Customer Reviews

Smart Schools

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In a world gone mad for something, anything, to repair the ills of our fledgling education system, David Perkins is a welcome voice of reason. He provides readers with a clear description of the problems in our current system and offers common-sense educational solutions.

This is not a reactionary, radical reformist volume which advocates the dismantling of education as we know it in favor of untested theories. Rather, Perkins defines a logical system of educational beliefs which are based upon sound research and work toward clearly defined educational goals.

Perkins writes with a clarity and simplicity that is all too rare among educators. He uses no educational jargon without first defining it in an understandable way. Further, he provides a checklist for educational change which will assist concerned parents, educators, and administrators in systematically implementing his recomendations.

In its organization, content, and writing, "Smart Schools" exemplifies all that our education system should foster in our children to prepare them for an active and significant role in the shaping of our world's future. If you are concerned with the quality of our children's education, you must have this book in your library.

This book has started conversations among our teachers about exciting teaching. It is packed with ideas on student-centered learning, and has been the catalyst for many teaching workshops for our school. A must read for any serious teacher, administrator, etc. Mary Kathryn Villere Academic Assistant Principal St. Scholastica Academy Covington, LA

As the new millennium draws ever near, it is with bittersweet sensibility that as we look to the future of education with promising successes, we also reflect on the past at acknowledged failures. Despite continued advances in technology which should have at least guaranteed intellectual competency, academic mastery remains elusive. Impassioned debates abound in many arenas confirming the urgency of our plight. In his book "Smart Schools", David Perkins provides thoughtful insight into our classrooms and the ongoing challenge of educating our children. Numerous reforms and popular theories are explored with critical commentary. Situational examples are plentiful and serve to further support his views. Skillfully, Mr. Perkins constructs the school of the future demonstrating that a smart school is not only possible but necessary. Practical innovations regarding what to teach and how to teach are clearly outlined with cross curricular examples provided. The role of education with the intent to learn is redefined and strategies for success abound restoring a much needed sense of hope to our educational system. Effective change is possible but admittedly it won't be easy. A strong commitment by all is essential if his vision is to succeed. Change is often difficult and finding a starting point may be even harder. Perhaps the first step should be to read this book. Then the path will be easy to follow.

"Smart Schools" by David Perkins is a "smart" book. I am reviewing this book as a strong advocate of both private parochial schools and homeschooling, and yet as far as books go trying to help reform the public schools, this is one of the better ones. The book is filled with many good theories that would probably improve the public schools (and other schools), if implemented.

However, Perkins never addresses an even deeper problem with public schools and American schools in general, and that is the spiritual side of things. There are lots of tools and mechanisms for improving teaching and learning in "Smart Schools", but if the spiritual problems of American schools, culture, families, and students aren't addressed then most of Perkins' solution will find success in only a modest number of schools. What I mean is that if, as Perkins suggests, content is most important, then shouldn't a discussion of the soul and the good life be an integral part of the content and curriculum? Yet Perkins never discusses such essential content. Historically, the motivation for education has not been to get into college or get a good job but has been to educate the soul in discerning and leading the good life. Without this kind of "spiritual" motivation, what Perkins offers can yield only modest success and reform.

Having said this, "Smart Schools," as a book that is aimed at reforming public schools by those who probably have no interest in having philosophy or spirituality be considered in any way does offer a lot of "best practices" that all schools - even private, parochial, and home schools could learn from. This makes Perkins' book one that is still worth reading by educators of all kinds.

Here is an outline of the book which should give you a great picture of what Perkins is after:

I. Smart Schools
A. 3 Characteristics of Smart Schools
1. Informed
2. Thoughtful
3. Energetic
B. Thinking-Centered Education
C. GOALS: Generative Knowledge
1. retention of knowledge
2. understanding of knowledge
3. active use of knowledge
D. MEANS: thoughtful learning
1. learning is a consequence of thinking
E. Perkins believes the answer to the problem is knowledge.

II. Alarm Bells
A. Fragile Knowledge
B. Poor Thinking
C. Ability Counts Most Theory [we love inspiration over perspiration]

III. Teaching & Learning: Theory One and Beyond
A. The "savior" of the schools is correct content, and not method.
B. People learn much of what they have a reasonable opportunity and motivation to learn.
1. clear information
2. thoughtful practice
3. informative feedback
4. strong intrinsic or extrinsic motivation
C. We need to model mental processes for students
D. Our most important choice is what we try to teach

IV. Content: Toward a Pedagogy of Understanding
A. What is "Understanding"?
B. Understanding Performances
C. Understanding & Mental Images
D. Levels of Understanding
E. Powerful Representations
F. Generative Topics - some topics lend themselves to more thinking

V. Curriculum - Creating the Metacurriculum
A. The Idea of the Metacurriculum
METACOGNITION - Higher-order knowledge is about how ordinary subject-matter knowledge is organized
B. Building the Metacurriculum [Components of it]
1. Levels of Understanding
2. Languages of thinking
3. Intellectual passions
4. Integrating mental images
5. Learning to learn
6. Teaching for Transfer
C. Levels of Understanding
D. Intellectual Passions
F. Integrative Mental Images
G. Learning to Learn
H. Teaching for Transfer

VI. CLASSROOMS - The Role of Distributed Intelligence
A. The Idea of Distributed Intelligence
B. Distributing Cognition Physically
C. Distributing Cognition Socially
D. Distributing Cognition Symbolically

VII. MOTIVATION: The Cognitive Economy of Schooling
A. The Idea of a Cognitive Economy
1. gains and costs that students encounter
2. changes must make sense to rational students and teachers
B. Creating a Hot Cognitive Economy
D. School Restructuring: A Cognitive Economic Revolution

VIII. VICTORY GARDENS FOR REVITALIZED EDUCATION
A. Example 1: Expert Tutoring
B. Example 2: Biology for Young Inquirers
C. Example 3: History for Thinkers
D. Example 4: A Textbook from the Past
E. Example 5: A Metacourse for Computer Programming
F. Example 6: Jaimie Escalante

I regret that my time and money do not allow me to read all of David Perkins' books, but what I can do right here, with this book published in 1995, is point to his latest book, Making Learning Whole: How Seven Principles of Teaching Can Transform Education, a 6 STAR AND BEYOND rating, IMHO. If you can only buy one book, his latest may be your best bet.

I really needed this book for a school project. It is excellently detailed. David Perkins is an expert in his field and comes highly recommended by my professor. Smart schools is a smart read...