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April 2025 is Brain Month with my podcast, For Your Ears from the Early Years. ' Starting with this fantastic interview with Dr Shyam Barr, I will be releasing other podcasts and articles focused on how we can maximise learning by supporting children to learn about how their brain works to support their learning.
In this illuminating episode of 'For Your Ears from the Early Years,' host Lili-Ann Kriegler welcomes Dr. Shyam Barr, an educator and researcher specialising in self-regulated learning and metacognition. Dr. Shyam, author of Educate to Self-Regulate: Empowering Learners for Lifelong Success, shares his journey from science teacher to educational leader and researcher, revealing how his perspective shifted from "teaching science" to "teaching young people how to learn science."

As a Professional Associate at the University of Canberra, Shyam bridges the gap between research and classroom practice, drawing on his experience as both a secondary school teacher and an educational leader. His contributions to education have been widely recognised, with the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) selecting him as a New Voice Scholar for Educational Leadership Research. At the same time, The Educator listed him as one of the Most Influential Educators in Australia.

This conversation examines recent research that demonstrates the significant impact of metacognitive interventions on young learners, with effect sizes indicating substantial educational benefits. Dr. Barr introduces his "living room of the mind" metaphor, comparing metacognition to watching television from a couch and controlling it with a remote, thereby making complex cognitive concepts accessible to both educators and students.

The discussion highlights practical classroom applications, including innovative strategies such as the 'golden retriever' memory metaphor and traffic light confidence indicators, which help children as young as three and four develop metacognitive awareness. Dr. Barr delves into fascinating research on the sustainable implementation of metacognitive approaches, revealing key organisational factors that determine whether these approaches become embedded in school culture or remain isolated practices.

Whether you're an early childhood educator, a teacher of older students, or a parent interested in supporting cognitive development, this episode offers valuable insights into how we can help young people become more aware of their thinking processes and develop the skills to control them—essential abilities for academic success and lifelon

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For more information about Lili-Ann Kriegler, go to:
Kriegler-Education
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I respect the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land of the Kulin Nation groups, the Boonwurrung and Bunurong people, where I live, learn, and work.

Lili-Ann Kriegler (B. A Hons, H. Dip. Ed, M.Ed.) is an award-winning author and Melbourne-based education consultant. Her books are 'The Power of Play' for educators and 'Roots and Wings' for parents. Lili-Ann’ is a leader in early childhood education (birth to years), leadership and optimising human thinking and cognition. She runs her consultancy, Kriegler-Education. She is passionate about the early childhood sector and believes in the transformational power of education.
Find out more at https://www.kriegler-education.com.