What actually makes learning happen? And in a world where AI can increasingly do the hard work for us, which parts of that work should students still do themselves?

The episode was recorded for Education Talk Radio on the Be Podcast Network, and we're excited to share it with you. Host David Cicero spoke with John Hattie, the renowned researcher behind Visible Learning. They discuss why struggle matters, why students need more than one strategy for learning, and why schools may spend too much time thinking about teaching and not enough helping students understand the learning process itself.

The conversation also turns to AI—not simply whether schools should use it, but when students should use it, when they shouldn’t, and what happens when technology begins doing the thinking that produces learning in the first place.

Listen and subscribe to Education Talk Radio: https://edutalk.transistor.fm

Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time.

These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

Recorded live at ISTE 2026, Transformative Principal host Jethro Jones sat down with Mike Anderson to discuss his new book, Hugging Porcupines: Month-by-Month Strategies to Support Our Most Challenging Students. The episode was recorded as a simulcast for Transformative Principal and The Authority.

They explore why some students disengage, resist connection, and act out — and how teachers can respond with strategies built on the "three-legged stool" of academic engagement, respectful discipline, and positive relationships. The conversation covers building classroom rules collaboratively, the difference between consequences and punishments, and why problem-solving conferences (not just sending kids to the office) are key to real behavior change.

Mike was previously a guest on episode 12 of The Authority, discussing his book Tackling the Motivation Crisis.

Learn more about today's sponsor, Playworks:

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time.

These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.