teach Effectively), here (2007 LD Blog), here (2007 LD Blog), here (2006 LD Blog), and here (2005 LD Blog). But, don’t stop there; investigate Liz’s posts about DORE, too.