Overcoming the Curse of Expertise and Other Ways to Be Inclusive in Our Teaching, with Sheila Tabanli
Thu Feb 05 2026
Sheila Tabanli shares ways to overcome the curse of expertise and other ways to be inclusive in our teaching on episode 608 of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast
Quotes from the episode
“I suggest, sign up to a course that you have no idea, and then we’ll talk later. In other words, feel what it means to be a novice.”
– Sheila Tabanli
“An expert in a field doesn’t necessarily mean they will be able to effectively teach that content.”
– Sheila Tabanli
“There are differences between how experts and novices look at this content.”
– Sheila Tabanli
“We can still slow down. We can still show how an expert solves a math problem without sacrificing from the rigor or the content.”
– Sheila Tabanli
Quotes from the episode
Resources
Guidebook for Reducing the Novice-to-Expert Perception Gap in Mathematics to Increase STEM Diversity, by Sheila Tabanli
Minding the Perception Gap in College Math Classrooms and Beyond, by Sheila Tabanli for Inside Higher Ed
Last-Day Activities Ideas from Sheila Tabanli, Featured In The Chronicle of Higher Education Teaching Newsletter
Fostering Active Learning and Metacognitive Skills in a Cognitive-Science Based Math Course, by Sheila Tabanli for the International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
Powerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning, by Pooja Agarwal and Patrice Bain
A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science, by Linda Oakley
Learning How to Learn: Powerful Mental Tools to Help You Master Tough Subjects, Dr. Terrence Sejnowski and Dr. Barbara Oakley
Episode 106: Undercover Professor with Mike Cross
College Matters Podcast
More
Sheila Tabanli shares ways to overcome the curse of expertise and other ways to be inclusive in our teaching on episode 608 of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast Quotes from the episode “I suggest, sign up to a course that you have no idea, and then we’ll talk later. In other words, feel what it means to be a novice.” – Sheila Tabanli “An expert in a field doesn’t necessarily mean they will be able to effectively teach that content.” – Sheila Tabanli “There are differences between how experts and novices look at this content.” – Sheila Tabanli “We can still slow down. We can still show how an expert solves a math problem without sacrificing from the rigor or the content.” – Sheila Tabanli Quotes from the episode Resources Guidebook for Reducing the Novice-to-Expert Perception Gap in Mathematics to Increase STEM Diversity, by Sheila Tabanli Minding the Perception Gap in College Math Classrooms and Beyond, by Sheila Tabanli for Inside Higher Ed Last-Day Activities Ideas from Sheila Tabanli, Featured In The Chronicle of Higher Education Teaching Newsletter Fostering Active Learning and Metacognitive Skills in a Cognitive-Science Based Math Course, by Sheila Tabanli for the International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Powerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning, by Pooja Agarwal and Patrice Bain A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science, by Linda Oakley Learning How to Learn: Powerful Mental Tools to Help You Master Tough Subjects, Dr. Terrence Sejnowski and Dr. Barbara Oakley Episode 106: Undercover Professor with Mike Cross College Matters Podcast