An Ezine with information and resources for 21st century education

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Issue 7:

  

 
Article 5:  Books to Broaden your Education Expertise for Now and the Future
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(click on a book or book title for purchasing information or more reviews)

Learning by Doing by Clark Aldrich

Amazon.com   Review
"Learning by Doing is the real thing, written by a man who has built simulations that actually work. Aldrich offers deep and lucid theory always accessibly packaged inside fully practical examples and applications. His new book is the best way available today to come to grips with changes that will eventually transform learning in our schools, workplaces, and society."
--James Paul Gee, author, What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy; professor, University of Wisconsin at Madison

Millennials Rising by  Neil Howe and William Strauss

Building on the concepts they first developed in Generations and 13th Gen, Neil Howe and William Strauss now take on Generation Y, or, as they call them, the Millennials. Unlike their rather distressing portrait of the more reactive Generation X (the 13th Gen), or the negative stereotypes that abound about today's kids, this is all good news. According to Howe and Strauss, this group is poised to become the next great generation, one that will provide a more positive, group-oriented, can-do ethos. Huge in size as well as future impact, they're making a sharp break from Gen-X trends and a direct reversal of boomer youth behavior. Why? Because, as a nation, we've devoted more concern and attention their way than to any generation in, well, generations.

 

Generations : The History of America's Future, 1584 to 2069,
 by Neil Howe, William Strauss

Reviewer: Andrew Wankum (Jefferson City, MO United States) See all my reviews
Strauss and Howe's theory of a generational cycle is amazing. However, even if you do not buy into the theory, Generations has other merits.

In trying to prove their theory, the authors have written a generational history of the American people. While most history books focus on great events, Generations examines the relationship between events and people. Much of their theory relies on an older generation shaping an event while the event shapes a younger generation.

I was very impressed how they showed how generations move through time and reacted differently to various historical events.

As for their theory, if they are right then the cycle will continue and we will be able to judge for ourselves if events have followed the path that Straus and Howe predict.

Ten Steps to a Learning Organization
by Peter Kline and Bernard Saunders

 Reviewer: M. H. Bayliss
I've had to read many learning organizational books for my graduate studies -- this was one of my favorites out of maybe 10 I've read. One, it's fun to read! The examples are erudite, taken from other disciplines like science and math, not just business. The 10 steps are easy to follow, logical and well represented. The authors rely on concrete examples that everyone can relate to. If I had to train a group of people or point an organization towards achieving its goals as a learning organization, I would rely on this book as my bible. Great writing style, great examples -- overall one of the most enjoyable I've read!

 

  
 
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