Reimagining Our Pedagogy Conversations

Drew Perkins talks with education journalist and author Holly Korbey to explore the complex intersection of cognitive science and progressive pedagogy. While the "Reading Wars" often dominate headlines, Drew and Holly dig deeper into the underlying tensions between explicit, knowledge-rich instruction and the desire for student-led inquiry.

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The heart of this conversation focuses on bridging the gap between human cognitive architecture and the ideals of inquiry-based learning. Holly and Drew discuss the "false dichotomy" that often pits these two approaches against each other. They explore how a deep foundation of background knowledge is actually the essential fuel that makes high-level inquiry possible.

Holly shares insights into how schools are successfully integrating these worlds. They discuss "engineering the discovery," where teachers use explicit instruction to build the necessary schema, then step back to allow students to engage in meaningful inquiry. This episode serves as a roadmap for moving beyond tribalism and toward an integrated model of teaching.

Timestamped Episode Timeline

• [00:04:15] Introduction to Holly Korbey – From education reporting to researching civic education.
• [00:10:45] The Tension Between Science and Inquiry – Why cognitive science and progressive ideals are often viewed as being at odds.
• [00:16:30] Knowledge as the Engine of Inquiry – How building robust long-term memory allows for more complex questioning.
• [00:23:15] The "Both/And" Approach – Moving past tribal camps to find a balance between guidance and agency.
• [00:32:05] Schema Building in Early Years – Why content-rich instruction is vital for developing critical thinkers.
• [00:41:40] Navigating Controversial Topics – Using cognitive tools to facilitate deep inquiry into "hard history."
• [00:50:55] Reimagining Professional Learning – Shifting staff discussions from "tools" to pedagogical philosophy.
• [01:06:40] Practical Advice for Educators – How to integrate cognitive load principles into an inquiry classroom.
• [01:13:20] Closing Remarks – Where to follow Holly's work.