Education Is Not Rocket Science

The dominance of computer labs in our schools is the result of a long struggle among teachers and technicians for control of precious computer resources. As technicians gain power and influence, this is expressed in the 'row on row of machines' installed in literally thousands of computer labs in schools around the world. While labs are in some ways, ideal for learning about technology or computer programming, they somehow seem ill equipped to assist teachers with a lesson on language arts, geography or for helping students conduct a scientific experiment. As a result, the huge investment in computers seems like so much wasted potential: labs are not influencing teaching in the ways we had hoped for, and in fact, their use may even be harmful to students. These observations are based on five years of experience as the director of a centre for educational technology at a leading Canadian university and, on the results of three international studies I conducted in Australia, Canada and Malaysia. A reversal of the current 'techno- trend' would mean teachers would reclaim computers for 'their own' classrooms, and relegate the idea of the computer lab to the scrap heap of history. As educators, we need to discard the 'once size fits all'strategy which computer labs imply about teachers' instructional needs. This is reinforced by the apparent failure of computers to transform teachers' practice despite significant investments in computer technologies. Some critics describe this as a 'management problem' as computer labs reinforce 'top down' ways of thinking about knowledge. Unfortunately, once such models are adopted, undesirable uses of technology--such as the computer lab--become entrenched in a bureaucratic mindset, limiting the effectiveness of these expensive tools to support teaching and learning.

Teaching is tricky business. If it were as easy as rocket science, which we seem to have figured out, all students would be learning as fast as their individual brains would allow. This implies that they would learn at their own individual pace, which would cause the gaps between the faster learners and the slower learners to gradually increase. In short, we know a lot more about how to make a rocket than we know about how the human brain works. Unfortunately, our current set of reforms driven by the corporate/political complex gives the same tests to students each year based on their born on date regardless of their ability. It also expects teachers to close the gaps between slow and fast learners. One way to do this is to slow down the fast learners, which some schools do rather well. They can also take advantage of the ceiling effect. This results from the fact that students already scoring at or near the top have nowhere to go but down, while low scorers have lots of room for improvement. In other words, it's easier to improve if your last scores suck. After summarizing over 140 books and reading dozens of articles every day for my blog DrDougGreen.Com since my wife Denise died in 2009, I think I'm in a position to write a book that lives up to my lofty title. The big problem with education is its one-size-fits-all nature that you still find more often than not in our schools. It is way easier to expect all students to learn the same thing at the same time at the same pace than it is to differentiate the learning so as to make it customized for each student. The current reform movement forces schools to narrow the curriculum in favor of the tested subjects, math, and ELA. It has pushed increased instruction of these subjects into kindergarten and preschool that has resulted in less time spent on anything else including recess. It judges teachers based on test scores that are invalid for a number of reasons. Reform leaders also seem to think that we have a large

2024 SPE Outstanding Book Award Honorable Mention It's Not Rocket Science - A Guide to the School Improvement Cycle: With Examples From New Zealand and Australian Schools presents an easy-to-read, practical guide to effectively leading school improvement. It walks leaders through each step of ‘The School Improvement Cycle’ developed by Bendikson and Meyer, providing case studies, examples, and helpful tools from primary and secondary schools for the implementation of each step. The book will support school leaders in implementing improvement cycles without making the classic mistakes of failing to develop measures of improvement and test change actions before scaling up. Schools and system leaders will benefit greatly from this practical guide, in which Bendikson and Meyer demonstrate that implementing improvement cycles is not a difficult process. While the book uses examples from Australian and New Zealand schools, the lessons that the book teaches can be applied to school leaders everywhere. The authors show how to make the complex work of improving student learning and outcomes at least somewhat simpler. They do this by describing and illustrating improvement steps that they have found to work in practice, providing examples from their work in schools to show the application of these ideas. If implemented properly, the cycles become “self-propelling,” thus reducing the cognitive load involved in planning how to improve. A range of evidence from international research and the authors’ own research and development work in schools explains the cycle and illustrate it. The book is entitled It’s Not Rocket Science because this is the common reaction from leaders once they understand the improvement cycle process. The book is perfect for a variety of courses in Education Leadership, Professional Development, and any other curriculum devoted to improving schools and student performance. Perfect for courses such as: Educational Leadership, Professional Development

Are you a good parent and what is the best way to raise your child? Are the tiger mums correct and do Australian children need more discipline and tougher expectations? There are no simple answers and there's no doubt that being a parent these days is no longer easy or straightforward. Some mums and dads are criticised for being helicopter parents and smothering their children in cotton wool. Other parents are criticised for giving their children too much freedom and failing to teach them civility and respect. New technologies like the internet, mobile phones and game boys, fears about stranger danger and being bullied at school and the ever increasing pressure to get the best academic results are all conspiring to make the job a lot harder. Educating your child: it's not rocket science provides an easy to read, comprehensive guide to being a good parent, with suggestions and advice proving that it's not rocket science and that every parent can succeed. As every parent knows, the most precious gift we can give our children is a good education and a sound footing to help them meet life's challenges. Dr Kevin Donnelly, author of Why Our Schools are Failing, Dumbing Down and Australia's Education Revolution, is one of Australia's leading education authors and commentators. He taught for 18 years in government and non-government schools.

Rocket scientist, internet entrepreneur, and popular speaker Mary Spio presents practical advice for beating the odds, breaking the mold, and charting your own path to achieve true success Mary Spio went from being a barefoot girl in Ghana to a rocket scientist with major patents with Boeing. Mary is also an internet entrepreneur who speaks throughout the world about how anyone with a dream and some tools can harness the digital world for success and prosperity. In IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE, she presents advice and empowering stories that will inspire readers to move beyond their comfort zones into mastery and empowerment. IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE reveals the habits and traits of people who defy convention, overcome limited thinking, and crush the odds to achieve breakthrough success—and shows readers how to strike their own uncommon path. It shares the secrets to cultivating curiosity, creativity, compassion, audacity, passion, obsessive focus and tenacity to attain their dreams and change the world. It's not Rocket Science is an inspiring and entertaining read for anyone who desires to be empowered with the mindset needed to propel their life to new heights. • Learn how some of the world’s most successful people shatter boundaries. • Discover how your difference creates your relevance and your significance. • Uncover your inner spark and learn how to fuel your own flame. • Understand why a Defy-ing Moment is a defining moment. • Find your path to success –however you define it.

LIFE IN THE SPACE AGE Ever wondered what it might be like to work in the space industry? According to aerospace professional and popular science communicator Kellie Gerardi, that future doesn’t rest solely on the shoulders of rocket scientists. Gerardi’s nontraditional path in the space industry shows us that humanity ’s next giant leap will require the contributions of artists, engineers, and everyone in between. Gerardi takes us on a tour of this unique era of history and off ers encouragement and advice for anyone who has ever dreamed of the stars and galaxies far, far away. In this candid guide, commercial astronaut Gerardi off ers an inside look into the commercial spaceflight industry and all those working to tee up a golden age of spaceflight, redefining the “right stu ff” along the way. Whether you’ve had an obsession with astronauts since you were a kid or are just looking to learn about the exciting future that awaits us, Not Necessarily Rocket Science confirms that there’s a place for anyone who is passionate about space exploration.

Stop chasing hot trends and start driving real growth It's Not Rocket Science blasts through the trends and false promises permeating the business world to help you and your company get back to basics and get things done. Why doggedly pursue the "next big thing" when the most effective drivers of growth are right under your nose? This book asserts that you've already heard, been taught, and know well the key fundamentals that spell business success, and presents a compelling, four strategy blueprint for returning your business culture and strategies to a rock solid foundation of execution excellence. Each chapter opens with The Challenge, which outlines a current condition that exists due to a departure from common sense behaviors, and tasks you with following the appropriate execution principles to get your business on the right track. After a thorough explanation of "what" and "why," each chapter gives you the actionable "how" so you can implement these valuable steps and master the art of execution in your organization. Shifting sands do not make for a sustainable structure. If your organization is to be robust and strong enough to weather any storm, the strength must come from the very core; the ability for each member of your team to execute daily and effectively towards your organization's most compelling goals. Frankly, the last things most organizations need is another goal they'll miss because they can't execute well. This book reminds you of the four timeless execution methods and strategies that have proven themselves over centuries, and shows you how they are implemented in today's business environment. Get the leaders right Get the culture right Get the people right Get the process right Today's flash in the pan may be superficially intriguing, but is it really that much different from yesterday's "hot tip"? Fundamentals are fundamental for a reason, and It's Not Rocket Science is the common sense guide to putting away flavor-of-the-month toys and getting down to business.

Fans of Chris Ferrie's ABCs of Biology, ABCs of Space, and Quantum Physics for Babies will love this introduction to aerospace engineering for babies and toddlers! Help your future genius become the smartest baby in the room! It only takes a small spark to ignite a child's mind. Written by an expert, Rocket Science for Babies is a colorfully simple introduction to aerospace engineering. Babies (and grownups!) will learn about the basics of how lift and thrust make things fly. With a tongue-in-cheek approach that adults will love, this installment of the Baby University board book series is the perfect way to introduce basic concepts to even the youngest scientists. After all, it's never too early to become a rocket scientist! If you're looking for engineer board books, infant science books, or more Baby University board books to surprise your little one, look no further! Rocket Science for Babies offers fun early learning for your little scientist!