Teaching Genius

Redefining Education with Lessons from Science and Philosophy

By (author) Chris Edwards, Barbara Lourie Sand

Publication date:

30 July 2012

Length of book:

140 pages

Publisher

R&L Education

Dimensions:

237x158mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9781610488150

The history and philosophy of science provide a deep well of lessons and analogies for educators. Historically, geniuses are produced by certain recurring historical patterns which, once understood, can be synthesized into practical curricular and professional development guides for teachers and administrators. Drawing on history, philosophy, theoretical physics, neuroscience, and the best scholarship on teacher practice, Teaching Genius: Redefining Education with Lessons from Science and Philosophy presents a new vision for educational reform, one which is shaped by teachers and framed by history. Written by a classroom teacher, Teaching Genius is philosophical and practical, deeply rooted, and immediately applicable. Teachers and administrators looking to invigorate their classroom practices or their staffs will find this book to be indispensable.

To learn more about Teaching Genius, and other works by Chris Edwards, visit the website at www.teachinggeniusrowman.org.

Preface
Acknowledgments
Part I: Lessons for Education from the History and Philosophy of Science
Preface: Getting Behind the Door
Chapter 1: Defining Teaching as a Field
Chapter 2: Content Area Professional Development
Chapter 3: Educating Consilience: Lessons from the History and Philosophy of Science
Chapter 4: Neuroscience and Consilience
Chapter 5: Applications for Principals and Education Professors
Chapter 6: Applications for Mathematics and the Sciences
Part II: Connecting the Dots: Practical Application
Appendix
Lesson 1: Humanity Off and Running
Lesson 2: Assessment for Historical Pattern Recognition
Lesson 3: Historical Paradigm Shift
Lesson 4: Caffeine and Connections: A Tempest in a Coffeepot
Lesson 5: Applications of Insights to an Historical Narrative
Conclusion

In his book Teaching Genius: Redefining Education with Lessons from Science and Philosophy, Chris Edwards contends that '[teachers] should not be viewed as individuals who adopt systems, but as professionals who are invited to shape and advance their field.' This is a radical shift away from top-down reform efforts that place teachers in passive roles. Edwards directs teachers to deepen their content knowledge and experiment with different methodologies then publish their successes, much like university professors do. Edwards’ book places teachers back where they should be in the school-reform movement: empowered problem solvers working to do what is best to improve student learning.