Teacher Insights from Catalyst, Season 3, Episode 1, with Nathaniel Swain

In this episode, Dr Nathaniel Swain talks about:

• Today’s educational landscape

• His classroom experiences and how teachers can leverage the Science of Learning fundamentals for success

• How educators can strike the right balance between direct instruction and inquiry-based learning in a way that aligns with cognitive science

• What makes feedback effective for learning, and some of the common mistakes teachers make when giving feedback

• His new book Harnessing the Science of Learning

• His charity Think forward Educators

This is a fascinating listen for both those well-versed in the Science of Learning and those eager to learn more.

TES Magazine, June 3, 2025, By Holly Korbey

The reading wars have been “vociferous” in Australia, says author and LaTrobe senior lecturer Nathaniel Swain. University professors who train teachers have been especially resistant to reforms. “They saw phonics as being really backward, and just one part of a range of ways of teaching students to decode or to teach them to make meaning,” Swain says.

Book Review, by Matt Pittman

Harnessing the Science of Learning by Nathaniel Swain, PhD is an engaging guide for educators and leaders aiming to enhance teaching practices through evidence-based strategies. Dr Swain, a Senior Lecturer in Learning Sciences at La Trobe University, brings his extensive experience as a teacher, instructional coach, and researcher to this work, offering practical approaches for key areas of school improvement.

Australian Teacher Magazine, April 22, 2025, By Sarah Duggan

A new podcast that is aiming to blow apart the misconception that explicit teaching is robotic and inflexible is set to hand teachers a ‘front row seat’ to some of the best classrooms in the world.

Launched by prominent NSW school leader Rebecca Birch and LaTrobe University senior lecturer Dr Nathaniel Swain, ‘Chalk Dust‘ will zero in on footage taken from real classrooms to unpack the seemingly subtle but highly impactful ways in which teachers are applying the science of learning.

From Nine to Noon, April 9, 2025

Listen to Nathaniel Swain, a former primary teacher turned education academic, who says streaming classes by ability level is not the way to go to lift achievement. 

School Shorts, Season 1, Episode 7, April 7, 2025, with Melissa Chan Green

The Forgetting Curve is a useful tool in understanding how best to try and remember all the learning that goes on at school - or anywhere for that matter!

Nathaniel Swain is a teacher, researcher and coach of great techniques to help children learn. In this episode he shares the importance of regular review instead of cramming for exams.

The discussion also touches on strategies for supporting young learners, the role of cultural context in education, and the need for personalised learning approaches. This episode will be useful for people of all ages who want to remember things!

The Community Connection Podcast, February 6, 2025, with Nathaniel Provencio and co-host Dr. Eric Worcester

In this episode of The Community Connection, we sit down with Dr. Nathaniel Swain, author of Harnessing the Science of Learning: Success Stories to Help Kickstart Your School Improvement. Dr. Swain, a leading expert in learning sciences, shares insights on bridging research and practice to enhance teaching and student outcomes. We explore key strategies from his book, real-world success stories, and how educators can apply cognitive science to transform their classrooms. Don’t miss this engaging conversation on the power of evidence-based teaching!

Have a Life Teaching Podcast, February 4, 2025, with John Schembari

In some schools, curriculum is prescribed. In other places, teachers put together their own learning materials.

In either case, how do we know that what we are providing students, in terms of materials and content, will promote learning acquisition, extend thinking, and foster creativity? How do we know that it aligns with the science of learning?

In this episode, my guest Nathanial Swain, professor of teaching at La Trobe University and author of the book "Harnassing the Science of Learning", discuss the elements that should be in any knowledge rich curriculum.

Australian Teacher Magazine, February 3, 2025, By Sarah Duggan

TikTok is fuelling a certain type of classroom aesthetic which may not be conducive to learning, one researcher has warned…

La Trobe University's Dr Nathaniel Swain has previously argued that the focus should be on scaling back what’s in classrooms. The less visual ‘noise’ and distraction, the better, he's said.

Knowledge for Teachers Podcast, Season 2, Episode 21, November 17, 2024, with Brendan Lee

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Nathaniel Swain. He returns for the third time and this time it’s to unpack his new book Harnessing the Science of Learning. However, as you will hear, they actually go beyond the book and dig into some of the critical considerations that schools and teachers need to be making. They explore how to make teaching and learning the top priority in your school, reclaiming valuable instructional time often lost to distractions. They also unpack the essential elements of effective literacy and numeracy instruction, going beyond the surface level to understand the importance of a knowledge-rich curriculum, explicit teaching techniques, and structured implementation processes.

They look at why teaching should be “Fun in the service of learning, not in spite of Learning” and some of the common barriers that school leaders face when initiating change.

Progressively Incorrect, Season 4, Episode 10, November 17, 2024, with Zach Groshell, PhD

This episode is a conversation between me and three amazing educators who are making inroads to bring the science of learning to schools across Australia. Most excitingly, we are all contributing authors to the book, Harnessing the Science of Learning by Nathaniel Swain, who, of course, is on the show today and has been on the show before.

Teacher Takeaway Podcast, Season 4, Episode 35, November 9, 2024, with James Gray and Rebecca West

In Season 4 | Episode 35 | We will be unpacking and discussing: How to initiate and maintain a school improvement journey based on the science of how we learn?

In this episode, we are joined by Dr Nathaniel Swain.

Melissa and Lori Love Literacy Podcast, Bonus Episode, November 5, 2024, with Melissa and Lori

The science of learning is what research says about how our brains learn. 
In this episode, Nathaniel Swain discusses the science of learning, emphasizing its connection with the science of reading. 

 He shares:

• key mindset shifts for teachers

• the significance of coherent curriculum planning

• practical strategies like using mini whiteboards and advanced organizers to enhance student engagement and understanding

He also highlights the need for responsive whole-class instruction and the importance of closing learning gaps early in students' educational journeys.

Knowledge Society, October 2024, with Dr Nathaniel Swain

Knowledge Society's Australian School Improvement Summit in Melbourne, October 2024, saw a great gathering of policy-makers, system and school leaders together to discuss how to improve the learning in every classroom in every postcode.

The Educator Australia, October 22, 2024, by Brett Henebery

“Interestingly, and as noted in the report, the Victorian Government is on the front foot of this recommendation and has already released a significant update to the VTLM, referred to as VTLM 2.0,” Dr Nathaniel Swain, Senior Lecturer of Learning Sciences and Learner Engagement at La Trobe University's School of Education, told The Educator.

TRT Podcast, #190, October 20, 2024, with Anna Geiger

The science of reading tells us what to teach; the science of learning tells us how. Dr. Nathaniel Swain, author of the new book, Harnessing the Science of Learning, debunks common myths about how students learn and helps teachers understand how to improve their craft so all students learn.

Seven News Melbourne, October 20, 2024

A trend-setting school in Melbourne’s north-east is spreading the word about a new literacy policy. The approach takes the guesswork out of learning and overturns teaching techniques that were first introduced in the 1870s.

Spellcaster, September 18, 2024, with Nathaniel Swain

Drawing on insights from his upcoming book, Dr Nathaniel Swain shared key takeaways from the successful implementation of the Science of Learning aligned practice, and how you can empower your team to transform their work and their students’ outcomes.

On the road to literacy success, August 15, 2024, with Staci Bain

Welcome back to another episode of Educate's "On the Road to Literacy Success"!

We're thrilled to have you with us as we dive back into the heart of literacy instruction. In Part 2, we're continuing our engaging conversation with the insightful Dr. Nathaniel Swain.

In this episode, we’ll explore the dynamics of whole group teaching, break down the literacy block, and discuss why it's essential to stay flexible and adaptable in your teaching approach. If you're interested in diving deeper into whole class teaching, be sure to check out Dr. Swain's website at nathanialswain.com, grab a copy of his new book, "Harnessing the Science of Learning", and don't forget to visit me, Staci, at GoodHumansEducate.com for your Tier 1 strategy, professional learning, resources, and more.

So, get ready for some valuable insights—let's take a listen, good human!

Learning Matters, August 2, 2024, with Carla McNeil

Dr Nathaniel Swain is a Teacher, Instructional Coach, and Writer. He works as a Senior Lecturer in Learning Sciences at La Trobe University School of Education and SOLAR LAB, and he produces a blog for teachers called Dr Swain’s Cognitorium. Nathaniel has taught a range of learners in schools and universities and founded a community of teachers committed to the Science of Learning: THINK FORWARD EDUCATORS, now 23,000 members and growing. Dr Swain is a sought-after speaker on educational circuits and has a new book in 2024 entitled “Harnessing the Science of Learning: Success stories to help kickstart your school improvement”.

The Bell Ringer, July 13, 2024, with Holly Korbey

Hi, welcome to the Bell Ringer's very first video interview with an expert. I'm journalist Holly Korbey and I'm really excited to have Dr. Nathaniel Swain here today. He's an instructional coach and researcher and author of the book Harnessing the Science of Learning. He's a senior lecturer of learning sciences and learning engagement at La Trobe University School of Education located in Melbourne, Australia, which is where he's at today.

The Saturday Show Live, July 13, 2024, with Jamie Clark

Join me for an illuminating discussion with teacher, researcher, and writer Dr. Nathaniel Swain as we explore the recent science of learning boom in education and unpack effective strategies to boost learning in the classroom.

Australian Teacher Magazine, July 2, 2024, By Sarah Duggan

Whole class teaching has been wrongly deemed an out-of-date and exclusionary instructional approach, but in reality it facilitates equity in the classroom and is more effective than differentiation when done well, one expert says.

According to former primary teacher Dr Nathaniel Swain, now a senior lecturer in learning sciences at La Trobe University, too many Australian teachers do not draw upon responsive and adaptive whole class teaching as a means of catering to classes with diverse learning needs. 

Education HQ, March 18, 2024 by Nathaniel Swain

Do you ever find yourself at a loss for words or battling writer’s block?

Do your colleagues or students submit writing that is unclear or riddled with grammatical errors? It's a common experience and could stem from running short on ideas.

However, this challenge also relates to the cognitive demands of writing. Writing is not just about putting words on paper; it requires a fluency in English sentence structure which many of us lack, as it typically has not been taught in school.

Knowledge for Teachers Podcast, Season 2, Episode 04, March 9, 2024, with Brendan Lee

In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Nathaniel Swain. He currently works at La Trobe University as a Senior Lecturer, Learning Sciences and Learner Engagement and the Director of Undergraduate Academic Programs. He is also the founder of Think Forward Educators. Nathaniel first appeared on the Knowledge for Teachers podcast in season 1 episode 20 and unpacked some of the FAQ about the science of learning. This time they delve into the messy world of teaching writing. He explains how writing is a complex skill and provides practical strategies for sequencing the teaching of grammar and integrating writing into the curriculum.

3AW Melbourne, February 15, 2024, with Ross and Russel

A report has revealed how Australian school kids could improve their “dismal” test performances.

Senior lecturer and director of Academic Programs at La Trobe University, Dr Nathaniel Swan, says there are schools who have changed the way they teach students.

“And you can get better results as a result,” he told Ross and Russel.

Seven News Melbourne, February 14, 2024

Education experts are calling on teachers to get back to basics, to help boost students' falling grades.

Dystinct Magazine, Issue 19, January 14, 2024, By Pamela Snow, Tanya Serry, Nathaniel Swain, Tessa Weadman, Eamon Charles

Pamela Snow, Tanya Serry, Nathaniel Swain, Tessa Weadman, and Eamon Charles, academic staff at the La Trobe University's Science of Language and Reading (SOLAR) Lab explore some key terminology in education.

Knowledge for Teachers Podcast, Episode 21, September 10, 2023, with Brendan Lee

Listen to this live coaching workshop on implementing the science of learning with Dr. Nathaniel Swain and Brendan Lee.

In this session, you will hear from real teachers discussing their real-world challenges in implementing the science of learning. Dr Nathaniel Swain and Brendan Lee then guide the teachers and school leaders through some possible solutions, taking an evidence-informed approach. First, you hear from Ainsley from Mary Mede Catholic College in Victoria who has started to implement a number of evidence-supported strategies and programs but has hit a bit of a plateau. Then you will hear from Sarah and Iona from St. Andrews in Cairns who are right at the start of their science of learning journey.

Webinar Series, July 17, 2023, by OUP Edu-Global

Whether you're looking for expert advice on teaching phonics in the classroom, a simple aligned to letters and sounds library of decodable texts, or proven whole-school phonics program, our phonics webinar series has something for you.