Explicit teaching’s ‘robotic’ tag cast aside as new podcast showcases great practice

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.

MagazineNathaniel Swain22 April 2025EducationHQ, Teacher Magazine, 2025Comment

Forgetting to Remember

Forgetting to Remember, April 18, 2022, By Laura Bain

At the recent Matthew Flinders Science of Learning Conference, Nathaniel Swain and Brendan Lee spoke about the challenge of retention and the power of retrieval. They reminded us that learning isn’t about what students are taught - it’s about what they can remember, retrieve and use.

Magazine, MediaNathaniel Swain18 April 20252025, linkedinComment

Streaming in schools doesn't lift achievement: educator

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.

Media, Magazine, RadioNathaniel Swain9 April 20252025, Radio, listenComment

Study tips to combat the 'forgetting curve'

School Shorts, Season 1, Episode 7, April 7, 2025

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!

Media, Magazine, RadioNathaniel Swain7 April 20252025, Radio, listenComment

Marked decline in school students' writing skills

SBS News, October 18, 2022

Listen to Nathaniel Swain, a former primary teacher turned education academic, who says students are coming to a ‘bottle-neck’ with their learning and we need to understand why this is the case.

Media, Magazine, RadioNathaniel Swain18 October 20222025, Radio, listenComment

media & events

Updates from Dr nathaniel Swain

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

Forgetting to Remember, April 18, 2022, By Laura Bain

From Nine to Noon, April 9, 2025

School Shorts, Season 1, Episode 7, April 7, 2025

SBS News, October 18, 2022

© dr nathaniel swain