Summary

In this episode, Shannon Valenzuela, Dr. Jeff Lehman, and Dr. Andrew Seeley explore the retrieval of the quadrivium and its significance in classical education, particularly in mathematics and science. They discuss their personal journeys in mathematics, the transformative power of the quadrivium, and the importance of integrating imagination and reason in learning. They emphasize the need for a community of educators to foster a deeper understanding of these subjects, and offer suggestions for teaching. The discussion also touches on the moral implications of education and the beauty inherent in mathematics and the arts.

Topics Covered:

• The creative retrieval of the Quadrivium
• The Quadrivium and the formation of the intellect and imagination
• The importance of fellowship among teachers
• Beauty and structure are integral to the arts and sciences.
• The Quadrivium and its contribution to moral formation

Today's Guests:

Jeffrey S. Lehman is co-founder and Dean of Fellows at the Boethius Institute and Professor of Philosophy and Theology and Director of the M.A. in Catholic Education program at the Augustine Institute’s Graduate School of Theology. He is the founder and President of the Arts of Liberty Project, a Founding Fellow of the Center for Thomas More Studies, and he has taught at Biola University, Thomas Aquinas College, Hillsdale College, and the University of Dallas. He is the author of numerous publications, including Socratic Conversation: Bringing the Dialogues of Plato and the Socratic Tradition into Today’s Classroom.

Andrew Seeley is co-founder and President of the Boethius Institute. He also serves as the Director of Advanced Formation for Educators at the Augustine Institute. Over his three decades as a Tutor at Thomas Aquinas College in California, Dr. Seeley taught every subject in its integrated Great Books curriculum. Dr. Seeley co-founded the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education in 2005, where he served as Executive Director for 12 years. He became Executive Director of the Arts of Liberty Project in 2021. He was named the 2023 recipient of the Circe Institute’s Paideia Prize.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to the Quadrivium and the Boethius Institute
03:21 The Creative Retrieval of the Quadrivium
07:16 The Importance of the Quadrivium in Classical Education
12:09 Transformative Experiences in Teaching the Quadrivium
16:27 Understanding the Four Arts of the Quadrivium
20:52 The Role of Imagination in the Quadrivium
23:23 The Interplay of Reason and Imagination
33:46 Mathematics and Moral Formation
39:18 Reimagining Mathematics Education
43:38 Favorite Resources
48:11 Conclusion

University of Dallas Links:

• Classical Education Master’s Program at the University of Dallas: udallas.edu/classical-ed
• St. Ambrose Center Professional Development for Teachers and Administrators: https://k12classical.udallas.edu/

Resources Mentioned in Today's Episode:

More on the Quadrivium Retrieval: https://quadriviumretrieval.org/

Francis Su, Mathematics for Human Flourishing

Stratford Caldecott, Beauty for Truth's Sake

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Summary

In this conversation, Shannon Valenzuela and John Mays explore the principles of teaching science classically. They discuss the importance of beauty to the work of education, the importance of textbook design, and the need for a mastery-oriented curriculum that emphasizes long-term retention of knowledge. Mays introduces his Wonder-Integration-Mastery model for science education, which serves as a framework for teaching that integrates various disciplines and fosters the development of wisdom and virtue in students. The conversation highlights the role of teachers in modeling honesty and virtue, and the importance of effective communication in the classroom.

Topics Covered:

• The role of beauty and wonder in education
• Textbook design
• The Wonder-Integration-Mastery model in education
• Integration of disciplines enriches the learning experience
• The end of a classical education: wisdom and virtue
• Self-reflection and modeling for teachers

Today's Guest:

John D. Mays spent 14 years in industry in engineering and engineering management in the areas of electrical, controls, and telecommunications systems and has completed graduate degrees in Secondary Education (MEd) and Liberal Arts (MLA). John served as the Math-Science Department Chair at Regents School of Austin from 2001 until 2009, when he became Director of the Laser Optics Lab at Regents. He founded Novare Science in 2009 and Centripetal Press in 2015, both of which became part of Classical Academic Press in 2019. John is the author and editor of numerous student science texts and teacher resources.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
04:24 Introduction to Science Education and Curriculum Development
06:18 The Cram-Pass-Forget Cycle
11:39 Mastery-Based Teaching Model
13:55 Textbook Design Philosophy
17:41 The Importance of Beauty in the Education Environment
23:05 Wonder, Integration, and Mastery in Science Education
34:38 Distinctions between Modern and Classical Education
40:40 The Importance of Self-Reflection for Teachers
53:21 Modeling Virtue: The Teacher's Role
55:28 Conclusion

University of Dallas Links:

• Classical Education Master’s Program at the University of Dallas: udallas.edu/classical-ed
• St. Ambrose Center Professional Development for Teachers and Administrators: https://k12classical.udallas.edu/

Resources Mentioned in Today's Episode:

From Wonder to Mastery: A Transformative Model for Science Education

Centripetal Press: https://centripetalpress.com/

Novare Science (Classical Academic Press): https://classicalacademicpress.com/collections/novare-science

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If you enjoyed the show, please leave a rating and review — it helps others find us!

Summary

In this conversation, Shannon Valenzuela, Robert Puschautz, and AnneMarie Johnson explore the profound role of art in education, emphasizing its ability to connect beauty with truth and goodness. They discuss the artist's vocation as a divine calling, the importance of constraints in fostering creativity, and how beauty serves as a powerful tool for evangelization. The conversation also highlights the necessity of creating beautiful learning environments and integrating art into various subjects, and the deep desire for human authenticity in the age of AI.

Resources & Links:

• Stabat Mater Foundation

Topics Covered:

• Art and teaching students to appreciate beauty
• The vocation of the artist
• Art and evangelization
• Beauty and our environment
• The rise of AI and the desire for authentic human experiences

Today's Guests:

Robert Puschautz is a representational artist based out of Tyler, Texas. He received his bachelor’s in Painting and Art Education from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and continued his studies in classical painting at the Ravenswood Atelier in Chicago. He is the Executive Director of Stabat Mater Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is the renewal of beauty in our world and culture by praying for and supporting artists. To see more of his work visit robertpuschautz.weebly.com.

AnneMarie Johnson’s work focuses on the relationship between finitude and transcendence in the human experience. She graduated from the University of Dallas in 2018 with a B.A. in Art - Painting. In 2024 she completed the three-year Classical drawing and painting program at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts. Additional studies include classical drawing at the Florence Academy of Art, U.S., and graduate painting and art history at the University of Dallas (2021). AnneMarie is currently the Art Fellow and an instructor of drawing at the Stabat Mater Foundation in Tyler, TX.

Timestamps:

02:26 The Mission of the Stabat Mater Foundation
04:18 Bringing Beauty into Education
06:49 Art as a Reflection of Divine Creation
12:02 Art as a Means of Evangelization
22:27 Co-Creating with God: Integrating Beauty and Intellect
24:48 Training Discernment: Truth, Goodness, and Beauty
28:33 Bringing Art into the Classroom
33:30 The Human Connection: Art in the Age of Technology

University of Dallas Links:

• The Way of Beauty (Season Two, The Quest television series): quest.udallas.edu
• Classical Education Master’s Program at the University of Dallas: udallas.edu/classical-ed
• St. Ambrose Center Professional Development for Teachers and Administrators: https://k12classical.udallas.edu/

Resources Mentioned in Today's Episode:

Ever Ancient, Ever New: Art History, Appreciation, Theory, and Practice, Level One (Grades 5-9)

Ever Ancient, Ever New: Art History, Appreciation, Theory, and Practice, Level Two (Grades 7-12)

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If you enjoyed the show, please leave a rating and review — it helps others find us!