"This is an important and welcome book. Readers can see the faults of simplistic judgments, neglect of evidence, dismissal of researchers, and injudicious implementation." From the foreword by Paul Black We all know that small classes are better than large classes; that children are best taught in groups according to their ability; that some schools are much better than others and that we should teach children according to their individual learning styles ... or do we? This book asks awkward questions about these and many other sacred cows of education. Each chapter tackles a persistent myth in education, confronting it with research evidence and teasing out any kernel of truth which may underlie the myth. Leading authors from the world of education each bring analysis and expertise to bear on their chosen subject, presenting their argument in an accessible manner based on sound scholarship. Some of the conclusions drawn in Bad Education are likely to be real eye-openers for many teachers and parents, who will find some of their basic assumptions about education called into question. It is also essential reading for anyone involved in educational policy making or management. Contributors: Philip Adey, Mike Anderson, Ed Baines, Paul Black, Peter Blatchford, Margaret Brown, Guy Claxton, Frank Coffield, Justin Dillon, Julian (Joe) Elliott, Simon Gibbs, Jeremy Hodgen, Neil Humphrey, Annette Karmiloff-Smith, Bill Lucas, Bethan Marshall, Brian Matthews, Corinne Reid, Rob Webster, Dylan Wiliam “As education policymakers it can be difficult to resist the comfort of our own experience and gut instincts or the lure of populism. Bad Education is an invaluable myth-buster that tears down common misconceptions and serves up hard facts in their place. This is a politically unpalatable guide to the evidence that will challenge policymakers, the press and parents alike.” Dale Bassett, Head of Public Policy, AQA “Kenneth Baker describes in his memoirs how education policy was influenced by Margaret Thatcher’s hairdresser and possibly her cleaner. More recently policy has been justified by the selective use of research in an attempt to create legitimacy for policy changes. Bad Education seeks to address some of the most important issues facing education without resorting to the rhetoric of ideologues or detailed statistical analysis. Instead an acknowledged expert in each issue facing education looks carefully at the available evidence. These issues range from how schools are organized, to teaching methods and learning. Each of the issues examined is one that has many ‘myths’ associated with it. The authors show, in an clear and compelling way, that too much of what is being done in schools is being decided upon based on the selective use of evidence. Vocational education, ability grouping, class size, use of teaching assistants, synthetic phonics, learning styles, brain training and dyslexia are just some of the issues where the evidence is presented, in an engaging and easy to digest manner, and where all of those in education should take notice of the conclusions. In some cases the evidence is helpfully conclusive. In others it is inconclusive and messy. As we constantly seek to redefine what is best for the next cohort of children to enter education Adey and Dillon, in this highly readable and well edited book, provide us with the evidence as to what does really does make a difference. Perhaps more importantly they move the debate on from gut instinct and myths to looking at the evidence. This book should become a manifesto for change for all of those in education who want to ensure our children do not receive a Bad Education. Every Headteacher should buy a copy for every teacher and hopefully somebody might even place a copy under the Secretary of State’s Xmas tree.” Gary Phillips, Head Teacher, Lilian Bayliss School “This is a welcome and important book. It takes apart the myths which support the dearly held convictions, simplistic assumptions, prejudices and irrational certainties of both politicians and teachers. Admitting that education is not itself a science, but demonstrating how both neuroscience and psychology have become available to inform educational policy and practice, it should provide food for more careful and well-informed thought to all who can influence what happens in our schools.” Baroness Perry of Southwark

As Ben Goldacre’s Guardian Bad Science column debunks popular scientific myths, this book aims to do the same for education myths and unjustified claims.

If you feel a bit cross at the presumption of some oik daring to suggest everything you know about education might be wrong, please take it with a pinch of salt. What if everything you knew about education was wrong? is just a title. Of course, you probably think a great many things that aren't wrong. The aim of the book is to help you 'murder your darlings'. David Didau will question your most deeply held assumptions about teaching and learning, expose them to the fiery eye of reason and see if they can still walk in a straight line after the experience. It seems reasonable to suggest that only if a theory or approach can withstand the fiercest scrutiny should it be encouraged in classrooms. David makes no apologies for this; why wouldn't you be sceptical of what you're told and what you think you know? As educated professionals, we ought to strive to assemble a more accurate, informed or at least considered understanding of the world around us. Here, David shares with you some tools to help you question your assumptions and assist you in picking through what you believe. He will stew findings from the shiny white laboratories of cognitive psychology, stir in a generous dash of classroom research and serve up a side order of experience and observation. Whether you spit it out or lap it up matters not. If you come out the other end having vigorously and violently disagreed with him, you'll at least have had to think hard about what you believe. The book draws on research from the field of cognitive science to expertly analyse some of the unexamined meta-beliefs in education. In Part 1; 'Why we're wrong', David dismantles what we think we know; examining cognitive traps and biases, assumptions, gut feelings and the problem of evidence. Part 2 delves deeper - 'Through the threshold' - looking at progress, liminality and threshold concepts, the science of learning, and the difference between novices and experts. In Part 3, David asks us the question 'What could we do differently?' and offers some considered insights into spacing and interleaving, the testing effect, the generation effect, reducing feedback and why difficult is desirable. While Part 4 challenges us to consider 'What else might we be getting wrong?'; cogitating formative assessment, lesson observation, grit and growth, differentiation, praise, motivation and creativity.

“It is not the role of schools to solve the climate crisis or any of the other multiple crises now facing humankind. But it is powerfully their role, if they so choose, to equip young people as well as possible to deal with the consequences of the serious problems they will be inheriting from their elders, not betters.” Could it be our collective failure to respond effectively to the threat of the climate emergency or the challenges of the pandemic has been shaped to a small but significant degree by the nature of the learning that happens in our schools and a failure to enable young people to learn appropriately there? That question lies at the heart of this thought-provoking new book as it unpicks the concept of deep learning for future sustainability. This combines deep understanding with action, and links both to moral purpose. It is not enough just to be concerned about climate change - awareness must lead to action. The book draws on an eclectic range of sources, case studies of actual practice, critical perspectives and opportunities for reflection. The authors argue that first and foremost it is for educators and leaders to get on as best they can in their own school context to do what is both necessary and right to secure learning fit for a just and sustainable future irrespective of governmental lead in these matters. In doing so the authors set out some clear evidence-informed principles for school development and leadership that are central to the success of that mission.

This guidebook is based on the belief that e-business applications will transform academia and academic support experiences, with learners participating in distributed learning environments that mix physical and virtual learning resources in many combinations, and it offers insights into the strategies and planning needed to develop a college campus infrastructure of e-business applications, products, and services. The ten chapters cover the following topics: (1) "What Is E-Business and Why Is It Important?"; (2) "The Status of E-Business Today and Tomorrow"; (3) "Future E-Business Applications in Education"; (4) "Building Migration Paths for E-Business in Education"; (5) "Technology Infrastructures, Tools, and Competencies"; (6) "Investing in Technologies To Support E-Business: Important Roles for the Business Officer" (7) "Policies, Standards, and Legal and Security Competencies"; (8) "Strategic Alliances and Co-Sourcing Competencies"; (9) "New Tools: Electronic Publishing, Learningware, Learning Agents, and Online Communities"; and (10) Paving the Way for E-Business: 20 Initiatives for Your Learning Enterprise." A list of on-line resources is appended. (Contains 78 references.) (CH)