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

In this episode, Alex sits down with Drew and Bodruz for a candid conversation about the real teacher experience in Dubai. From 5 a.m. gym sessions and school leadership to rent hikes and the rising cost of international education, this episode goes beyond the classroom to explore what it truly means to live, work, and raise a family as an international educator in one of the world’s fastest-growing cities.

They share honest reflections on balance, belonging, and burnout—how to thrive, not just survive, in a city of opportunity. Together, they unpack the current debates around KHDA’s affordability push, teacher salaries, and whether Dubai is still the dream destination it once was for educators.

Discover what “affordable” really means, why teacher wellbeing is the real currency of sustainability, and how family, friendship, and perspective shape the international experience far more than a tax-free salary ever could.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Teaching Abroad is Physical:
From classroom movement to early gym sessions, teaching is more demanding—and more rewarding—than most people realise.

Affordability vs Reality:As Dubai expands, teachers are asking what “affordable” really means when school fees, rent, and daily costs keep climbing.

Thriving, Not Surviving:Sustainability for teachers isn’t just financial—it’s about wellbeing, purpose, and family time.

The International Advantage:Raising children abroad offers safety, diversity, and opportunity—but also the emotional cost of distance from home.

A City in Transition:Dubai’s education landscape is evolving fast. The question isn’t just where to teach, but how long you can sustain it.

“Teaching is such a physical job—always moving, always on your feet. I actually have more energy now that I work out at 5 a.m.”

“The challenge isn’t whether Dubai is affordable—it’s figuring out what affordable even means anymore.”

“Our struggles aren’t our children’s struggles. Being international gives them freedoms we never had.”

“Teachers don’t need medals; we need time—to rest, reflect, and reconnect with why we started.”

“In a city that never stops growing, the best teachers are the ones who keep evolving too.”

BEST MOMENTS

“Teaching is such a physical job—always moving, always on your feet. I actually have more energy now that I work out at 5 a.m.”

“The challenge isn’t whether Dubai is affordable—it’s figuring out what affordable even means anymore.”

“Our struggles aren’t our children’s struggles. Being international gives them freedoms we never had.”

“Teachers don’t need medals; we need time—to rest, reflect, and reconnect with why we started.”

“In a city that never stops growing, the best teachers are the ones who keep evolving too.”

ABOUT THE GUESTS

Drew & Bodruz are long-time international educators and regular contributors to The International Classroom. Between leadership roles, family life, and a shared passion for teaching abroad, they bring insight, humour, and honesty to what it means to teach in today’s global schools.

CONNECT & CONTACT

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/theinternationalclassroom⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandergray84/⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠https://www.deepprofessional.com

In this episode, Alex sits down with Al Kingsley MBE, author, CEO, and governance expert, to explore one of the most pressing questions in education today: what happens when schools let AI lead without oversight?

From building universities to shaping national education policy, Al brings decades of experience to unpack how schools can navigate the balance between innovation and integrity. Together, Alex and Al explore the rise of AI governance, the hidden risks of “efficiency,” and how to ensure technology serves learning—not the other way around.

Discover why schools must move beyond laminated AI policies, how to create meaningful guardrails for data and ethics, and what practical steps leaders can take to ensure transparency, accountability, and trust in their AI use.

Key Ideas
🧭 Weaponising AI: How control gets rebranded as “efficiency” and what that means for decision-making in schools.
⚖️ Guardrails, Not Handcuffs: Why safe AI use requires boundaries, explainability, and human oversight.
💡 From Policy to Practice: Turning compliance documents into living frameworks that evolve and improve.
🌐 Student Voice & Digital Citizenship: Why young people must become active participants—not passive users—of AI.
📊 The 8-Step Governance Framework: A practical roadmap for leaders ready to start responsibly.
🔁 Review & Renew: Why AI strategy should never be “set and forget.”

Best Moments💬 “If you want to weaponise AI, you simply rebrand control as efficiency.”
💬 “Guardrails don’t limit innovation—they protect it.”
💬 “A policy no one reads isn’t governance, it’s wallpaper.”
💬 “Students can’t challenge bias they don’t understand.”
💬 “AI governance starts with one question: why are we using this tool?”

About the Guest
Al Kingsley MBE is a respected education leader, author, and CEO. With over 30 years’ experience bridging business, governance, and edtech, he chairs multiple education boards and has helped shape school systems in the UK and beyond. His work focuses on building ethical, transparent, and sustainable AI practices that support learners, staff, and communities.

Connect and Contact🎙️ The International Classroom📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/theinternationalclassroom💻 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandergray84/🌐 Website: https://deepprofessional.com

👤 Al Kingsley🌐 Website: https://alkingsley.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alkingsley/