Ben Preston
@prestonscience.bsky.social
Hopeful mycophile & basic birder. Biology (etc) teacher and Head of Science in E Oxford. Does it help learning, meaning-making, and connection? Lifelong nature lover 🌳 🐜 May be occasional dog pics
Reposted by Ben Preston
Inspired by The Writing Revolution, here's a physics version of but, because, so: readingforlearning.org/2025/06/26/a...
June 26, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Inspired by The Writing Revolution, here's a physics version of but, because, so: readingforlearning.org/2025/06/26/a...
Reposted by Ben Preston
1. A story. Please read.
Reposts hugely appreciated on this. You'll see why in a bit.
I was born in Pakistan and lived there until I was 4. My parents worked there as doctors. While we were there we were very close to a couple called Christine and Mike Miles.
Reposts hugely appreciated on this. You'll see why in a bit.
I was born in Pakistan and lived there until I was 4. My parents worked there as doctors. While we were there we were very close to a couple called Christine and Mike Miles.
June 11, 2025 at 5:49 PM
1. A story. Please read.
Reposts hugely appreciated on this. You'll see why in a bit.
I was born in Pakistan and lived there until I was 4. My parents worked there as doctors. While we were there we were very close to a couple called Christine and Mike Miles.
Reposts hugely appreciated on this. You'll see why in a bit.
I was born in Pakistan and lived there until I was 4. My parents worked there as doctors. While we were there we were very close to a couple called Christine and Mike Miles.
Reposted by Ben Preston
New from me.
Would getting rid of EHCPs make things better?
Maybe. But the risks are huge.
bennewmark.wordpress.com/2025/06/02/e...
Would getting rid of EHCPs make things better?
Maybe. But the risks are huge.
bennewmark.wordpress.com/2025/06/02/e...
EHCPs, J S Mill and the Tyranny of the Majority
A few years ago, in the Golden Era of Edu-Twitter, Berny Andrews and I suggested the Department of Education needed a team of philosophers. We were only half joking. Very often the success or failu…
bennewmark.wordpress.com
June 2, 2025 at 3:09 PM
New from me.
Would getting rid of EHCPs make things better?
Maybe. But the risks are huge.
bennewmark.wordpress.com/2025/06/02/e...
Would getting rid of EHCPs make things better?
Maybe. But the risks are huge.
bennewmark.wordpress.com/2025/06/02/e...
Reposted by Ben Preston
A fascinating keynote to start the day at #cogscisci from @drgarethbates.bsky.social
He argues that now is the right time to push back a bit and dig underneath (and dissect) the science of learning
Looking in detail at Ebbinghaus and that famous curve (which actually wasn't a curve)
He argues that now is the right time to push back a bit and dig underneath (and dissect) the science of learning
Looking in detail at Ebbinghaus and that famous curve (which actually wasn't a curve)
May 30, 2025 at 9:02 AM
A fascinating keynote to start the day at #cogscisci from @drgarethbates.bsky.social
He argues that now is the right time to push back a bit and dig underneath (and dissect) the science of learning
Looking in detail at Ebbinghaus and that famous curve (which actually wasn't a curve)
He argues that now is the right time to push back a bit and dig underneath (and dissect) the science of learning
Looking in detail at Ebbinghaus and that famous curve (which actually wasn't a curve)
Really pleased I made the effort to get to #CogSciSci today (and thank you @mrarobbins.bsky.social for letting me in 😇)
Great to connect with like minded, hardworking folk obsessed with how to teach well, with a healthy science bias.
And to put the world to rights with @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social
Great to connect with like minded, hardworking folk obsessed with how to teach well, with a healthy science bias.
And to put the world to rights with @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social
May 30, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Really pleased I made the effort to get to #CogSciSci today (and thank you @mrarobbins.bsky.social for letting me in 😇)
Great to connect with like minded, hardworking folk obsessed with how to teach well, with a healthy science bias.
And to put the world to rights with @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social
Great to connect with like minded, hardworking folk obsessed with how to teach well, with a healthy science bias.
And to put the world to rights with @drwilkinsonsci.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Preston
Your weekend read ↓
Why questioning in lessons often fails (and what to do about it)
#EduBlogUK #EduSky #UKEd
Why questioning in lessons often fails (and what to do about it)
#EduBlogUK #EduSky #UKEd
New blog post ↓
Why questioning in biology lessons often fails (and what to do about it)
#iTeachBio #SciTeachUK
cmooreanderson.wixsite.com/teachingbiol...
Why questioning in biology lessons often fails (and what to do about it)
#iTeachBio #SciTeachUK
cmooreanderson.wixsite.com/teachingbiol...
Why classroom questioning often fails (and what to do about it)
Questioning often leads to confused students who don't participate. To counter this confusion we need to establish, what Tsui calls, common ground (2004). And there is an elegant method that solves th...
cmooreanderson.wixsite.com
May 24, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Your weekend read ↓
Why questioning in lessons often fails (and what to do about it)
#EduBlogUK #EduSky #UKEd
Why questioning in lessons often fails (and what to do about it)
#EduBlogUK #EduSky #UKEd
I like the idea of shared resources that are focused on well-crafted questions.
Then teachers can focus on planning their explanations and the way they ask and get responses to those questions… food for thought with gained time around the corner!
Then teachers can focus on planning their explanations and the way they ask and get responses to those questions… food for thought with gained time around the corner!
New Blog Post 📝
Too much time is wasted on the what in education rather than the how.
Centralising your department's resources frees up time for teachers to focus on what truly matters!
This is why we centralise our resources and why you should too 👇
#EduSky
inquestion.co.uk/2024/11/21/c...
Too much time is wasted on the what in education rather than the how.
Centralising your department's resources frees up time for teachers to focus on what truly matters!
This is why we centralise our resources and why you should too 👇
#EduSky
inquestion.co.uk/2024/11/21/c...
Centralised Resources: Less Time Planning, More Time Teaching
Centralising educational resources enhances teaching effectiveness by providing a consistent repository of materials. This approach fosters collaboration, allows for flexibility, and ensures all st…
inquestion.co.uk
May 20, 2025 at 8:52 PM
I like the idea of shared resources that are focused on well-crafted questions.
Then teachers can focus on planning their explanations and the way they ask and get responses to those questions… food for thought with gained time around the corner!
Then teachers can focus on planning their explanations and the way they ask and get responses to those questions… food for thought with gained time around the corner!
Reposted by Ben Preston
My first action in my current post 7 years ago was changing from end of topic tests to just two summative assessments per year, allowing everyone to focus on teaching better and improving the quality of low stakes, frequent retrieval practice in every lesson.
No complaints, results much better now👍
No complaints, results much better now👍
May 18, 2025 at 8:10 PM
My first action in my current post 7 years ago was changing from end of topic tests to just two summative assessments per year, allowing everyone to focus on teaching better and improving the quality of low stakes, frequent retrieval practice in every lesson.
No complaints, results much better now👍
No complaints, results much better now👍
Reposted by Ben Preston
How we’ve tried to make professional development more regular and relevant
open.substack.com/pub/shaunall...
open.substack.com/pub/shaunall...
Mind The Gap
How can we support a more regular and relevant approach to teacher development?
open.substack.com
May 12, 2025 at 8:23 PM
How we’ve tried to make professional development more regular and relevant
open.substack.com/pub/shaunall...
open.substack.com/pub/shaunall...
Reposted by Ben Preston
New Blog
Subject Knowledge - Our Greatest Treasure
samstrickland384843542.wordpress.com/2025/04/20/s...
Subject Knowledge - Our Greatest Treasure
samstrickland384843542.wordpress.com/2025/04/20/s...
Subject Knowledge: Our Greatest Treasure
My reasoning for writing this blog is to champion the cause and case of subject knowledge. Some will question why. Some will cite but that’s so obvious isn’t it or shout out but of course subject k…
samstrickland384843542.wordpress.com
April 20, 2025 at 8:39 PM
New Blog
Subject Knowledge - Our Greatest Treasure
samstrickland384843542.wordpress.com/2025/04/20/s...
Subject Knowledge - Our Greatest Treasure
samstrickland384843542.wordpress.com/2025/04/20/s...
This year’s birthday cake
March 23, 2025 at 9:48 PM
This year’s birthday cake
Reposted by Ben Preston
Extraordinary blogs with lots of excellent ideas.
Two very useful blogs from David Thomas on SEND policy.
Part 1: The SEND Crisis
Why children are getting worse care, more slowly at greater cost
open.substack.com/pub/thingsda...
Part 1: The SEND Crisis
Why children are getting worse care, more slowly at greater cost
open.substack.com/pub/thingsda...
The SEND crisis
Why children are getting worse care, more slowly, at greater cost
open.substack.com
February 22, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Extraordinary blogs with lots of excellent ideas.
Movies you’ve watched more than six times, gifs only
February 20, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Movies you’ve watched more than six times, gifs only
If you feel like you’re competing with everyone, of course you’ll get stuck in “us vs them” thinking. But are you?
Or are we actually, mostly, on the same side?
I wrote about the myth of competition.
open.substack.com/pub/explaini...
Any feedback, here or in the comments, welcome 🙏
Or are we actually, mostly, on the same side?
I wrote about the myth of competition.
open.substack.com/pub/explaini...
Any feedback, here or in the comments, welcome 🙏
You are not in competition with everyone else
The challenge of overcoming the myth of competition, so we can build something better for everyone.
open.substack.com
February 20, 2025 at 6:43 PM
If you feel like you’re competing with everyone, of course you’ll get stuck in “us vs them” thinking. But are you?
Or are we actually, mostly, on the same side?
I wrote about the myth of competition.
open.substack.com/pub/explaini...
Any feedback, here or in the comments, welcome 🙏
Or are we actually, mostly, on the same side?
I wrote about the myth of competition.
open.substack.com/pub/explaini...
Any feedback, here or in the comments, welcome 🙏
Reposted by Ben Preston
If you need some positive science in your feed, check out @nerdychristie.bsky.social’s piece about how we can use #conservation dogs to find fungal diversity, inspired by the first #truffle paper my sister and I co-authored.
www.science.org/content/arti...
🧪🌎 #mycology @ecol-evol.bsky.social
www.science.org/content/arti...
🧪🌎 #mycology @ecol-evol.bsky.social
February 1, 2025 at 8:06 PM
If you need some positive science in your feed, check out @nerdychristie.bsky.social’s piece about how we can use #conservation dogs to find fungal diversity, inspired by the first #truffle paper my sister and I co-authored.
www.science.org/content/arti...
🧪🌎 #mycology @ecol-evol.bsky.social
www.science.org/content/arti...
🧪🌎 #mycology @ecol-evol.bsky.social
#SciTeachUK
Personally this is one of a few things I’m excited about this year - CLEAPSS developing guidance on using slime mould in schools.
@cmooreanderson.bsky.social can you think of ways to use it in biology teaching?
Look at that action shot!
@cleapss.bsky.social 🙏
Personally this is one of a few things I’m excited about this year - CLEAPSS developing guidance on using slime mould in schools.
@cmooreanderson.bsky.social can you think of ways to use it in biology teaching?
Look at that action shot!
@cleapss.bsky.social 🙏
Friday afternoon practical fun at @cleapss.bsky.social - if slime moulds do indeed count as fun- I’m sure Team Chemistry would object to that definition!
Absolutely incredible shots showing cytoplasmic streaming
Absolutely incredible shots showing cytoplasmic streaming
January 20, 2025 at 10:45 PM
#SciTeachUK
Personally this is one of a few things I’m excited about this year - CLEAPSS developing guidance on using slime mould in schools.
@cmooreanderson.bsky.social can you think of ways to use it in biology teaching?
Look at that action shot!
@cleapss.bsky.social 🙏
Personally this is one of a few things I’m excited about this year - CLEAPSS developing guidance on using slime mould in schools.
@cmooreanderson.bsky.social can you think of ways to use it in biology teaching?
Look at that action shot!
@cleapss.bsky.social 🙏
RIP David Lynch 🫀
January 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM
RIP David Lynch 🫀
Reposted by Ben Preston
I think schools are the part of that ecosystem that have on the whole stayed most consistent, stable and predictable. I worry very much that pressure to solve problems outside our gift could damage that.
January 2, 2025 at 8:37 AM
I think schools are the part of that ecosystem that have on the whole stayed most consistent, stable and predictable. I worry very much that pressure to solve problems outside our gift could damage that.
Reposted by Ben Preston
A conscientious objector during the war, he was imprisoned for civil disobedience in 1943. That year, he spoke at a pacifist gathering, ‘We need to temper the “prophetic gloom” into which we are apt to descend, with a proper and joyful humanism.’
January 2, 2025 at 1:51 PM
A conscientious objector during the war, he was imprisoned for civil disobedience in 1943. That year, he spoke at a pacifist gathering, ‘We need to temper the “prophetic gloom” into which we are apt to descend, with a proper and joyful humanism.’
Reposted by Ben Preston
Today, 100 years ago (January 1, 1925) was the day we found the universe. The detailed story of that day is magnificently told in Marcia Bartusiak's book 'The Day We Found the Universe.' We refer to her book in #ReinventionofScience.🧪⚛️🔭
January 1, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Today, 100 years ago (January 1, 1925) was the day we found the universe. The detailed story of that day is magnificently told in Marcia Bartusiak's book 'The Day We Found the Universe.' We refer to her book in #ReinventionofScience.🧪⚛️🔭
Reposted by Ben Preston
If you haven't seen this EXCELLENT blog about learning, check it out.
A copy of that Model of Memory is super useful to print out, pin on the board, point to a lot.
Classic quote from one of my Ss:
'Miss, I think I just made a line!'.
#cogscisci
#iteachphysics
researched.org.uk/2018/09/26/f...
A copy of that Model of Memory is super useful to print out, pin on the board, point to a lot.
Classic quote from one of my Ss:
'Miss, I think I just made a line!'.
#cogscisci
#iteachphysics
researched.org.uk/2018/09/26/f...
From neuroscience to the classroom | ResearchED
Can neuroscience add anything to our understanding of the classroom? And what should teachers make of it? Efrat Furst looks into how this lens might prove useful in the future. [...]Read More...
researched.org.uk
December 31, 2024 at 6:47 PM
If you haven't seen this EXCELLENT blog about learning, check it out.
A copy of that Model of Memory is super useful to print out, pin on the board, point to a lot.
Classic quote from one of my Ss:
'Miss, I think I just made a line!'.
#cogscisci
#iteachphysics
researched.org.uk/2018/09/26/f...
A copy of that Model of Memory is super useful to print out, pin on the board, point to a lot.
Classic quote from one of my Ss:
'Miss, I think I just made a line!'.
#cogscisci
#iteachphysics
researched.org.uk/2018/09/26/f...
A truly tiny forest
I saw this @mosssafari.bsky.social and thought of you.
December 31, 2024 at 2:04 PM
A truly tiny forest
@daisychristo.bsky.social interesting - looks like these scores were made using a type of comparative judgement, with councillors given pairs of MPs to rate as more left or right wing!
December 31, 2024 at 2:03 PM
@daisychristo.bsky.social interesting - looks like these scores were made using a type of comparative judgement, with councillors given pairs of MPs to rate as more left or right wing!
Reposted by Ben Preston
If you're interested in energy/climate you've probably heard the nugget that "kerosene/crude oil helped save the whales", by reducing demand for whale oil in lanterns.
I've even trotted it out myself🤦♂️
But it turns out it's NOT true.
Here's what actually happened edconway.substack.com/p/no-kerosen...
I've even trotted it out myself🤦♂️
But it turns out it's NOT true.
Here's what actually happened edconway.substack.com/p/no-kerosen...
No, Kerosene did NOT save the Sperm Whale
How we carried on exploiting sperm whales long after the conventional wisdom said we'd stopped. Forgotten Material #1
edconway.substack.com
December 30, 2024 at 7:29 AM
If you're interested in energy/climate you've probably heard the nugget that "kerosene/crude oil helped save the whales", by reducing demand for whale oil in lanterns.
I've even trotted it out myself🤦♂️
But it turns out it's NOT true.
Here's what actually happened edconway.substack.com/p/no-kerosen...
I've even trotted it out myself🤦♂️
But it turns out it's NOT true.
Here's what actually happened edconway.substack.com/p/no-kerosen...