Welcome to the Coffee & Theory Blog
18 June, 2025
Author Dr Will Zoppellini
Thank you for stopping by. Whether you’re a teacher, educator, parent, tutor, coach, or someone who simply cares about how children learn, you’re in the right place.
Over the course of this blog, I’ll be exploring theories and research from education, psychology, learning science, and child development, including how children grow socially, physically, and psychologically. This space is about understanding how children gain knowledge, acquire new skills, develop movement, and build the confidence, motivation, creativity and critical thinking to thrive in the world.
Table of Contents
why it's called coffee & Theory
Because the best instances of exchanging knowledge I have ever had regarding teaching, learning, and child development didn’t happen in lecture halls. They happened during conversations over coffee, or similar informal scenarios.
These informal discussions are where we share our personal experiences, ask questions without fear of judgement, and reflect, seem to always spark the clearest insights and the biggest “aha” moments.
That’s the energy I want to bring here. A relaxed space to spark your curiosity. Sharing knowledge that you may not know exists, or you’re not exactly sure how to use, or a theory you want to learn more about.
Why You should engage with theory
We live in a time of unprecedented access to information, but that also means we’re surrounded by misinformation, half-truths, and well-meaning advice that may not be rooted in evidence.
Educational trends often take hold because they either worked for someone, they are imposed by governments (without much research), or simply because they reflect how we were taught. This often occurs without understanding the research behind them, or if there are any long-term benefits.
It is my absolute belief that any previous lack of engagement with theory is not the fault of teachers, educators, parents, or coaches. While there needs to be a desire to do so it’s often because the knowledge isn’t accessible.
Academic research is frequently published in expensive, hard-to-access journals, and written in language that assumes background knowledge most people don’t have the time or training to unpack.
I have sat at international conferences many times as fantastic research was presented by brilliant scholars and wondered how many teachers I had previously worked with would ever find this information.
Most educators are juggling busy lives, teaching, caregiving, lesson planning, grading, and more. It’s not realistic to expect everyone to dig through pages of theory and understand complex methods of research to judge the quality.
We need better systems for sharing knowledge with people that support children learning. I truly believe that everyone has the capacity to understand and use this evidence to improve the learning environments for children. Even gaining an extra 1% of understanding can make all the difference in how you support a child’s learning journey.
Engaging in educational theory helps you to:
Grasp how children learn and how learning evolves from infancy to adolescence.
Recognise that development is interconnected, because social, emotional, cognitive, and physical domains all influence one another.
Approach teaching and support with a broader toolkit of strategies.
Differentiate learning more effectively across diverse needs, backgrounds, and cultures.
Sharpen your critical thinking and become a more informed consumer of educational advice.
Spot misleading trends or strategies that lack evidence and avoid falling into ineffective habits.
Make better choices regarding learning when teaching, parenting, or coaching. Decisions grounded in knowledge, not just guesswork.
Remember, theory doesn’t have to be intimidating. That’s where Coffee & Theory comes in. I believe there’s a better way to connect you with the research that matters. Shared simply, clearly, and in ways that feel useful.
Because when you understand why something works, you’re better equipped to help children grow.
Knowledge is Always evolving
What we believed about learning twenty years ago might look very different today. That’s a good thing. It means that together we are trying to improve on what we know and make experiences for children better.
For this to take place it means people are identifying problems or issues and researchers are gaining funding to examine them, creating knowledge and information that can influence change.
Science is constantly evolving and so should how we learn. In this blog, I’ll be sharing not just current research, but how it’s changed over time, what’s shifted, why, and how we adapt from that.
I hope that doing this helps you reflect on how you can change to impact positively on children’s learning & development.
Where we educate children is also evolving as the world changes. it’s therefore important that we know how to most efficiently use these new physical or virtual spaces.
we need to share knowledge
Education improves when we talk to each other, learn from one another, and make knowledge accessible. But sharing knowledge is more than just passing on facts. It’s about ensuring that ideas are understandable, relevant, and ready to be used in a variety of contexts and situations. Knowledge locked away in journals doesn’t change lives, but when it is translated, discussed, and applied, it has the power to shape practice and open opportunities for children everywhere.
That’s why coming together to discuss theories, research, or even something you’ve just read is so valuable. Talking it through helps us interpret ideas, see different perspectives, and consider how to apply the evidence to our own specific contexts and subjects. These conversations don’t just deepen understanding, but they also strengthen our critical thinking and remind us that learning is a shared journey.
This blog is here to:
- Spark curiosity
- Encourage thoughtful reflection
- Start meaningful conversations
I won’t be claiming to have all the answers, but I’ll always be grounded in research and focused on keeping the conversation going.
What I Hope You Take Away
Right now, we are preparing our children for the most uncertain future possible, they will need not only knowledge and skills, but the ability to innovate, problem solve and collaborate.
I believe in the power of education to change lives and that every child deserves a learning environment that nurtures their curiosity, builds their confidence, and helps them dream big.
I hope you take away knowledge that makes you think creatively and critically about what you do and motivates you to be the best version of yourself as an educator.
Until next time, stay curious…
Dr Will Zoppellini
