With summer well underway and a bit of free time on your hands, it is time to grab a drink, sit by the pool, and engage in a nice book! If your goal is to continue learning about education and the many ways it is evolving, check out this list of 3 books that we feel are both interesting and thought provoking for educators. From advancing technology to developing yourself as a professional, this list has something for everybody looking to learn more about the classroom and ways we can improve teaching.
ThinkWrite Summer Book Recommendations:
One of the most influential books for people wanting to learn more about the psychology of learning and teaching how to reach one’s potential is titled Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Written by a world-renowned Stanford psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Phd., this book takes a deep dive into the psychology behind our mindset and how it can influence our capabilities as humans. Library Journal called it “An essential read for parents, teachers [and] coaches”. Decades of research went into the writing of this book, and thousands have claimed it has helped them to understand how to achieve a growth mindset, and has equipped them with the tools to train others to adopt this mentality. This book is available in paperback for only $11.85 on amazon, with digital versions offered as well. https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck/dp/0345472322
Cognitive scientist and Northwestern University Professor Allan Collins teamed with Richard Halverson, a Phd in Learning Sciences, to write Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology: The Digital Revolution and Schooling in America. This book is an excellent starting place for educators to learn more about the potential for technology to completely shift the classroom and how we look at education in the future. The authors argue that the technology shift has had a much larger effect on our jobs and homes than they have on our schools and classrooms. Collins and Halverson tackle the great potential for distance learning, online networking, video-game learning environments, and many more in the book, and a highly organized table of contents helps for finding areas of interest at ease. This book is available on amazon for around $20, with digital formats also available. https://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-Education-Technology-Education-Connections-Education-Connections/dp/0807750026
Nancy Sulla, president and founder of IDE Corp (Innovative Designs for Education), wrote a highly rated book titled Students Taking Charge: Inside the Learner-Active, Technology-Infused Classroom. This book is an excellent blend of classroom learning techniques, tips for instructors in increasing engagement, and utilizing technology in the classroom. One great thing about this book compared to many like it is that it includes actual examples that can be used in a classroom with guidelines on how to properly execute these learning activities. If you are looking for a book to not solely use generalities and theory, but dives right into what you can do as an instructor today, this book is an excellent choice. Again, a nicely organized table of contents aids in finding information you want to know without having to read every little detail. It is available on Amazon for around $32, and digitally as well. https://www.amazon.com/Students-Taking-Charge-Learner-Active-Technology-Infused/dp/1596671858
Stay tuned for more blogs covering similar topics in the ever continuing conversation on the future of education and technology!
