Engaging Minds: Changing Teaching in Complex Times

by Brent Davis, Dennis J. Sumara

Engaging Learning and Teaching in a Complex World involves readers in a stimulating, informative, comprehensive exploration of teaching and learning. It prompts examinations of the complexities of learning, pedagogy, and schooling while refusing simplistic notions or unresolvable tensions that sometimes infuse popular debates. A variety of sophisticated, interactive pedagogical features and graphic displays draw readers into new ways of thinking about and responding to the ideas and information presented. Topics

* the biological and social roots of perception;
* historical and contemporary perspectives on learning;
* emergent understandings of intelligence, creativity, and diversity;
* complexities and contingencies of self concept; and
* technology, its impact on cognition, and its place in schooling.

In addition to conceptual reviews of these topics, the text provides elaborated descriptions of many specific teaching events, in different subject areas and at all age levels, followed by interpretations which include suggestions for teachers.

Written by authors with over 60 years collective experience as teachers at all levels of formal education, Engaging Minds offers fresh and insightful perspectives on topics such as lesson planning, classroom management, assessment and evaluation, learner diversity, inclusivity, and technology. It will be of interest to undergraduate students in teacher education, experienced teachers, and graduate students. This is an ideal text for courses in curriculum and instruction, curriculum and learning theory, social foundations of education, human development, or an excellent companion volume for any subject-specific teaching methods course.

Genres: School

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If any book comes close to matching the omniscience of the Book in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, this well-designed book on learning and teaching would be it. All the possibilities it presents to teachers, specifically aimed at pre-service teachers, and the emergence of new ways of thinking, inspired largely by the new technologies available to students in the 21st century, are cleverly connected throughout the text.

[Liberty Laferrière]

I finished it.

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was indeed engaging. Davis, Sumara, and Luce-Kapler give an overview of different theories of learning while interweaving narratives of classroom practice that demonstrate applications of the concepts. The margins are filled with interesting tidbits and object lessons. The authors identify valuable elements from several different learning theories and advocate complexity thinking as it applies to educational philosophy. I highly recommend this book to any teacher and particularly as an introduction to those interested in the potential influence of complexity theory on education.

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

Basically, a disaster.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's rarely a good sign a Prof assigns his own book, and this lives up to that warning

[Stephanie Loomis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not great SEL. Not awful.

[Linh]

I was highly UNENGAGED.