Teachers’ Voices Season 4 Episode 7
Join educational researcher Nina Alonso for this podcast series as she shares powerful stories from teachers around the world, talking in their own words about their own experiences.
Should arts and science come closer together? How are teachers bringing these subjects together in the classroom?
In this episode, Nina talks to Pamela Burnard, Professor of Arts, Creativities and Educations at the University of Cambridge in the UK. “When we look at creative industries, real world practitioners are not sitting in expert siloes, they are collaborating, they are co-authoring”, Pamela says. In medicine, culture, and technologies, people are connecting, she says.
Next, Nina meets Silvana Baico, a primary educator in Uruguay. Silvana connects learning with art and movement, looking for the math and geometry in dance. Silvana also trains teachers in this. “ Teacher training is essential because you give them the kind of fresh air, a sort of renewed desire to do things, to imagine new things”, says Silvana.
Ingrid Delange is a secondary teacher working in Luxembourg. “ If you mix art and mathematics, you can definitely develop creativity”, Ingrid tells Nina. For Ingrid, the surrealist artist Salvador Dalí is a source of inspiration and she uses his work in the classroom. Students are able to see beyond the painting and create their own interpretations of this art.
Lastly, Nina speaks to Akina Lam, a teacher librarian in Hong Kong. “ I believe that by blending maths with stories, we can make it more engaging and accessible for everyone.” She recommends storybooks to children that incorporate mathematical concepts, such as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
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Find out more on BOLD
The education scientist helping children recognize the mathematics all around them – Jake McMullen is developing interventions to support flexible mathematics skills
Gender equity in STEAM starts at school – In this episode of Teachers’ Voices, Nina asks how teachers around the world are inspiring girls in STEAM subjects
What role does spatial thinking play in STEM? Emily Farran explains how STEM skills are improved by by promoting the development of children’s spatial ability
Guests and resources
Pamela Burnard: LinkedIn, Instagram, X, Sculpting New Creativities in Primary Education (book)
STEAM gardens
Silvana Baico: Instagram
Ingrid Delange: LinkedIn
Akina Lam: LinkedIn