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Active Teaching for Active Learners Swann, J. (2012). Learning, teaching and education research in the 21st century. An evolutionary analysis of the role of teachers. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group.
The main theme in Joanna Swann's new book focused on the idea that learning never involves the absorption of informational elements from outside the learner. All learning is problem solving. Without a problem, there is no learning; and most interestingly, the problems to be solved should be developed in collaboration with students. The curriculum theories of Ralph Tyler and Edward Thorndike stand in stark contrast to the idea that curriculums for students should be developed by students with assistance from instructors.
Swann then presents her ideas about learning that are based on Karl Popper's three world thesis. World one is the world of physical objects and events; world two is the world of subjective experience; and world three is the world of objective knowledge. Learning is an active process that involves for the learner a personal interpretation of experience and the construction of the learner's own knowledge. Instruction should not be solely focused on...