Episode 88: Quick Podcast Updates and a Discussion About Multitasking

The Learning Scientists Podcast

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Show Notes:

In Episode 88, Megan, Cindy, Carolina, and Althea talk about the new direction of the Learning Scientists Podcast, and about multitasking!

We started this podcast a number of years ago, and over time the podcast has morphed and changed. We want to be really intentional about the podcast. To that end, we got together and talked about what we love about the podcast, things we want to do better, and some new ways to spread the science of learning to move people.

We’re going to have three types of podcast episodes:

1. Conversations with students and/or educators about their experiences with the science of learning. With these episodes, we’re really making space for our listeners to hear from others about their experiences while teaching and learning. Of course, in our conversations, we’ll still be talking about the science behind the concepts we’re talking about. These episodes can allow listeners to gain new perspectives, and can even serve as concrete examples of how the science of learning can be applied in various settings.

2. Bite-size research episodes. In these episodes, we’ll focus on peer-reviewed research. One or a few of us will talk through a research paper to bring the science to you, wherever you listen. These episodes may also include guests to talk about their peer-reviewed research on learning, or the research surrounding their area of expertise.

3. Audio-book versions of our blog posts. We know that some people prefer (or must, because of time constraints) listen rather than read. We have hundreds of great blog posts, and we want to bring that content to even more people. So, for some episodes, we will read our blog to create another format for that information to be shared.

If you’re interested in being a guest on our podcast, you can send us a pitch! Please fill out this form. If you’re an educator or student wanting to talk about your personal experiences with the science of learning, we especially want to encourage you to fill it out. Let us know that you’re a student/educator, and how you use the science of learning in your own teaching/learning.

We also talked about multitasking on the podcast, because we know that so many people multitask while listening (in the car, in the shower, while doing dishes, etc.).

We mentioned the Whodunnit video on the episode. You can watch the Whodunnit video here.

Below are some additional resources about mutlitasking from our blog:

• Multitasking and Selective Attention by Althea Need Kaminske

• Engagement and Interest by Althea Need Kaminske

• New Findings Inform the Laptop versus Longhand Note-Taking Debate by Carolina Kuepper-Tetzel

• Focus Tips for Students: How to Effectively Ignore Irrelevant Information, a guest post by Erin Miller