Situated Language and Learning

by James Paul Gee

Why do poor and minority students under-perform in school? Do computer games help or hinder learning? What can new research in psychology teach our educational policy-makers?

In this major new book, Gee tackles the 'big ideas' about language, literacy and learning, putting forward an integrated theory that crosses disciplinary boundaries, and applying it to some of the very real problems that face educationalists today.

Situated Language and Learning looks at the specialist academic varieties of language that are used in disciplines such as mathematics and the sciences. It argues that the language acquisition process needed to learn these forms of language is not given enough attention by schools, and that this places unfair demands on poor and minority students.

The book compares this with learning as a process outside the classroom, applying this idea to computer and video games, and exploring the particular processes of learning which take place as a child interacts with others and technology to learn and play. In doing so, Gee examines what video games can teach us about how to improve learning in schools and engages with current debates on subjects such as 'communities of practice' and 'digital literacies'.

Bringing together the latest research from a number of disciplines, Situated Language and Learning is a bold and controversial book by a leading figure in the field, and is essential reading for anyone interested in education and language.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Academic, Linguistics, School

138 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

James Gee is a researcher who has worked in psycholinguistics, discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, bilingual education, and literacy. Gee is currently the Mary Lou Fulton Presidential Professor of Literacy Studies at Arizona State University. Gee is a faculty affiliate of the Games, Learning, and Society group at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and is a member of the National Academy of Education.

Reviews

[Sue Lyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Gee's approach to discourse analysis in previous books and wish I had read this when it was first published in 2004. It is marvellous! I love the clarity of writing, the engaging style and the depth of thought. For anyone wanting to think about socio-cultural approaches to learning and a strong critique of neo-liberal agendas that are stifling our schools and at the same time get a completely new take (for me anyway) on the value of video games for children's learning this book will do it. The chapter on shape-shifting and portfolio people with its insights into differences between baby boomers and millennials is really thought provoking and I recognised myself and my son in this chapter. I am now going to take on the challenge laid down in the last chapter and think about how his principles of learning can be incorporated into the learning settings I work with. I am looking forward to the challenge!

[Kgalyen Galyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had this book when I was still teaching kids to read....it would have made a dramatic impact on how I dealt with non-readers.

That said, James Paul Gee is a guru in how people learn, and bringing in the fact that true learning is a contextualized, embodied process embedded in social practices.

If you teach people, no matter their age, socio-economic status, level or type of disability, you'll find this read informative, engaging, and best of all, enlightening!

[Burke Scarbrough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Along with Communities of Practice and Situated Learning, this book rounds out my developing manifesto of "How People Really Learn Stuff and What That Means for School". Yes, this is what I'm passionate about these days.

[Synthia Salomon, Ed.S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

“They (shape-shifting portfolio people) believe they must manage their own risky trajectories through building up a variety of skills, experiences, and achievements in terms of which they can define themselves as successful now and worth of more success later” (p. 105).

[Margaret Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

4/5/13 ** Fascinating, even if I weren't working in the field. The chapter on Shape-shifters and Portfolio people was especially enlightening in terms of the differences between babyboomers and millenials.

Lots of ideas for characteristics of classrooms that would be more engaging than the standards- and test-driven instruction that we've devolved to in the recent decade. However, I'm not sure yet how to implement them.

[Jacob Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most informative and most interesting education texts I've ever had to read. Gee is incredibly approachable and conversational through his discussion of linguistics and the current education world. I can't wait to apply some of these concepts to my own classroom.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breezy read, lots of good ideas.