Seven Myths About Education

Written by Daisy Christodoulou

Narrated by Rachael Louise Miller

In this controversial new audiobook, the author offers a thought-provoking critique of educational orthodoxy. Drawing on her recent experience of teaching in challenging schools, she shows, through a wide range of examples and case studies, just how much classroom practice contradicts basic scientific principles. She examines seven widely held beliefs which are holding back pupils and teachers:

• Facts prevent understanding.
• Teacher-led instruction is passive.
• The 21st century fundamentally changes everything.
• You can always just look it up.
• We should teach transferable skills.
• Projects and activities are the best way to learn.
• Teaching knowledge is indoctrination.

In each accessible and engaging chapter, the author sets out the theory of each myth, considers its practical implications and shows the worrying prevalence of such practice. Then, she explains exactly why it is a myth, with reference to the principles of modern cognitive science.

• Language: English
• Publisher: W. F. Howes Audio
• Release date: Dec 12, 2019
• ISBN: 9780367405106

Reviews for Seven Myths About Education

[David Szymanski · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this book early in my teaching career after being extremely dissatisfied with my teacher training and feeling ill-prepared for this line of work. This book has fundamentally changed my life. It should be mandatory reading in every teacher training program. Daisy is my favourite public intellectual in the education field. She destroys the dangerous theories and fads plaguing many education systems around the world with pure facts. You will never see education in the same way again.

[todd · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This challenges my entire teacher training course work and reinforces so much cognitive science that I have FINALLY been learning about 20 years into my teaching career. This is great to listen to!

Although the author references governing bodies and curriculum out of England, the problems she describes are also problems in our education system here in the United States.

I am fortunate to be teaching and learning at a Core Knowledge charter school. This is my fourth year working part time at the school… With each passing year, I am more convinced that a knowledge base curriculum really is what we need in order to narrow the achievement gap and bolster the skills and abilities of all of our students.

Pick this book up, listen to it, read it, review it, and do all of that more than once! It will challenge and likely change your perspective.
~~Laura Richardson, MEd