Synopses & Reviews
What truly helps students learn?
For the last half century, higher spending and many modern reforms have failed to raise the achievement of students in the United States to economically advanced countries. The central explanation, says Herbert Walberg, is that much current education theory is ill informed about scientific psychology, often drawing on fads and pop psychology, and contradicting well-evidenced behavioral insights. In Advancing Student Achievement, Walberg draws on both psychological and economic research to describe how students actually learn and how family, classroom, and school practices can help them learn more effectively.
The author debunks many of the myths of modern education and presents research showing that young learners thrive when teachers have clear goals, plan effective activities to attain them, and measure student progress. He discusses the powerful influence of parents on what students learn within and outside school and how choice programs give parents a stronger role in their children’s education. And he presents evidence to reveal why teachers’ classroom practices—not their credentials or experience—are what makes a true difference in student learning.
Synopsis
A renowned educator-psychologist explains how children learn and how family, classroom, and school practices can help them learn more effectively. In addition to drawing on studies of learning outcomes, Herbert Walberg reveals economic research on teacher education and school choice that challenges many popular assumptions. He debunks many of the myths of modern education and outlines the factors that psychologists have found consistently associated with high levels of classroom learning.
Walberg reveals why teachers’ classroom practices—not their credentials or experience—are what makes a true difference in student learning. He presents research, showing that young learners thrive when teachers have clear goals, plan effective activities to attain them, and measure student progress. The author also discusses the powerful influence of parents on what students learn within and outside school and how choice programs give parents a stronger role in their children’s education.
Synopsis
A renowned educator-psychologist explains how children learn and how family, classroom, and school practices can help them learn more effectively.
Synopsis
A renowned educator-psychologist explains how children learn and how family, classroom, and school practices can help them learn more effectively. In addition to drawing on studies of learning outcomes, the author reveals economic research on teacher education and school choice that challenges many popular assumptions.
About the Author
Herbert J. Walberg is a distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution and a member of its Task Force on K–12 Education, is University Scholar and emeritus professor of education and psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. His research focuses on educational productivity and human accomplishments.
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
1. Introduction
2. Causes of Learning
3. Principles of Learning
4. Families
5. Incentives
6. Teachers
7. Classroom Practices
8. School Policies
9. New Technologies
10. Creative Destruction
About the Author
About the Koret Task Force on K–12 Education
Index