Harnessing the Science of Learning: Success Stories to Help Kickstart Your School Improvement

by Nathaniel Swain, Grant Cartwright (Narrator)

Drawing together the worlds of classroom practice, school leadership, and scientific research, this is an essential how-to guide for initiating and maintaining a school improvement journey based on the science of learning.

What we now know about learning and teaching is vast; yet often, wading through the thousands of articles and books on this subject can leave even the most seasoned educator overwhelmed. This guide instead offers a distillation of key understandings―for teaching, literacy, mathematics, curriculum, and implementation―to launch your school improvement work.

Harnessing the Science of Learning also features contributions from thought leaders across the fields of learning sciences and educational Pamela Snow, Tanya Serry, Zach Groshell, Reid Smith, Toni Hatten-Roberts, Simon Breakspear, Katie Roberts-Hull, David Morkunas, Steven Capp, Shane Pearson, and Eamon Charles.

This book illustrates practical ways to harness this knowledge, using a series of exemplary school case studies. These insightful narratives of transformation are interwoven with summaries of powerful teaching practices, forming a roadmap to drive improvement.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction

Audible Audio

Published July 8, 2025

Reviews

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very important for teachers and school leadership to read. Looks at key areas where schools can improve, explaining approaches that work and are backed by cognitive science research.

[Alison Rini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic explanation of essential concepts about teaching and learning with immediate real-world applications. If every school focused their professional development on the science of learning, student outcomes would soar, and this book is the ideal succinct and up-to-date guide for the work.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really appreciated the chapter on "four teaching misconceptions resolved by science".

I've been studying classical education & believe it fits the science explained in this book perfectly. A foundation of knowledge must first be laid (grammar stage), given through explicit instruction by an expert (mentor/teacher), before a student can move to inquiry/exploration (logic stage - rhetoric stage).

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for all teachers and schools. Liked reading. The case studies as they provided pivotal information to how we can improve our schools.

[Ethan Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for some ideas on reinvigorating classroom practice, excellent if you’re already doing these to explain why! 😊

[Kimberly Nizolek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource! This book provided a great summary of the research surrounding the science of learning and gave examples of schools that are implementing practices.

[Steven Kolber · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tightly edited book that provides both an exploration of knowledge-rich curriculum concepts and ways to apply them within schools and proof of concept applications within real schools.