Visible Learning and the Science of How We Learn

One of the best books I read this summer was definitely Visible Learning and the Science of How We Learn by John Hattie and Gregory Yates.  The book is divided into three sections:  Learning Within Classrooms, Learning Foundations, and Know Thyself.  According to Hattie and Yates this three sections have very particular foci.  The first part, Learning Within Classrooms, deals with learning within classrooms, teacher practice, student thinking and processing (Yates & Hattie, 2014: p. XV-XVI).  The second part, Learning Foundations, delves into major ideas about learning including acquisition, memory retention, mental storage and overload (Yates & Hattie, 2014, p. XVI).  Finally, the third part of the book examines knowing oneself as a learner and who your learners are (Yates & Hattie, 2014, p. XVI).

Within each section, there are chapters dealing with different topics within each section.  As a classroom teacher, I appreciated the insight and sound knowledge that Hattie and Yates provided based on scientific and educational research.  This book not only provided the opportunity for me to reflect on my own practices and my role as an educator, but also on some of my own experiences as a student.  Although there were some chapters that were more engaging or applicable than others, overall, I really enjoyed this resource as it provides sound knowledge that is helpful to understand how your students learn and how you can better help this process as an educator.  This is definitely a good read for all teacher regardless of experience!