Podcasts by The Best Of Our Knowledge

#1676: Writings from incarcerated individuals | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2022-11-04T14:59

A new anthology of creative writings by incarcerated individuals in Northern New York, and in a seasonal project, an attempt pressing apple cider at home.

#1675: Making the outdoors open to all | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2022-10-28T15:00

On this episode of The Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll learn more about a report from the Open Space Institute that examine...

#1672: Ornithology | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2022-10-07T15:00

Andrew Farnsworth is a senior research associate at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and has led a career that’s focused on migration and how bir...

#1671: Unionization at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago from 2022-09-30T15:00

From Amazon warehouses to the galleries of major cultural institutions, unionization has seemingly undergone a sort of revitalization during the pandemic.

The National Labor Relations ...

#1670: Outsider art explained from 2022-09-23T15:00

If the academy, gallery system and museums have the power to define and promote art, the countless works that are ignored make up an entire genre of their own.

Despite it being used fo...

#1669: Trees store trove of useful data from 2022-09-16T15:00

Whatever allure trees might hold, they also have scads of data stored within their trunks.

Daniel Griffin, an assistant professor of geography at the University of Minnesota, recently ...

#1668: Production of microchips in U.S. could be changing from 2022-09-09T15:17

Jesús del Alamo, a professor in electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, began studying semiconductors in the 1970s.

The field’s obviously developed signifi...

#1673: School libraries and free speech | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2022-07-08T15:00

PEN America, a nonprofit focused on free speech and expression through the written word that was founded in 1922, has been at the forefront of the debate over censorship through decades and shif...

#1639: Rediscovering the forgotten 14th colony | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2022-02-21T08:53:49

When Betsy Ross designed that flag with 13 stars and 13 stripes, everyone at the time knew there was a lot more land out there and there would likely be additions coming. However, at the time, ther...

#1638: The NEA, The SAT and The National Guard | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2022-02-11T11:55:25

Teachers are getting burned out and leaving the profession in droves. A new survey released this month from the National Education Association illustrates this problem with hard data.


Listen

#1637: Cash assistance and brain development | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2022-02-04T00:00

With extending the child tax credit still a big topic on the news, a report from an ongoing clinical trial suggests that children of mothers who get regular cash assistance have...

#1636: The science of at-home COVID testing | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2022-01-31T10:43:12

At-home testing for infectious diseases is a hot topic. The President has authorized the purchase of millions of at-home COVID-19 tests for Americans, but at-home testing is not new. At home tests ...

#1635: A life in pediatrics | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2022-01-24T09:55:40

Let’s get this part out of the way first: yes, Dr. Mark Vonnegut is Kurt Vonnegut Jr’s son. And today we are going to talk about a new book that he has written. But this isn’t the great American no...

#1634: Paving the way | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2022-01-17T12:41:41

When Apollo 11 landing on the moon they indeed stepped where no man has gone before. But once they got there, they didn’t go far.



Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll learn ...

#1633: The forgotten story of Clinton Melton | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2022-01-10T00:53:31

A few weeks back we spoke about the murder of Emmett Till and what it meant to the civil rights movement. But history tends to repeat itself. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, a story about a les...

#1632: The coolest people we met this year | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2022-01-03T01:31:02

On our last episode of the year we usually look back at some of the coolest people we met over the year. This year, three of those people were all on the same segment. This week on the Best of Our ...

#1631: Some of our favorite stories of the year | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-12-24T15:00

Every year around this time we look back at some of our favorite stories of the year. There were an awful lot to choose from this time around, so the choice came down to what we could fit in this h...

#1630: Telling stories – a university Griot project | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-12-17T15:00

The MyStory Griot Project at the University of West Florida draws from the oral and written practices of sharing stories. A griot is a storyteller. In West African tradition, the griot is the one w...

#1629: The Stephen Sondheim Encyclopedia | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2021-12-13T09:19:49

If you make a list of the most important names in American culture in the latter half of the 20th Century, Stephen Sondheim has to be right near the top. When he received the Presidential Medal of ...

#1628: Training and tapping a forgotten labor force | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-12-03T15:00

You see the signs everywhere. Now hiring, help wanted, sign-on bonus…it looks like everyone is trying to hire new employees. Except, of course, if you are actually looking for a job. Then you see t...

#1627: What’s the good word? | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-11-27T15:00

Back in February, NASA successfully landed the Perseverance rover on Mars. The pictures it transmitted back to Earth of the red planet were spectacular, and captured the imagination of millions. It...

#1626: “The Atlas of a Changing Climate” | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2021-11-20T02:14:19

The world is a pretty big place and it’s the size of the planet that can sometimes make climate change a difficult concept for a lot of people to wrap their heads around. A new book is trying to kn...

#1625: What’s wrong with the PhD | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2021-11-14T02:08:27.392005

Every year students around the country work hard, sacrifice, and study to earn their PhD. But is earning that ultimate degree worth it? What's wrong with the PhD?

#1623: Paying for College | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2021-11-12T02:16:32.149373

For most families, paying for college takes a ton of planning, saving, and understanding terms you’ve never heard before, or will ever hear again.



In a recent survey by The Princ...

#1624: Manna Food Pantries and school resource officers team up to help ‘hangry’ kids | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2021-11-12T02:16:32.147947

Students in the western Florida Panhandle who get sent to see their school’s resource officer may get more than a meeting. They may get a snack. The School Resource Officer Food Program is the brai...

#1620: Exploring the “B” in LGBTQ | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-10-25T01:27:26.560

Despite the increasing visibility of LGBTQ people in American culture, our understanding of bisexuality remains superficial. Young people are increasingly rejecting traditional labels altogether. S...

#1621: Retrofitting the ‘burbs | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-10-25T01:27:26.557444

We’ve all seen them. Aging, deserted strip malls and retail shops are not only pretty ugly but are also taking up valuable real estate that could be put to better use. Finding those better uses is ...

#1622: Remembering Emmett Till| The Best of Our Knowledge from 2021-10-25T01:27:26.552776

When talking about the civil rights movement in the south, the name Emmett Till is bound to come up. His murder is widely remembered today as one of the most brutal lynchings ever in the US. But wh...

#1619: Can We Measure Student Success…And Should We? | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-10-05T01:43:48.955507

When you first take a look at it, the issue of measuring student learning appears to be an educational problem: what and how much do students actually learn? But when you investigate the educationa...

#1618: Princeton Review’s 2022 Best 387 Colleges | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2021-09-28T01:27:17.690568

For 30 years, The Princeton Review has been publishing a comprehensive list of what they determine to be the best colleges in the country. The list is the result of thousands of interviews with stu...

#1617: Ya Gotta Have Heart | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-09-20T08:45:58.867242

When Bill Schutt writes a book, it tends to get messy, at least his non-fiction books. His first was called “Dark Banquet” which dealt with vampire bats and other creatures who feed on blood. To fo...

#1616: Remembering James Loewen | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-09-10T12:37:04

This week, since it was first published in 1995, James W Loewen’s book “Lies My Teacher Told Me – Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong” has sold over 2 million copies. In 2018, a new...

#1615: Along Came Google | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-09-03T13:07:59

This week on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll explore the digitization of libraries.



The dream of creating a universal library has been around since there have been libraries. In...

#1614: The Rise Of The Machines | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-08-27T16:47:43

Education technology has come a long way from the very first attempts a century ago. This week, we’ll explore the history of teaching machines.



Today we think nothing of seeing l...

#1613: The Supply Chain | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-08-20T13:05:51

This week, We suspect that as you go about your day-to-day life, the global supply chain is not something you give a lot of thought to. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has upset that supply chain to...

#1612: The Rabbi, The Choirmaster And The Pandemic | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-08-13T11:44:22

The numbers of ways educators were able to do their jobs and serve their students during the COVID-19 pandemic is probably equal to the number of educators that exist. Just about every teacher has ...

#1611: Degree Discrimination And Adirondack History | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-08-06T18:55:01

We hear a lot today about lots of job openings and not enough workers, but many companies are blocking a good chunk of the country from even applying: people without college degrees. This week on t...

#1610: Women ALMOST On The Supreme Court | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-07-30T19:00

Since the Supreme Court ended its session in June, all eyes are on Justice Stephen Breyer. If he were to retire, it would give President Joe Biden a chance to fulfill one of his major campaign prom...

#1609: Children’s Summer Reads On Media Literacy And Bugs | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-07-23T19:00

This week, a new children’s book takes on media literacy. We’ll also hear about a pair of kid’s books about the insect world.



A puppy has lost his bones, and the search is on to ...

#1608: Road Trips On The Moon | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-07-16T19:00

When Apollo 11 landed on the moon they indeed stepped where no man has gone before. But once they got there, they didn’t go far. This week on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll learn about the develo...

#1607: Dream Jobs & Virus Variants | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-07-09T19:00

What’s your dream job? Chances are that over the years the answer to that question has changed. Those are the questions that Dr. Kevin Hoff tries to answer in his new research paper in the Journal ...

#1606: Trying To Reason With Critical Race Theory | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-07-02T19:00

Many states have either passed or proposed bans on teaching Critical Race Theory in schools. The bills seem to have less to do with education and more to do with political culture wars. But what ex...

#1605: Disrupting LGBTQ Dignity | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-06-25T19:00

While transgender students may be the target of new laws around the country, the impact of those laws could spread a lot further. This week, a discussion on LGBTQ dignity.




<...

#1604: The Future Of Summer School | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-06-18T19:00

There are two words that strike fear into every young student’s heart: summer school. But, many educators around the country are trying to change that. In fact, the goal could be to have students a...

#1603: Transgender Students & Transgender Health | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-06-11T19:00

Whether they are allowed to play sports or not, there are trans children attending schools across the country. These students, as well as all transgender people have specific health care needs as w...

#1602: Reasoning With Hurricane Season | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-06-04T19:00

June first was the beginning of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. Over the past few years, there it seems there have been more, and more powerful hurricane hitting the United States, and scenes of mas...

#1601: Alexander Graham Bell & The Deaf World | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-05-28T19:00

This week, Any grade school student can tell you that Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. But that’s not how Bell would have described his career. He saw himself as a teacher, specificall...

#1600: No-Excuses Charter Schools | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-05-21T19:00

This week, silent, single-file lines. Detention for putting a head on a desk. Rules for how to dress, how to applaud, how to complete homework. Walk into some of the most acclaimed urban schools to...

#1599: Education Secretary Miguel Cardona Speaks | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-05-14T19:00

When Joe Biden selected Connecticut Education Commissioner Dr. Miguel Cardona to be his Education secretary he fulfilled a campaign promise; to name an educator with public school experience as his...

#1598: The Path To Free College | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-05-07T19:00

College is expensive. Really expensive. I suspect you did not need me to tell you this. And it is a problem as more jobs are demanding a college degree. So what if college was free? There’s a growi...

#1597: Balancing The Books With Big Brothers/Big Sisters | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-04-30T19:00

One of the biggest holes in a young person’s high school education may be navigating their own financial life. But a partnership between a local Big Brothers/Big Sisters chapter and Navy Federal Cr...

#1596: The Stephen Sondheim Encyclopedia | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-04-23T19:00:25

In the three decades, this program has been on the air we’ve talked about science, math, history, literature, and education policy and theory. But not this week. This week, we’re talking show tunes...

#1595: Teaching, And Reaching, Students In Recovery | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-04-16T19:00:43

Most young people can be at some risk for substance abuse, regardless of their genetics. According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, teen drug addiction is the nation’s most ...

#1594: A Taste Of Honey On The Page | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-04-09T19:00:25

Taking over a century of children’s stories and assembling a comprehensive collection is quite an undertaking. Now, make those stories that were originally written in Yiddish, and you end up with a...

#1593: The History Of The Brain | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-04-02T19:00:47

There’s a whole lot going on inside our head that we don’t understand. Don’t feel bad, there are a lot of world-class experts that are just as puzzled about what makes the human brain tick. Bret St...

#1592: Teacher Unions & Social Justice | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-03-26T19:00:14

As the role of teacher unions evolve over the years, some members are continuing to push for action.

This week on the Best of Our Knowledge, a labor leader talks about teacher unions and t...

#1591: Getting Social With Social Workers | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-03-19T19:00:53

Did you know that March is Social Workers’ month? Do you know what a social worker does? Not many people do, and a lot of people who think they do get it wrong. So to find out about how these profe...

#1590: Colleges For Students Who Learn Differently | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-03-12T20:00:23

Not every student learns the same way, but given the proper attention, they can all learn.

Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll talk to the founders of a guide to colleges for student...

#1589: The Forgotten 14th Colony | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-03-05T20:00:07

If you say “the thirteen colonies”, pretty much everyone knows you’re talking about America before the revolutionary war. But there’s more to that historic and geographic story.

This week,...

#1588: The Fight For Free Speech | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-02-26T20:00:10

In our age of digital communication, social upheaval, and political division, the issues surrounding our First Amendment rights are more complicated and controversial than ever. A lot of people are...

#1587: Teachers Want Vaccines | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-02-19T20:00:50

As we approach the end of a full year of COVID shutdowns, teachers are looking to get back to normal. This week on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll get the results of a survey from the country’s la...

#1586: The Price We Pay For College | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-02-12T20:00:50

Paying for college is one of the largest financial commitments you’ll ever make. It’s also one of the most emotional. Ron Lieber wants to help show a path around these very personal land mines. Ron...

#1585: College Admissions During COVID | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-02-05T20:00:53

One thing we all learned last year is that the coronavirus pandemic has dramatically shifted the college experience.

This week on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll talk to the editor of the...

#1584: An Outlet For Students With Parents In Prison | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-01-29T20:00:48

Nearly 3 million children in the US have at least one parent in prison. Family incarceration has devastating effects on kids, from raising their level of poverty to a higher risk of school dropout ...

#1583: Another Look At Hyper Education | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-01-22T20:00:07

There is a small but growing world of high-achievement education giving rise to after-school learning centers, spelling bees, and math competitions.

Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’...

#1582: The Author Fan Face-Off | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-01-15T20:00:22

Steve Sheinkin is a Newbery award-winning children’s author who made annual visits to schools to meet and read with students. When the pandemic forced him to cancel his usual travel plans last year...

#1581: The World Needs A New PhD | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-01-08T20:00:52

The PhD degree lies in ruins. That’s the first sentence of a preview written about the new book called THE NEW PhD: How to Build a Better Graduate Education. The authors feel the PhD needs to quick...

#1580: Looking Back On 2020 – Keeping Dracula In The Family | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2021-01-01T20:00:11

Taking on the family business can be pretty interesting when the business is curating the legacy of the most notorious vampire in literature. Dacre Stocker is the great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker, ...

#1579: Looking Back On 2020 – Artists Expanding Our Minds | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-12-25T20:00:07

If you’ve ever seen a cartoon in your life you’ve probably seen the work of Ron Campbell. Beginning in the late 1950s in his native Australia, Campbell had a fifty-year career as an animator and di...

#1578: A Book Of Knowledge & Getting Into College | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-12-18T20:00:49

There are many things that we have had to learn to live without here in 2020, but there is one annual tradition that will not be stopped by the corona. It’s the annual World Almanac and Book of Fac...

#1577: 2 Students, 2 Ways Of Learning | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-12-11T20:00:09

The past couple of weeks we have explored distance learning from the instructors' and the parents’ point of view. Looks like it’s time to hear from the students.

This week on The Best of O...

#1576: The Distance Learning Playbook | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-12-04T20:00:47

Now that sending your kids off to school means sending them to the dining room, people need guidance on how to make this new way of learning actually work.

This week on The Best of Our Kno...

#1575: Teaching For The Future In The Adirondacks | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-11-27T20:00:58

Two educators at a northern New York college are about to roll out some new workshops to help today’s teachers meet the needs of today’s students. This week on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll lear...

#1574: Study – Gender Bias In Teacher Assistant Assessments | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-11-20T20:00:59

In the Fall of 2019, a class had two teaching assistants, one male, and one female. At the end of the semester, the students scored the male TA higher on course evaluations, while the female TA got...

#1573: The Science Of James Smithson | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-11-13T20:00:14

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex. It is a beloved part of American culture. But its founder, a British scientist named James Smithson, neve...

#1572: Staying Positive In A Pandemic |The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-11-06T20:00:44

There’s a course at Towson university in Maryland that teaches a class in positive psychology. This week on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll learn how this class stays positive during a pandemic. Listen

#1571: The Science Of Planetary Health | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-10-30T19:00:03

Protect the health of the planet and you protect your own health. That’s an extremely boiled down version of the new book called Planetary Health – Protecting Nature to Protect Ourselves. The emerg...

#1570: The Hidden Habits Of Genius | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-10-23T19:00:17

What does it take to be called a genius? If you’ve given that any thought at all you’ve probably come up with some pretty abstract answers and qualifications. But in his new book called The Hidden ...

#1569: The Link Between Education & Democracy | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-10-16T19:00:14

It’s no secret, America’s public schools are not having a stellar year. As the country continues to grapple with COVID-19, economic uncertainty, and social unrest, securing the funding needed to en...

#1568: The Campus Color Line | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-10-09T19:00:20

As the civil rights movement of the mid-20th century made its way onto college campuses, the leaders of those institutions needed to find a way to keep the peace while making big changes.

...

#1567: Students, Lists & Documentaries | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-10-02T19:00:16

This week on The Best of Our Knowledge, we learn about the Marist Mindset List.

We also hear how students can enter a video competition from C-SPAN, get help for veterans with stress, and ...

#1566: The Past, Present & Future Of AP | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-09-25T19:00:04

In-person or online, more students than ever are taking AP classes in high school meaning more ambitious goals for many schools.

This week on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll replay a conv...

#1565: Constitutional Comics | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-09-18T19:00:25

A few years back, we spoke to the authors of a book called Fault Lines in the Constitution – The Framers, their Fights and the Flaws that Affect Us Today. The book pointed out the faults in the con...

#1564: Shortlisted, Women & The Supreme Court | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-09-11T19:00:33

Sandra Day O’Connor made history as the first woman on the US Supreme Court. But women have been considered for the court since the 1930s.

This week on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll ope...

#1563: Back To School With Google | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-09-04T19:00:06

Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll hear about distance learning tools brought to us by Google.

We’ll also talk about one of the roadblocks to distance learning: broadband internet a...

#1562: Reopening Higher Ed During COVID | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-08-28T19:00:06

This week on the Best of Our Knowledge, we'll talk about a new survey from The Princeton Review about how top colleges are planning on reopening for the Fall.

We’ll also visit a university...

#1561: Dealing With The Pandemic From A To Gen Z | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-08-21T19:00:51

This Week on the Best of Our Knowledge, a report on the pandemic and Generation Z.

We’ll also talk to a college president, who also happens to be a global health expert, about reopening he...

#1560: The Longest Summer, Childhood Hunger Amid COVID | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-08-14T19:00:01

This week on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll speak to the director of No Kid Hungry, about their new study on childhood hunger.





No Kid Hungry is a national campaign wo...

#1559: Reopening Schools Amid COVID-19 | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-08-07T19:00:14

This week on The Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll hear the results of a Junior Achievement survey. The survey discusses reopening schools amid COVID-19.

We’ll also learn how the army is adjust...

#1558: School Librarians Fight COVID Slide | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-07-31T19:00:34

This week on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll hear about the fight against COVID slide.



Summer slide happens every year. When students return to school they lost just a bit of th...

#1557: Skills 21 & Teacher Hiring In A Recession | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-07-24T19:00:49

Skills 21 is a program in Connecticut that has challenged students to innovate and be creative for years. Earlier this year, along with the rest of us, they had to change their program.

To...

#1556: Abandoned: America’s Lost Youth | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-07-17T19:00:59

Nearly five million young people, more than 10 percent of youth aged sixteen to twenty-four, experience entry into adulthood as abrupt abandonment.

This week on The Best Of Our Knowledge, ...

#1555: Demagogue – The Life Of Senator Joe McCarthy | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-07-10T19:00:51

On this week's The Best Of Our Knowledge, we’ll talk about the new biography Demagogue - The Life and Long Shadow Of Senator Joe McCarthy, by author Larry Tye.



For a short time b...

#1554: The Segregationist History Of School Choice | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-07-03T19:00:25

Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll hear about the segregationist history of the school choice movement.



School choice has been an explosive issue since the day the term wa...

#1553: Deepwater Horizon: 10 Years Later | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-06-26T19:00:47

The Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig exploded in April of 2010. But it was 10 years ago this month that the oil began showing up on the shore.

Today on The Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll h...

#1552: The Slave Who Went To Congress | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-06-19T19:00:10

This week on The Best Of Our Knowledge, we speak with the authors of a new picture book The Slave Who Went To Congress.

The book shares the story of Benjamin Sterling Turner, who was born ...

#1551: Birds, Books & Technology | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-06-12T19:00:55

On this week's The Best Of Our Knowledge, we discuss birds, a pre-k book program, and terrifyingly awesome technology.



Dr. Kevin McGowan is an Ornithologist at the Cornell Lab of...

#1550: “The Decade of Progressive Change” | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-06-05T19:02:51

This week on The Best Of Our Knowledge, Dr. Charles Suhor discusses his new book “Creativity and Chaos: Reflections on a Decade of Progressive Change in Public Schools, 1967 – 1977”. He says that w...

#1549: Scientists Divided On Antibody Tests | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-05-27T17:05:53

The next phase of testing for COVID-19 will be testing to see if people have antibodies for the virus. But some scientists have written a paper saying “slow down”.

This week on the Best of...

#1548: “Hyper Education” | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-05-27T16:59:24

There is a small but growing world of high-achievement education giving rise to after-school learning centers, spelling bees, and math competitions.

Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’...

#1547: School And Work Schedules Compete | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2020-05-26T10:51:16

School and work schedules compete for time and space in the home right now.



Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll hear how books and stories are helping to keep the peace. Listen

#1546: Grant Fowlds’ “Saving The Last Rhinos” | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2020-05-10T03:24:54

To understand how life developed and thrived in prehistoric times; it’s a pretty good idea to start by saving the life that’s still walking around. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, conservationi...

#1544: COVID-19: How Students Are Learning & Will Med Schools Change? |The Best of Our Knowledge from 2020-04-24T19:21:37

As students around the country finish the school year at home, many are finding it takes discipline to stay on task.



Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll hear from a high sc...

#1543: COVID-19 & Teachers Stepping Up | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2020-04-16T20:14:59

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted schools across the country and teachers are stepping up. We’ll hear from a teacher’s union leader and an educator about how programs are adapting.

Listen

#1542: Scientists Leading The Fight Against COVID-19 | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2020-04-09T14:13:45

The fight against COVID-19 happening in clinics, hospitals and testing sites, first began in a clinical lab.



Next time on The Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll talk with a microbiolog...

#1541: “Switching To Online” | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2020-04-06T06:49:31

The coronavirus has forced colleges and universities to switch to online classes and that’s forced teachers and students to adapt in a hurry.





Today on the Best of Our K...

#1540: “Getting Graphic About Having A Bipolar Disorder” | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-03-30T18:24:56

So you’re a successful cartoonist and you want to tell the story of your life with bipolar disorder, what do you do? Ellen Forney started drawing. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll talk abo...

#1539: “Surfing Vietnam & Finding Your EDGE” | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2020-03-26T21:30:16

A pair of film makers from Florida has explored the history of the Vietnam War from an interesting perspective: surfing.



Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we follow the journey...

#1538: “A Disconnected Generation” | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-03-13T20:27:42

Most students look forward to building a life and becoming independent, but for millions of young adults that opportunity seems far away.

Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll hear abo...

#1537: “Why They Still Can’t Write” | The Best of Our Knowledge from 2020-03-06T20:26:09

There is still a feeling that the quality of writing from today’s students is not what it should be. The issue may not be with the students. Next time on The Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll hear why i...

#1536: “Keeping Dracula In The Family” | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-02-27T18:12:05

Studying history, including your own family history, can be fascinating. And if one of your ancestors wrote the original novel "Dracula," well, how cool is that? (more…)

#1535: “Preparing Taxes For College Credit” | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-02-21T22:51:45

Want to teach accounting students about real world tax returns? Send them out in the real world to do people’s taxes. That's what students at a Florida university are doing, they're volunteering wi...

#1534: Coral Reef Life & Detecting The Coronavirus | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-02-15T07:03:59

The world’s coral reefs are magnificent living organisms that are teaming with all forms of sea life. Today on The Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll talk to one of the leading scientists studying the re...

#1533: “Test Scores VS. GPAs – And Animating The Beatles” | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-02-07T21:48:34

A significant number of colleges are basing their admissions on a student’s grades rather than test scores. (more…)

#1532: “Educated for Freedom” | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-01-30T15:02:39

As we head into Black History Month we’ll hear stories about Harriet Tubman, Nat Turner and Dr. King. But there are so many other fascinating stories to tell. (more…)

#1531: Does College Still Work? | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-01-30T14:44:35

There are students who, due to lack of interest or ability, are just not ready for college. That can make a huge difference in their future. (more…)

#1530: “The History Of Impeachment” | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-01-16T17:28:42

For the fourth time in American history, congress has started impeachment proceedings against the president. However, this is not a new or particularly American experience. (more…)

#1529: The Death And (possible) Rebirth Of An Indy | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-01-10T20:00:04

One of the best ways to educate yourself about a community is to read, watch or listen to their local media. But independent local media outlets are becoming scarce. (more…)

#1528: Nancy Brigham’s “A Fragile Enterprise – Yesterday’s Schools And Tomorrow’s Students”| The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2020-01-04T07:19:49

One of the things I love about producing this program every week is I get to meet and talk to some really fascinating people who are way smarter than I am. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll...

#1527: “Best Of 2019” | The Best Of Our Knowledge from 2019-12-27T21:18:37

Coming to the end of the year is a good time to look back at some our favorite conversations of 2019, including one about the impact of science on the cold war.

(more…)

#1526: Paul Kitagaki’s “Behind Barbed Wire” from 2019-12-20T20:00:25

After the start of World War II, more than 110 thousand Japanese-Americans were rounded up and taken to desolate detention camps. For most of us this is a dark stain on American history. For Paul K...

#1525: Two Researchers With Two Very Different Approaches To Alzheimer’s from 2019-12-13T21:45:29

We can accumulate a lifetime of knowledge and lose it all to Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers continue to look for ways to combat this loss. (more…)

#1524: Felicia Darling’s “Teachin’ It! Breakout Moves that Break Down Barriers for Community College Students” from 2019-12-06T20:00:24

Most students whose high school career was all about college preparation likely don’t end up in community college. That means teachers at community colleges have challenges that university instruct...

#1523: Dr. Lydia Pyne’s “Genuine Fakes – How Phony Things Teach Us About Real Stuff” from 2019-11-29T20:00:20

Whenever we hear the word fake these days, the mental reflex is to think the word news. But fakes have been a part of society, well pretty much forever. It’s the history of fakes that we’re talking...

#1522: “Sing A Rhythm, Dance A Blues” from 2019-11-25T15:25:40

In 2016, Dr. Monique W. Morris examined the experience of black and brown girls in school with her book “Pushout - The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools”. We spoke to her about the book whe...

#1521: “Flip-Flops And Microwaved Fish” from 2019-11-14T19:00:33

So you’ve just figured out how to survive in college and now it’s time to take on the business world. That presents a whole new bucket of issues.
(more…)

#1520: “Do Devices Delay Development?” from 2019-11-08T20:00:38

We love our devices. Phones, tablets, games, fit bits…there’s a gadget or gizmo to keep us busy at all times. But is that helpful?Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll hear how our devices may ...

1519: “Better Life Through Gaming” from 2019-10-31T14:26:13

Video games are everywhere. The industry continues to grow, and the games themselves do serve a purpose. (more…)

#1518: “Revisiting The City Of A Million Dreams” from 2019-10-25T19:00:30

A city as unique as New Orleans is bound to have a colorful history. Next time on The Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll talk about the characters who created this unique American city. (more…)

#1517: “Learning In The AP Fast Lane” from 2019-10-18T19:00:45

More students than ever are taking AP classes in high school. That means more ambitious goals for many schools. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, a conversation about the past, present and future...

#1516: Academic Badges & School Safety from 2019-10-12T19:00:30

If you attend college looking for vocational training, you may end up with a degree, a certificate, and maybe a special badge in empathy. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, a conversation about ac...

#1515: Sean Connolly’s “Terrifyingly Awesome Technology” from 2019-10-02T18:02:30

Advances in technology over the past decade or two have been amazing, rapid, and for many of us, terrifying. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll talk about a new book "Terrifyingly Awesome Te...

#1514: “The History Of American Higher Education Since World War 2” from 2019-09-25T20:01:54

#1513: “Did AOC Author The New Deal?” from 2019-09-20T19:00:26

#1512: Going Back To School Safely from 2019-09-10T21:34:23

#1511: “The Baltimore Algebra Project” from 2019-09-05T06:00:14

#1510: “The 5-Paragraph Essay Must Die!” from 2019-08-27T21:27:23

There is a feeling in the academic community that the quality of writing from today’s students is not what it should be. But is it a deeper problem? Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll hear w...

#1509: Mindfulness, Coloring Books & Labs from 2019-08-23T19:34:27

Students try lots of different methods to prepare for tests including mindfulness. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, a look at how test prep is changing. We’ll also hear how some New York student...

#1508: “Can Generous Thinking Save The University?” from 2019-08-15T17:05:58

With all the social and political issues facing the country, can universities be a big part of the solution? Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll look at one road map to a solution that includ...

#1507: “How’s The Constitution Holding Up?” from 2019-08-08T18:00:45

The United States constitution has been written and argued about for over two centuries. And there are some who think a lot of those arguments are being put to the test as we speak. Today on the Be...

#1506: “Sunshine State Edition” from 2019-07-30T15:31:54

Florida is not exactly the biggest travel destination in August, but we like to take the road less travelled here. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll talk a university diversity officer who ...

#1505: Cracks In The Ivory Tower from 2019-07-26T19:00:05

American colleges and universities are sometimes called ivory towers, self-contained communities with high minded ideals. But they are still run by people, and people can be pretty awful sometimes....

#1504: Remembering Dr. Karen Hitchcock from 2019-07-24T15:43:16

A celebrated educator who once led the University at Albany, New York passed away this month. She also co-hosted this program for about a decade. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we remember Dr....

#1503: “Remaking High School” from 2019-07-12T18:44:59

A pair of researchers traveled the country to find an innovative high school that engaged their students. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll learn what they found and how they say the U.S. s...

#1502: “Lies My Doctor Told Me,” New Literacy Program Leader, Summer School Garden from 2019-07-03T13:44:33

One of the biggest challenges a new doctor faces comes right at the beginning: medical school. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll talk about continuing education with Dr. Ken D. Berry, who c...

#1501: An Exit Interview From SUNY Plattsburgh President Dr. John Ettling from 2019-06-28T19:00:20

The long time president of a northern New York university is calling it quits and looking back on the changes he’s worked through. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, an exit interview from SUNY Pl...

#1499: “The SAT Adversity Index” from 2019-06-07T19:00:32

The SAT will soon feature a new score, your adversity index. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll talk about what this means for college admissions. We’ll also learn about school based health ...

#1498: “Late Bloomers” Achieving Success at a Young Age from 2019-05-31T19:00:04

We hear a lot about young people achieving early success. But is that putting pressure on all the non-prodigies out there. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll talk about students who are late...

#1495: “Evaluating Schools For Tomorrow’s Students” from 2019-05-17T19:00:53

After decades of visiting and evaluating schools across the country, one education researcher has some ideas. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll talk about preparing yesterday’s schools for ...

#1494 “A Look At Dementia” from 2019-05-10T21:00:55

Dementia can take a life of learning and memories and toss them away forever. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll talk about dementia with the Alzheimer’s Association and a physician who beca...

#1493 “SKYPE In The Classroom” from 2019-05-03T21:00:53

Teachers around the world looking for new ways to reach more students have found one…right on their lap tops. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll hear how a Florida university is planning to ...

#1492: “The Untold Story Of The Atlanta Cheating Scandal” from 2019-04-26T21:00:44

The longest and most expensive trial in the history of the state of Georgia had nothing to do with robbery, rape or murder. It involved teachers, erasers and a whole lot of history. Today on the Be...

#1491: “Learning The West African Beat” from 2019-04-20T00:00:48

Early this year, Jordan Taylor Hill traveled to Senegal and Guinea to expand his musical training. It wasn’t the first time his passion for drumming took him to West Africa. Today on the Best of Ou...

#1490: “The Future Of Academic Freedom” from 2019-04-12T19:00:19

Is academic freedom under attack in American colleges and universities? Next time on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll talk about academic freedom and how it’s not the same a freedom of speech. We’l...

#1489: “Raising White Kids” from 2019-04-05T21:00:35

When it comes to teaching young people about race relations and racism, children of color get the talk at a much younger age. Today on the Best of Our Knowledge, we’ll discuss the need for educatin...

#1488: “Revisiting The Written Word” from 2019-03-29T20:00:32

I have a large stack of books on my desk right now, and I’m looking forward to reading through them and reporting back to you on what one or two of them have to say. So for now, let’s talk about on...

#1487: “The Hunt For Commies In New York Schools” from 2019-03-22T20:00:38

Stop me if you’ve heard this before. Politicians and pundits start accusing teachers of being socialists and indoctrinating students into their nefarious way of thinking, and demand an investigatio...

#1486: “The Quest For Bean” from 2019-03-15T20:00:52

Without coffee, the entire educational system would collapse. Sure, that may sound like hyperbole, but if you’ve ever sat through an 8 am chemistry lecture on a Monday morning you’d be nodding in a...

#1485: “A Life In History” from 2019-03-08T21:00:12

You may have noticed, but in the last few months we’ve been talking a lot about history. It’s not because it was my favorite class (spoiler alert – it was). But it’s because out of all the academic...