The internet has helped us learn more about the research- and practice-derived principles of effective teaching and learning. It's an amazing time to be an educator, to be able to learn so much and connect with so many to improve our instructional practices. One of the recurring themes of online discussions of pedagogy and instructional …
Author: Josh Ecker
What Leads to Taking Action?
I’ve been thinking about this question in both my professional and personal life. It’s critical, as a teacher, to help students develop the drive to take control of their learning, to self-motivate and develop a greater sense of responsibility and independence. In my personal life, this question is usually bouncing around somewhere in my head …
Nostalgia and Change
Education needs to change. That's something I and many others, with a wide variety of values and backgrounds, agree on. Despite the way it’s sometimes framed, believing that isn’t an indictment of the educators or students who work and even thrive in a traditional setting. It’s not blaming the teachers, administrators, or policymakers for the …
3 MORE Strategies to Support the Development of Self-Directed Learners
As I was writing my most recent article for Education Reimagined, I realized my list of strategies was growing too large, even for a long form article. I knew all nine strategies would hold value for someone out there, so instead of eliminating them outright, I split three of them off as this supplemental article. If …
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Can People Learn Willpower?
Spoiler: YES. I recently started reading Charles Duhigg's book, The Power of Habit (great read if you're interested in the topic), and it's gotten me thinking about how educators can use the principles of habit change and formation to positively influence learners' decision-making and self-discipline. In Chapter 5, "Starbucks and the Habit of Success," Duhigg highlights …
Learning and Teaching in the Modern Age 