In her new book, Betty Demarest describes a bold agenda for education reform—one that is firmly grounded in a synthesis of educational research about learning, teaching, and the contexts of education. The author’s “learning-centered” framework includes: (1) a broad and balanced set of education goals, (2) a multi-faceted concept of achievement, (3) classroom capacity for learning, (4) systemic capacity and infrastructure, (5) shared, reciprocal accountability, and (6) systems of multiple assessments. New research-based concepts in these six areas are critically compared to older concepts behind standards-based reform and No Child Left Behind. Book Features: A comprehensive, alternative framework for future education reform that focuses on improving the core educational practices of learning, teaching, content, and leadership. A federal role that emphasizes meaningful partnerships rather than top-down control. A critique of past standards and present accountability-based frameworks, with implications of the learning-centered framework for future national policy, especially ESEA An operational definition of educational capacity, a re-conceptualization of accountability, and a sharp reversal of the relative emphasis placed on these strategies. Elizabeth J. Demarestis an education consultant living in Alexandria, Virginia. She was formerly with the U.S. Department of Education and the National Education Association. “Betty Demarest clearly defines a learning-centered framework for improving policy and practice. Practitioners can benefit from the strategies outlining a clear pathway for transforming to learning-centered practice in our nation’s classrooms.” —Gerald N. Tirozzi, executive director, National Association of Secondary School Principals “Betty Demarest’s deep experience with research and policy development allows her to re-envision reform at many levels, all based on research evidence for valid concepts and practices of teaching and learning. This book is a welcome gift to policymakers and practitioners.” —Roland Tharp, research professor, University of California, Berkeley “Demarest provides a research-based foundation for informed discussion and debate as Congress renews federal education law. Her synthesis of key issues should provide a starting point for any serious discussion of the way forward in federal education policy.” —Mary Haywood Metz, professor emerita, University of Wisconsin–Madison

In this much needed resource, Maryellen Weimer-one of the nation's most highly regarded authorities on effective college teaching-offers a comprehensive work on the topic of learner-centered teaching in the college and university classroom. As the author explains, learner-centered teaching focuses attention on what the student is learning, how the student is learning, the conditions under which the student is learning, whether the student is retaining and applying the learning, and how current learning positions the student for future learning. To help educators accomplish the goals of learner-centered teaching, this important book presents the meaning, practice, and ramifications of the learner-centered approach, and how this approach transforms the college classroom environment. Learner-Centered Teaching shows how to tie teaching and curriculum to the process and objectives of learning rather than to the content delivery alone.

In How Students Learn: Reforming Schools Through Learner-Centered Education, leaders in the psychological and educational communities suggest that successful school reform must not only uphold standards but also must recognize students' differences and unique learning styles. The volume examines current research on how students learn and presents the theoretical perspectives and research findings of leading authors in educational psychology. The chapters reflect the work of these distinguished educators and psychologists in developing and articulating the psychological knowledge base that is most relevant to education.

"The School Leader's Guide to Learner-Centered Education introduces a transformative leadership model for creating and sustaining a learner-centered school environment. Using core principles of educational psychology, the authors examine how educators can support student growth, development, and achievement by focusing on key factors such as cognition, metacognition, motivation, affect, and individual differences. Numerous reflective exercises, assessment tools, and real-life success stories help readers: provide moral leadership for creating school change, incorporate learning standards without sacrificing student engagement, form learner-centered support groups that utilize networking and technology, prepare students for the challenges of global citizenship. Promote success for diverse populations and marginalized groups, designed to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving world, this new leadership paradigm provides school principals, superintendents, and district leaders with the means to engage all members of the educational community in a lifelong process of growth, improvement, and empowerment."--PUBLISHER'S WEBSITE.

In Learner-Centered Leadership, Vodicka offers a deeply researched and urgent blueprint for orienting education around the strengths, interests, and needs of individual learners. He makes a compelling argument for the wisdom in giving students the resources to draw their own learning paths and the power of reimagining schools.

Children spend more time in school than in any social institution outside the home. And schools probably exert more influence on children’s development and life chances than any environment beyond the home and neighbourhood. The purpose of this book is to document some important ways schools influence children’s development and to describe various models and methods for studying schooling effects. Key features include: Comprehensive Coverage – this is the first book to provide a comprehensive review of what is known about schools as a context for human development. Topical coverage ranges from theoretical foundations to investigative methodologies and from classroom-level influences such as teacher-student relations to broader influences such as school organization and educational policies. Cross-Disciplinary – this volume brings together the divergent perspectives, methods and findings of scholars from a variety of disciplines, among them educational psychology, developmental psychology, school psychology, social psychology, psychiatry, sociology, and educational policy. Chapter Structure – to ensure continuity, chapter authors describe 1) how schooling influences are conceptualized 2) identify their theoretical and methodological approaches 3) discuss the strengths and weaknesses of existing research and 4) highlight implications for future research, practice, and policy. Methodologies – chapters included in the text feature various methodologies including longitudinal studies, hierarchical linear models, experimental and quasi-experimental designs, and mixed methods.

A supplementary text that provides a practical yet comprehensive explanation of learner-centered instruction.