In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I’m joined by Marty Siegel, Professor Emeritus of Informatics and Instructional Systems Technology, and a pioneer whose career bridges early Direct Instruction, large-scale computer-based learning, human–computer interaction, and the emerging world of AI-driven instruction. Marty began his career at the University of Illinois in the 1960s, right at the … Continue reading S5E09: Marty Siegel on Direct Instruction Engineering and the Future of EdTech
Why Direct Instruction Remains Relevant Today
Direct Instruction—note the capital D and I—is the OG of explicit teaching. Back in the mid-1960s, folks at the University of Illinois and later at Oregon arrived at a simple but essential insight: better teaching leads to better learning. As Siegfried Engelmann liked to point out, if students didn’t learn it, the teaching didn’t happen. … Continue reading Why Direct Instruction Remains Relevant Today
Science of Learning Jargon And Element Interactivity
A possible barrier to the science of learning movement is that there are potentially a lot of research terms and definitions that need to be learned in order to communicate clearly with one another. On the one hand, the pursuit of a shared language among educators is worthwhile. If when you say productive struggle, I … Continue reading Science of Learning Jargon And Element Interactivity
S5E08: Doug Lemov on “What to Do” and Active Observation Techniques
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I’m re-joined by Doug Lemov—author of Teach Like a Champion and The Coach’s Guide to Teaching, and one of the most influential figures in the history of education. Doug has spent decades studying what the best teachers do differently—turning the art and science of teaching into something that can … Continue reading S5E08: Doug Lemov on “What to Do” and Active Observation Techniques
S5E07: Denarius Frazier on Belonging, Rigor, and Scaling Effective Teaching
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I’m joined by Denarius Frazier—Regional Superintendent of Instruction at Uncommon Schools, co-author of Reconnect: Building School Culture for Meaning, Purpose, and Belonging, and perhaps the best teacher ever captured on film. Link to blog and video Denarius is one of the most thoughtful and influential voices in the Teach … Continue reading S5E07: Denarius Frazier on Belonging, Rigor, and Scaling Effective Teaching
What’s With the Names?
Every once in a while, I get asked some version of: “Zach, what’s with your titles?” Progressively Incorrect? Education Rickshaw? Just Tell Them? Let me take a moment to unpack the chaotic branding I’ve cobbled together over the years— each name basically a timestamp from a different era of my teaching life, rooted in references … Continue reading What’s With the Names?
S5E06: Jessica Colleu Terradas & Jon Owen on Direct Instruction Without Borders
In this podcast episode, I’m joined by Jessica Colleu Terradas and Jon Owen, two international leaders bringing Engelmann’s Direct Instruction to life in Australia and the UK. This marks a milestone in the Direct Instruction Podcast—our first global double feature exploring what high-fidelity DI looks like beyond the United States. https://youtu.be/eIMhSdeOLsM?si=8w_Skb2LyMqcGg46 Jessica, based in Australia, … Continue reading S5E06: Jessica Colleu Terradas & Jon Owen on Direct Instruction Without Borders
Are Teachers Change Agents?
Today I read Robert Pondiscio’s piece, Public Schools Are Molds Not Platforms, and he’s right about something fundamental: public schools are not platforms for personal expression or ideological performance. They are civic institutions with a public mandate. A teacher in a classroom is not a freelance partisan activist — they are a public servant with … Continue reading Are Teachers Change Agents?
How to Make Coaching Work — Every Time, With Every Teacher
When I first started teaching, I was fortunate. I got paired with two people who made a real difference in my development: a math coach and my mentor teacher. Neither had a formal coaching framework. They didn’t have an evidence-informed approach or shared language for what “good” looked like. Still, they helped me grow - … Continue reading How to Make Coaching Work — Every Time, With Every Teacher
S5E05: Anna Stokke on Where Math Education Went Wrong—and How to Fix It
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I’m joined by Anna Stokke—mathematician, professor, and host of the Chalk & Talk podcast. Anna has become one of the most influential voices calling for a return to clarity, structure, and evidence in math instruction. We explore how her conversations on chalk & talk have shaped—and sometimes challenged—her own … Continue reading S5E05: Anna Stokke on Where Math Education Went Wrong—and How to Fix It
Education Rickshaw 
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