In this episode, Alex sits down with Sarah Cottingham, author of Ausubel’s Meaningful Learning in Action, for a deep conversation about what it really means to learn — and teach — with purpose.
From the science of meaningful learning and the difference between experience and expertise, to the power of instructional coaching and adaptive expertise, this episode uncovers how great teachers keep getting better.
Together, Alex and Sarah explore the psychology behind real understanding — how students build “mental hooks” that make knowledge stick, why schema matters more than sparkle, and how decision-making sits at the heart of every expert teacher’s practice.
This one goes beyond theory. It’s about the craft of teaching — the small, intentional moves that turn information into insight, and teachers into adaptive professionals.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
🧠 Meaningful Learning Matters: Connecting new ideas to what students already know builds true understanding — not rote recall.
🎯 Experience ≠ Expertise: Time in the classroom isn’t enough; deliberate practice and feedback drive growth.
🏗️ Cognitive Architecture: “Mental hooks” and schema help learners organise, connect, and remember knowledge.
💬 Coaching That Changes Behaviour: Real coaching is about decision-making, not compliance.
🌱 Agency in Teaching: Expertise grows when teachers feel trusted to adapt, decide, and design their own learning journeys.
BEST MOMENTS
“Experience doesn’t automatically make you better — reflection and deliberate practice do.”
“Meaningful learning happens when new ideas connect to old ones.”
“Adaptive expertise isn’t about knowing more; it’s about noticing, interpreting, predicting, and deciding better.”
“Coaching isn’t about telling people what to do — it’s helping them understand why.”
“Teachers plateau when systems stop challenging their professional judgment.”
ABOUT THE GUEST
Sarah Cottingham is a teacher educator, researcher, and author of Ausubel’s Meaningful Learning in Action. She co-hosts the Coaching Unpacked podcast and writes Cognitive Coach on Substack, where she explores the intersection of cognitive science, coaching, and classroom expertise.
CONNECT & CONTACT
Follow Sarah Cottingham
📰 Substack: Cognitive Coach💼 LinkedIn: Sarah Cottingham
Follow Alex Gray / DEEP Professional
🌐 Website: deepprofessional.com📸 Instagram: @deepprofessional🎥 YouTube: The International Classroom💼 LinkedIn: Alex Gray