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Deeper Learning: How Eight Innovative Public Schools Are Transforming Education in the Twenty-First Century
The acclaimed exploration of how public education can cultivate innovators—with a foreword by Russlynn Ali, a leading advocate for remaking schools Dime-a-dozen ideas for reforming education seem to be everywhere these days but few actually transform the everyday experience of the 50-million-plus students who are regularly subjected to traditional lecturing, note-taking, and rote learning—often with dismal results. Enter Deeper Learning, "a fast read [that] will interest educators who want to produce self-motivated, passionate learners" (Library Journal).
Offering "uplifting" (Kirkus Reviews) anecdotes in what Tom Carroll of the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future calls a "rare blend of inspiration and practical action," Deeper Learning provides a blueprint for creating flexible environments that put students at the helm of their own collaborative learning experience. This paperback edition includes a new foreword by renowned education advocate Russlynn Ali and will empower and inspire educators everywhere to address the need for schools to be genuinely innovative.
Offering "uplifting" (Kirkus Reviews) anecdotes in what Tom Carroll of the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future calls a "rare blend of inspiration and practical action," Deeper Learning provides a blueprint for creating flexible environments that put students at the helm of their own collaborative learning experience. This paperback edition includes a new foreword by renowned education advocate Russlynn Ali and will empower and inspire educators everywhere to address the need for schools to be genuinely innovative.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2014
17 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
About the author
Monica Martinez
1 book5 followersAn author, education consultant, strategist, and appointee to the White House Commission of Educational Excellence for Hispanics, Monica has worked for decades with nonprofits, foundations, and education systems across the K-16 sector. Her career encompasses major programmatic, management, and executive leadership roles and is marked both by her vast knowledge of secondary reform and college readiness and hands-on experience managing and supporting major foundation initiatives. As an education strategist, Monica has served in an advisory capacity to leaders’ of multiple organizations, including non-profits, state systems, and foundations to assist in creating, revising, or implementing their education initiatives. Her clients have included The Carnegie Corporation, The Community College of Philadelphia, The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Her book, Deeper Learning: How Eight Innovative Public Schools Are Transforming Education in the Twenty-First Century, published by The New Press, was released June, 2014. Prior to becoming an independent consultant, Monica served as the President of the New Tech Network and the Vice President for Education Strategy at KnowledgeWorks. In Washington, DC, she was a senior associate at the Institute for Educational Leadership where she founded the Washington, D.C.-based National High School Alliance while developing and managing three other projects. Monica has been a columnist for Phi Delta Kappan and has been a contributing author to other books and independent reports. Monica is an international and national speaker on the topics of deeper learning, education innovation and reform, college readiness, and the future of learning.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 8, 2017
A good introduction to Deeper Learning, but really best suited to parents or educators with no knowledge of Deeper Learning at all.
August 23, 2014
Perhaps one of the best books about education I have read this year. This book was exactly what I needed. As an instructional coach and working in a building that is transforming the platform of teaching to project based learning, this book really helped to guide me with questions to ponder and ideas to process.
From the book description you are able to see that the author spent time with eight different schools looking at the key ingredients to help students reach deep learning in their education journey. This is so vital because for so long we have taught education as survey courses. We pack so much into so little that we barely scratch the surface in learning.
What we are seeing with many schools today is a shift with perhaps less content, but taking time to really dig deep into ideas that will help them craft and develop the thinking skills needed to survive once they leave the confines of the education system.
While I read this book I shared my notes online and when it was all over I had over five pages of typed notes. There are so many great examples of teaching and learning. There are fundamental questions that make you pause and reflect on the answers to your own classroom and school.
We are going to be using this book as our first book club book for our staff. It is an easy read that does not require deep concentration. It is not cutesy fluff book that so often hits the high ranks of education books. Even more important it does not bash the education system that is so often the case. Instead it is a breath of fresh air into the amazing things schools and teachers are doing with students. It gives promise to the future. More importantly, it leaves you ready to push your comfort zones to move in the direction of deeper learning.
If you are involved in education, then this is a book that is worth your time to read. You will not be disappointed.
**If you are interested in purchasing this book please use the link above. Any money from Amazon Affiliate links goes towards funding either school supplies for schools in need or to our school goal of raising enough money to build a school in areas of the world lacking education for students. You can learn more here http://coffeeforthebrain.com/build-a-... **
Last, if you are interested in being part of a book club with this book please let me know. I am in the process of developing one that will be operated online.
From the book description you are able to see that the author spent time with eight different schools looking at the key ingredients to help students reach deep learning in their education journey. This is so vital because for so long we have taught education as survey courses. We pack so much into so little that we barely scratch the surface in learning.
What we are seeing with many schools today is a shift with perhaps less content, but taking time to really dig deep into ideas that will help them craft and develop the thinking skills needed to survive once they leave the confines of the education system.
While I read this book I shared my notes online and when it was all over I had over five pages of typed notes. There are so many great examples of teaching and learning. There are fundamental questions that make you pause and reflect on the answers to your own classroom and school.
We are going to be using this book as our first book club book for our staff. It is an easy read that does not require deep concentration. It is not cutesy fluff book that so often hits the high ranks of education books. Even more important it does not bash the education system that is so often the case. Instead it is a breath of fresh air into the amazing things schools and teachers are doing with students. It gives promise to the future. More importantly, it leaves you ready to push your comfort zones to move in the direction of deeper learning.
If you are involved in education, then this is a book that is worth your time to read. You will not be disappointed.
**If you are interested in purchasing this book please use the link above. Any money from Amazon Affiliate links goes towards funding either school supplies for schools in need or to our school goal of raising enough money to build a school in areas of the world lacking education for students. You can learn more here http://coffeeforthebrain.com/build-a-... **
Last, if you are interested in being part of a book club with this book please let me know. I am in the process of developing one that will be operated online.
July 17, 2016
This short book takes a look at eight secondary schools providing a deeper learning education to students. Through these case studies they highlight six major trends in these schools to which educators, parents, students, and policy makers should pay attention. The trends are creating a community of learners, empowering students to lead their own learning, teaching through contextualized interdisciplinary project-based learning, networking with the community outside of the school for both students and the school as a whole, personalizing learning for every student, and using technology to enhance collaboration, communication, and curation of work. These are the trends that truly make a difference for our students. If we care about the future of our country, this is what all schools should be striving towards. An important an accessible volume that should be a guide to the future of education!
May 13, 2024
I did not have high hopes for this book when I first picked it up, but this book definitely exceeded my expectations. The focus on creating a culture of learners within schools is sorely missing across all areas of education. The problem with this book is the focus on 8 schools that are so far from the average school in access to funds and extra resources that it creates an excuse that the average teacher or school could not enact many of these ideas are not practical, and, for many reasons, I believe that this excuse would be reasonable.
October 26, 2014
How could I not like a book that features the school where I work as such a beacon of hope for the American education system?
March 14, 2016
One striking aspect of Deeper Learning is how much the authors, Monica Martinez and Dennis McGrath, highlight the words and work of real teachers, leaders, and students in the schools they profile. The whole book is full of short anecdotes from the individuals doing the hard work of transforming schools, and we, the readers, often get these stories from a close, over-the-shoulder perspective. Reading this, I didn't need convincing as to whether or not this work was possible—I felt instead that I was hearing from the people who were doing the work. The relevance and purpose of what they are doing to invest and to inspire students, and to reach beyond the walls of their schools feels urgent and vital.
In their concluding chapter, the authors make one of their more forceful claims about the necessity of this work:
So many of the stories they tell are fundamentally about that issue of relevance. Education, they argue, must rest on meaningful, relevant connections between students and between students and teachers. The work that students do ought to be relevant to them, to their communities, and to the education and careers they will have beyond their time in K-12.
The question I ask myself, as an education professional and as a parent, is about that connection between relevance and equity. When I choose to accept the irrelevance of what many students are doing in school, then am I simultaneously accepting inequity in the broader life outcomes of students in different communities?
I also appreciate the broad definition of "relevance" that Martinez and McGrath embrace. Rather that narrowing relevance solely to math and reading outcomes, or to college acceptance rates, or to employment opportunities, they broadly conceive of relevant deeper learning as "the capacity for learning how to learn." They elaborate:
This leaves me thinking that if I'm looking for evidence of deeper learning in schools and classrooms, then I, too, have to listen to the students, leaders, and teachers doing transformative work. And if I'm looking for relevance in particular, then I should listen to students and to their families. Because it's not just teachers who should expect education to feel relevant—students should feel that relevance, and families should expect it. And setting high expectations for relevance is one step toward enabling the transformation the authors describe.
In their concluding chapter, the authors make one of their more forceful claims about the necessity of this work:
If public education does not transform, not only will it become irrelevant, but it will generate more and far-reaching inequality with regard to education and broader life outcomes that have for years been linked to education attainment (p 186).
So many of the stories they tell are fundamentally about that issue of relevance. Education, they argue, must rest on meaningful, relevant connections between students and between students and teachers. The work that students do ought to be relevant to them, to their communities, and to the education and careers they will have beyond their time in K-12.
The question I ask myself, as an education professional and as a parent, is about that connection between relevance and equity. When I choose to accept the irrelevance of what many students are doing in school, then am I simultaneously accepting inequity in the broader life outcomes of students in different communities?
I also appreciate the broad definition of "relevance" that Martinez and McGrath embrace. Rather that narrowing relevance solely to math and reading outcomes, or to college acceptance rates, or to employment opportunities, they broadly conceive of relevant deeper learning as "the capacity for learning how to learn." They elaborate:
More specifically, Deeper Learning is the process of preparing and empowering students to master essential academic content, think critically and solve complex problems, work collaboratively, communicate effectively, have an academic mindset, and be self-directed in their education (p 3).
This leaves me thinking that if I'm looking for evidence of deeper learning in schools and classrooms, then I, too, have to listen to the students, leaders, and teachers doing transformative work. And if I'm looking for relevance in particular, then I should listen to students and to their families. Because it's not just teachers who should expect education to feel relevant—students should feel that relevance, and families should expect it. And setting high expectations for relevance is one step toward enabling the transformation the authors describe.
January 29, 2016
Our education system is not up to international standards, but their are a few anamoly's in the United States that blatantly ignore the established standard for US education. This book very clearly details what these schools are doing to uniquely create students inspired, prepared students for the 21st century. It is very informative, and the authors are clearly very informed. A great book for anyone interested in education!
September 19, 2016
I enjoy reading profiles of schools and educators who are using promising practices to support students. However, I feel frustrated that we know more about how kids learn, and how we can support them, and we continue to design schools that are not in line with this vision.
September 26, 2017
Such an interesting book. I have learned so much from these books about challenging conventional methods of schooling.
November 27, 2024
A fun look at exceptional schools that are teaching students in an engaging way.
The examples themselves were interesting to read. Some of the commentary got old, though, as the authors felt it necessary to discuss their political beliefs (anti-conservative).
Also, this was published in 2014, so it's already a bit dated. The authors were very enthusiastic about Common Core, interestingly.
I agree with another reviewer who said this book is best for teachers or parents unfamiliar with the idea of "deeper learning." (I find it silly that the authors insisted on capitalizing the letters in this phrase.)
The examples themselves were interesting to read. Some of the commentary got old, though, as the authors felt it necessary to discuss their political beliefs (anti-conservative).
Also, this was published in 2014, so it's already a bit dated. The authors were very enthusiastic about Common Core, interestingly.
I agree with another reviewer who said this book is best for teachers or parents unfamiliar with the idea of "deeper learning." (I find it silly that the authors insisted on capitalizing the letters in this phrase.)
June 10, 2024
I skimmed this book but I should reread it if I'm able to start my own self-learning school.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2014
One of the best books I have read this year with respect to education. The book goes over key concepts of how these select schools deal with community, empowerment, and contextualizing learning.
Great book, every principal and superintendent should read.
Great book, every principal and superintendent should read.
August 8, 2014
Excellent, up-to-date overview of innovative teaching at 8 American schools.
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November 21, 2014371.207 M3857 2014
December 30, 2015
Time to change
All Educators, parents and people wishing a better education should read this book and question why not all the schools are like those studied in this book.
All Educators, parents and people wishing a better education should read this book and question why not all the schools are like those studied in this book.
February 28, 2016
As a teacher, this is my favorite educational novel that I've ever read. This is a clear and well thought-out vision of the improvement for our educational system.
December 13, 2016
An interesting survey, although I'm not so sure how feasible these ideas are for every school in America.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews