What if the secret to better learning isn’t just reading and writing, but talking?  

In this episode, recorded live from the 2025 Literacy Summit, join Dr Yael Leibovitch from the University of Queensland Critical Thinking Project and Professor Ian Wilkinson from the Ohio State University as they discuss how dialogic teaching can spark critical thinking, boost engagement, and help students feel more connected to their learning.

This episode is aimed at primary and secondary school teachers. For preschool educators, listen to our episode with Professor Louise Paatsch.

Key takeaways:

• Talk as a learning tool: Classroom discussion helps students internalise ideas, build comprehension, and develop problem-solving skills.
• Building a culture of inquiry: Establishing a safe, collaborative learning environment encourages students to take intellectual risks and engage deeply.
• The future of dialogic pedagogy: AI is playing an increasing role in professional development, helping teachers analyse discourse and refine their facilitation skills.

Ian Wilkinson - Quality talk about text to support critical and creative thinking

Yael Leibovitch - A dialogic approach to writing pedagogy