Superstar teacher Eddie Woo on unlocking a love of learning (at any age)

2023-10-24

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“She started to explain to me about rhythms and melodies and harmonies and how they all fit together in a beautiful symmetry. And I said to her, ‘That is all mathematics.’” An infectious smile flashes across Eddie Woo’s face as he recalls meeting singer-songwriter Odette backstage at a TED Talk. She told him she didn’t like maths; he found a way to connect it to her world. “Mathematics is like music to the mind, in a way that music is like mathematics to the soul.” Eddie’s ability to connect people...

“She started to explain to me about rhythms and melodies and harmonies and how they all fit together in a beautiful symmetry. And I said to her, ‘That is all mathematics.’”

An infectious smile flashes across Eddie Woo’s face as he recalls meeting singer-songwriter Odette backstage at a TED Talk. She told him she didn’t like maths; he found a way to connect it to her world.

“Mathematics is like music to the mind, in a way that music is like mathematics to the soul.”

Eddie’s ability to connect people with maths, and make it fun and engaging, has made him a household name. The Australian high school teacher is known to millions of students worldwide as Mister WooTube thanks to his online classes – and he is now teaching the next generation of teachers at the University of Sydney.

Eddie Woo, alumni of the University of Sydney and the teacher you wish you had, is here with a lesson on embracing learning at any age. He also gets personal, reflecting on his own life, how the death of his mother shaped his view of growth mindset, and how he came to realise teaching isn’t about knowing all the answers.

If you think you don’t like maths, prepare to be surprised.

For the transcript and notes for this episode, visit the website.

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The Solutionists, with Mark Scott, is a production of Deadset Studios.

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This episode was produced by Monique Ross. Sound design by Jeremy Wilmot. Studio recording by Jacob Craig. The executive producer is Rachel Fountain. Executive editors are Jen Peterson-Ward, Kellie Riordan and Mark Scott.

This podcast was recorded on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. For thousands of years, across innumerable generations, knowledge has been taught, shared and exchanged here. We pay respect to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

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