Out-of-Field Teaching Toolkit Podcast

#95 ASTA President Margaret Shepherd on inquiry, explicit teaching and science pedagogy

45 min · 30. mar. 2026
episode #95 ASTA President Margaret Shepherd on inquiry, explicit teaching and science pedagogy cover

Description

Margaret Shepherd, the immediate-past president of the Australian Science Teachers’ Association unpacks what science teaching actually looks like in real classrooms. Drawing on decades of experience as a science teacher, school leader and national advocate, she explains why inquiry remains science’s signature pedagogy — and why it has never been separate from explicit teaching. Margaret speaks candidly about the risks of reducing science to scripts and PowerPoints, the growing problem of syllabus creep, and how misrepresentations of “explicit teaching” are shaping policy and practice. She also reflects on whatout-of-field science teachers need most: professional trust, mentoring, and the space to exercise judgement in complex classrooms. Links: https://asta.edu.au/ [https://asta.edu.au/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] — Thenational body supporting science educators across Australia. AustralianScience Teachers Association [https://asta.edu.au/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] https://asta.edu.au/asta-position-paper-inquiry-vs-explicit-teaching-misrepresentation/ [https://asta.edu.au/asta-position-paper-inquiry-vs-explicit-teaching-misrepresentation/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] — https://asta.edu.au/courses/ [https://asta.edu.au/courses/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] ASTA’sNational ProfessionalStandards for Highly Accomplished Teachers of Science https://www.stawa.net/public/29/files/Resources/Teachers%20Toolkit/ASTA%20national%20professional%20standards%20for%20highly%20accomplishedteachers%20of%20science%20%282002%20document%29.pdf [https://www.stawa.net/public/29/files/Resources/Teachers%20Toolkit/ASTA%20national%20professional%20standards%20for%20highly%20accomplishedteachers%20of%20science%20%282002%20document%29.pdf]   AustralianScience Teachers Association official websitepositionpaper on inquiry vs explicit teachingASTAprofessional learning & resources

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108 episodes

episode #101 Dr Kathy O’Sullivan: Why numeracy is a life skill everyone needs beyond the maths classroom artwork

#101 Dr Kathy O’Sullivan: Why numeracy is a life skill everyone needs beyond the maths classroom

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#97 Trust, mentoring and pedagogy: Dr David Bryan on what out-of-field teachers really need

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