What if some of the most important things students learn in your classroom… aren't on your syllabus? In this episode of The What & Who of EDU, we're unpacking the hidden curriculum, the life skills students develop alongside your course content.

From learning how to actually listen and ask better questions, to navigating uncertainty, analyzing trade-offs, and staying in the discomfort of real learning, these are the skills that stick long after the final exam. Built from real educator insights, this episode gives you clear, practical ways to recognize, name, and reinforce the skills you're already teaching every day.

Brought to you by Macmillan Learning

Episode Breakdown + Timestamps

[01:23] Listen for Meaning

[03:08] Stop Apologizing for Asking

[05:01] Explain It Like a Human

[6:19] Ask "How Do You Know?"

[8:32] Look Behind the Number

[11:15] Work Without the Answer Key

[13:52] Question the Answer

[17:36] Hold What You Know Loosely

[19:30] Resilience

[22:10] Don't Panic When It Gets Hard

[25:22] Don't Lose the Wonder

🎓Featured Educators

Dr. Christin Monroe is an Educational Research Associate at the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She previously taught Chemistry at Landmark College with a focus on supporting neurodivergent learners.

Jennifer McAllister Duncan is an Associate Professor of English at Georgia State University's Perimeter College. She has been teaching English literature and composition for twenty-five years and specializing in online teaching for fifteen.

Dr. Daniel Look is the Charles A. Dana Professor of Mathematics at St. Lawrence University. He's the author of Math Cats and has spent over 25 years trying to convince students that math is not only useful, but occasionally fun.

Dr. Jennifer Ripley Stueckle has spent the past 17 years as a Teaching Professor and Non-Majors Biology Program Director at West Virginia University. She has taught introductory biology, immunology and human physiology and also created biology courses offered through dual enrollment at West Virginia high schools.

Dr. Erika Martinez is a Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida, where she has taught economics for 14 years. She's passionate about making economics accessible and engaging for all students and also teaches at UNC-Kenan Flagler Business School's MBA@UNC online program and Santa Barbara City College.

Dr. Ryan Herzog is an Associate Professor of Economics, Program Coordinator, and Faculty Fellow at Gonzaga University, where he has been teaching for 16 years. He's co-authored "Principles of Economics" and his work focuses on macroeconomics, financial markets, and public policy.

Dr. Star Sinclair is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Florida Gulf Coast University. For 18 years, she has taught general psychology, lifespan development, behavioral statistics, and research methods in psychology to students of all backgrounds and preparation levels.

Dr. Sara Lahman is a Professor of Biology and STEM Outreach Coordinator at the University of Mount Olive. She has over a decade of experience in STEM education, curriculum design, and research, and is passionate about creating engaging learning experiences that connect science to real-world applications.

Betsy Langness is the Psychology Department Head at Jefferson Community and Technical College, where she has worked for more than 20 years. She teaches general and developmental psychology courses in a virtual, asynchronous environment.

Mary Gourley is a psychology instructor at Gaston College with over 16 years of teaching experience. She also teaches gender, human sexuality, and social psychology courses at New Mexico State University's Global Campus.

Dr. Dave Myers is one of the most widely read psychology authors in the world. He is known for helping students better understand the wonders of human behavior, memory, emotion, and thought.

Join the Conversation

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