aims and objectives

From one perspective, the focus of this book is on how knowledge of instruction as one component or thread in the teaching and learning process can assist in responding to that never-ending process to create meaningful and powerful learning environments. From another perspective this book is a personal reflection , it reflects our own evolution and current understanding about creating meaningful learning environments.

Offers school administrators advice on how they can improve their students' performance on standardized tests and explains specific approaches that can be integrated into the curriculum.

"The idea of the learning commons ... [is] to transform the central idea of a school library stocked with resources repository into a vibrant and central component of teaching and learning in the school community ... [Introduces] the idea of the learning commons as the extension of each classroom, the cross-classroom connection, and the center of active learning that extends beyond the school ... [Includes] resources to use and strategies to build and create a ... learning community"--Pages ix-x.

Contains primary and secondary source documents that provide varying perspectives on the issue of whether or not a college degree is valuable.

Presents information on how culture programs the brain to process data and affects learning relationships, and provides ideas to build students' learner operating systems and prepare them to become independent learners and more.