What mechanical watches made me think about AI I learnt a new word while waiting for my partner to finish looking at watches. The word was FOOM: shorthand for “fast takeoff”, the possibility that …
Oct 07 26October 07, 2026
Article at margaretpaton.medium.com
Dr Amber Hughes, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Newcastle (UON), talks about decolonising mathematics education in Australia. Her work asks whathappens when we look beyond access to the existing curriculum and think more deeply…
Sep 28 26September 28, 2026
Podcast at Out-of-Field Teaching Toolkit Podcast
The Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) has begun its review of the professional teaching standards. Should dispositions be part of the new-look standards? Find out more about my responses (and argument), plus hear an…
Sep 14 26September 14, 2026
A global snapshot of out-of-field teaching research ahead of the free OOFTAS symposium on 16–17 August. This episode highlights emerging themes across eight countries, including teacher identity, subject boundaries, professional learning, and…
Aug 03 26August 03, 2026
Borrow, Don’t Buy: The Rise of Australia’s Libraries of Things Across Melbourne, people are borrowing drills, lawn mowers, pressure washers, camping gear, sewing machines, party kits, and even …
Jul 29 26July 29, 2026
Katrina Davey, an experienced Humanities teacher, curriculumwriter and former faculty leader, cuts through the idea that teaching lower-secondary humanities only requires “general knowledge”. Drawing on her book Humming Along, she explains why…
Jul 21 26July 21, 2026
Find out what's involved in a mid-candidature review as I review my exploration into out-of-field teaching over the past 2.5 years.
Jul 06 26July 06, 2026
Numeracy may be a cross-curriculum priority in youreducation system — but what does that actually mean for teachers who don’t teach maths? Dr Kathy O’Sullivan from the University of Galway in Ireland argues that when schools expect every teacher to…
Jun 22 26June 22, 2026
Out-of-field teaching is rarely one neat experience. One lesson, one junior class, one senior subject, one term or five years all place different demands on teachers. This 100th episode draws on teacher interviews, podcast conversations, PhD thinking…
Jun 08 26June 08, 2026
Out-of-field teaching isn’t just about subjects — it’s about stepping into learning spaces where you don’t have all the answers yet. Career pathways mentor (and qualified teacher) Jack Pennoyer has spent more than a decadedoing exactly that, working…
May 25 26May 25, 2026
If you’re new to this podcast — or just want an update on my PhD research into out-of-field teaching — this episode’s probably a good place to jump in. I share a profile piece I recently wrote for Deakin University’s Centre for Research for…
May 11 26May 11, 2026
Dr David Bryan brings more than four decades of classroom, leadership and governance experience to a candid conversation about out-of-field teaching. A school founder and veteran educator, he argues that teaching is “messy and complex” — and that…
Apr 27 26April 27, 2026
My original career was in journalism—and it’s still part of what I do today. In that world, you’re judged by what you produce; expertise follows the work. In teaching, recognition is more tightly tied to qualifications and formal roles, which creates…
Apr 13 26April 13, 2026
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…
Mar 30 26March 30, 2026
Out-of-field teaching in mathematics and science is the focus of my PhD, and this episode lifts the lid on how the data collection actually works. I take you inside the current phase of the project, systematically gathering Reddit discussions where…
Mar 16 26March 16, 2026
Grammar sits inside every subject — yet many teachers quietly feel “out of field” when it comes to teaching it. In this episode, U.S. grammar specialist and author Patty McGee shares a radically practical approach to grammar thatreplaces worksheets…
Mar 03 26March 03, 2026
A PhD progress update on my Reddit field site and methodological “rewilding”, followed by a deep dive into a new systematic review showing that while teacher distribution between schools may be improving, inequities inside schools remain stubborn —…
Feb 16 26February 16, 2026
Dr Susan Caldis (Macquarie University) and Kathy Jones (Fieldwork Connections) unpack the launch of a new micro-credential designed specifically for out-of-field geography teachers in New South Wales, Australia.The microcred was developed from Dr…
Feb 02 26February 02, 2026
Season 7 of the Out-of-Field Teaching Toolkit brings together global experts, teachers and system leaders to explore the realities of teaching out of field. This opener shares early insights from a pilot study of Australian teacher discussions…
Jan 20 26January 20, 2026
Ending season six with this ep. When maths feels like it’s having an identity crisis, Allan Dougan is one of the fewvoices insisting that mathematics is still a deeply human endeavour. In this episode, the CEO of the Australian Association of…
Dec 22 25December 22, 2025
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