How People Learn: Bridging Research and Practice

by National Research Council, Committee on Developments in the Science of Learning, M. Suzanne Donovan (Editor)

How People Bridging Research and Practice provides a broad overview of research on learners and learning and on teachers and teaching. It expands on the 1999 National Research Council publication How People Brain, Mind, Experience, and School, Expanded Edition that analyzed the science of learning in infants, educators, experts, and more. In How People Bridging Research and Practice , the Committee on Learning Research and Educational Practice asks how the insights from research can be incorporated into classroom practice and suggests a research and development agenda that would inform and stimulate the required change. The committee identifies teachers, or classroom practitioners, as the key to change, while acknowledging that change at the classroom level is significantly impacted by overarching public policies. How People Bridging Research and Practice highlights three key findings about how students gain and retain knowledge and discusses the implications of these findings for teaching and teacher preparation. The highlighted principles of learning are applicable to teacher education and professional development programs as well as to K-12 education. The research-based messages found in this book are clear and directly relevant to classroom practice. It is a useful guide for teachers, administrators, researchers, curriculum specialists, and educational policy makers.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction

86 pages, Paperback

First published June 8, 1999

About the author

The National Research Council (NRC) functions under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), and the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The NAS, NAE, IOM, and NRC are part of a private, nonprofit institution that provides science, technology and health policy advice under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln that was originally granted to the NAS in 1863. Under this charter, the NRC was established in 1916, the NAE in 1964, and the IOM in 1970. The four organizations are collectively referred to as the National Academies.

The mission of the NRC is to improve government decision making and public policy, increase public education and understanding, and promote the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge in matters involving science, engineering, technology, and health. The institution takes this charge seriously and works to inform policies and actions that have the power to improve the lives of people in the U.S. and around the world.

The NRC is committed to providing elected leaders, policy makers, and the public with expert advice based on sound scientific evidence. The NRC does not receive direct federal appropriations for its work. Individual projects are funded by federal agencies, foundations, other governmental and private sources, and the institution’s endowment. The work is made possible by 6,000 of the world’s top scientists, engineers, and other professionals who volunteer their time without compensation to serve on committees and participate in activities. The NRC is administered jointly by the NAS, NAE, and the IOM through the NRC Governing Board.

The core services involve collecting, analyzing, and sharing information and knowledge. The independence of the institution, combined with its unique ability to convene experts, allows it to be responsive to a host of requests.

The portfolio of activities includes:

* Consensus Studies: These comprehensive reports focus on major policy issues and provide recommendations for solving complex problems.
* Expert Meetings and Workshops: By convening symposia, workshops, meetings, and roundtables, the NRC connects professionals as well as the interested public and stimulates dialogue on diverse matters.
* Program and Research Management: At the request of state and federal agencies, the NRC manages and evaluates research programs, conducts program assessments, and reviews proposals.
* Fellowships: The NRC administers several postdoctoral fellowship programs.

Free Scientific Information: Publishing more than 200 reports and related publications each year, the institution is one of the largest providers of free scientific and technical information in the world. Most of it is now on the Web at www.nap.edu.

Reviews

[Mark Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely invaluable! This very thin book is a beta study that accumulates the findings of numerous research projects and condenses it into a terse, concise user's manual. If anyone really needs to know, it works like this: first, all of us enter the arena, the learning event carrying prior knowledge and experience--this a nod to constructivist learning models; second, all valid learning must be framed in a context of theory combined with practice; and third, the best learning allows for strategies that enable the learner to monitor and reflective evaluate his or her own progress--it internalizes it.

I underlined my copy. I refer to it over and over. I highly recommend it to anyone who is even remotely interested or connected to learning, who has learned once and would like to again, or who is willing to learn afresh.

[Izak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every administrator, teacher, professional development leader, and policy maker should read this book. Although it is a little dated, it is incredibly thorough for its time and makes some compelling arguments for the need of teachers and researchers to work together to better the education system. It offers many suggestions all based on the science of learning on how to improve student learning as well as teaching.

[Ricardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book presents a report on the findings and recommendations for future collaborative research between researchers and education practitioners on implementing learning for understanding (as opposed to memorizing facts for test purposes) to enhance the quality of learning outcomes for children and adults.

[Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched integrating pedagogy, cognitive science, and neuroscience.

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal compilation