March 2019 Bookshelf
Books 14 March 2019
Education Reimagined: A Space for Risk
Ira David Socol, Cheryl (Walchack) Harris, and J. Michael Thornton II
When you witness the day-to-day functioning of a traditional classroom, do you normally think, “This is where learning happens” or “This is where teaching happens”? The authors of Education Reimagined: A Space for Risk—through decades of experience—have seen far more of the latter than the former. And, they want to buck the trend. In their book, they explore how any learning space can be designed and utilized for young people to take safe risks such that learning is deeply engaging and applicable to any future endeavor.
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't
Jim Collins
“If it isn’t broken, don’t try to fix it.” This is a mantra many good conventional schools across the country call upon when small hints of change come their way. And, it makes perfect sense. If test scores and graduation rates are high, why change anything? If Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, were to engage in such a conversation, he might inquire, “Is good what we’re going for?” Through robust research into companies that went from good (or worse) to newfound greatness, consider how you can continue to push the education envelope in your community and what great opportunities learner-centered education can lead you to.
Buzzing Communities: How to Build Bigger, Better, and More Active Online Communities
Richard Millington
Learning is a 24/7 phenomena, which begs the question: How do we cultivate a healthy learning culture that thrives as much in-person as it does when we go home? Richard Millington, author of Buzzing Communities, has powerful insights on how to create robust online communities that are as fun to check-in on and engage with as the trendiest gaming or social media app of the year. As you explore Millington’s work, you might discover bold ideas that will take your learner-centered community beyond what is known today.
Women in Science
Rachel Ignotofsky
Optics matter. If young people are unable to see someone who looks like them working in industries they aspire to pursue, their aspirations may quickly die out. Rachel Ignotofsky, author and illustrator of Women in Science, “believes that illustration is a powerful tool that can make learning exciting” and uses it to expose young women and girls to heroes in fields often dominated by men. A great book to have on hand in any learning environment, you might give it a read yourself and think about what new topics of exploration you can open up for learners in your community—girls and boys alike.
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
Behavioral economics has opened up a refreshing inquiry into the irrationality of the human mind. Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, co-authors of Freakonomics, have brought this inquiry into new and unexplored territory. Through bizarre questions like “Which is more dangerous: a gun or a swimming pool?” the two authors invite readers to explore the fascinating impact incentives have on the choices and decisions we make on a daily basis. While flipping through this entertaining book, consider how incentives impact your and your community’s way of relating to one another.
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