The Learning Power Approach: Teaching Learners to Teach Themselves

by Guy Claxton

Foreword by Carol Dweck. Schools have two to help young people develop the skills, knowledge and grades they will need for further study and employment; and to help them cultivate the qualities of mind that will determine - even more than their test scores - how well they will flourish in life more generally. At the moment these two aims are being set in opposition to each `traditionalists' fight for rigour and knowledge, while `progressives' want character and well-being. But it is a phoney and unnecessary war - so says Guy Claxton in his provocative new book The Learning Power Teaching Learners to Teach Themselves. We know that it is the nitty-gritty of teaching that matters most in schools, but different styles and methods of teaching lead to different outcomes. One style can lead to happy children with poor achievement. Another can get good results but runs the serious risk of creating students who are compliant and dependent. But there is a third that gets good results in a way that also develops independence, initiative, determination and a love of learning. That's the Holy Grail of Pedagogy. It is what Guy Claxton calls the Learning Power Approach, and it delivers the best of both worlds. In this ground-breaking book, Guy distils 15 years' practical experience with his influential Building Learning Power method, as well as findings from a range of kindred approaches, into a set of design principles for teaching. Students are gradually coached to take over responsibility for managing, trouble-shooting and evaluating learning for themselves - and are thus better prepared for life after school, whether that be at university or college, or in work. And in school, fitting the learning-power turbo-charger means they learn what they need to know more deeply and more efficiently. Instead of the phoney war we now have a Win-Win way of teaching. The Learning Power Approach clearly describes in detail the small tweaks to practice that are needed, together with the supportive evidence that underpins them. It carefully lays the ground for a series of books to follow that are tailored to primary teaching, secondary teaching, and school leadership.

Genres: Education, Teaching

288 pages, ebook

Published September 27, 2017

About the author

Guy Claxton is Emeritus Professor of the Learning Sciences at the University of Winchester. His many publications include Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind: Why Intelligence Increases When You Think Less. He lives in the UK.

Reviews

[Michelle Mayfield]

I loved the way this book focused on teaching kids how to be successful in life, which also will improve test scores, rather than just focusing only on improving test scores. We really don't want a society full of compliant people who can't think for themselves, but can manage to get good scores on tests...

[Luke Fitzpatrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very ideological, but an interesting read.

[Charlotte Wastell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing outlook on education

[June O'Sullivan]

Useful, practical and easy to read, a winning combination.