Learning That Transfers

Learning that Transfers is a rare combination of practical and inspirational. Drawingtogether concepts from psychology, neuroscience, and the learning sciences, theauthors mount a case that transfer is one of the keys to designing curriculum that canproduce deep and durable learning for the 21st century. Educators everywhere willwelcome the book for its clarity, use-value, and timeliness. – Sarah M. FineAccessible. Reflective. Timely. Inspiring. Engaging. By asking all of the right questions,this book enables teachers to navigate overwhelming numbers of outcomes by creating/uncovering complex relationships between concepts and extending learning throughreal-world transfer. I want education to help develop deep thinking, compassionatehumans, and this book supports this aim fully. – Charlie KraigThere is so much I love about this book. Learning That Transfers: DesigningCurriculum for a Changing World provides a step-by-step process that allows readersto connect their learning and transfer it to the work they do. It is based in researchand practice. – Peter DeWitt, Ed.D.This is a serious and ambitious book that makes explicit connections from a modelof learning right through to curriculum design and implementation. In doing so,it provides the reader with an explicit structure that supports their progress as theyacquire, connect and transfer what they learn, demonstrating the efficacy of theirmodel of learning. – Oliver CaviglioliThe authors have brilliantly captured the purpose of instruction today. Our studentsMUST be able to acquire, connect and transfer knowledge and, as educators, we mustbe intentional in our curriculum design to ensure that happens. This book is a greatresource for ALL 21st Century educators. – Dr. Jeff BeardenHow might we design agile curriculum that prepares learners for a wildly unpredictableworld? How might we design learning experiences for a silo-free system, even as wecontinue learning inside of them? The practical wisdom and tangible tools tucked intoevery nook and cranny of this ground-breaking text make this the right book for theright time, and these are the right people to learn from. – Angela StockmanThe book guides you from “what to WOW” in a clear and concrete way, offering amultitude of strategies as a primer to design learning that transfers. Everything in ithas been tested with diverse students around the globe by educators like you. Thiswork is a promise for transformation in education with an abiding focus on studentownership, complex thinking, and relevant learning. – Alena ZinkThe authors have advanced a critically important new synthesis of the science andart of effective teaching. By focusing on the practical methods teachers can use tohelp students engage deeper conceptual understanding, this book helps keep the bigquestions about life, humanity, and sustainability in mind, even as we structure thefine-grained details of everyday classroom lessons. – Dr. Susan Hanisch & Dustin EirdoshWe live in a world of often bewildering particularities. Children begin thinking,Vygotsky says, by assembling their immediate world into mental complexes whereparticularities understood by their juxtaposition. With schooling, children learn toorganize the world by concepts or transferable patterns of meaning. The authorsof this important new book masterfully explore the way these two pivotal ideas—concepts and their transfer—play out in educational practice. – Dr. Bill CopeIn an increasingly neoliberal world of performance and accountability, this book is acall-to-arms for anyone passionate about real learning. The “Try Next Day” strategieswould enhance any classroom because they complement what you do already. – Gregory AndersonLearning That Transfers articulates the interconnected relationships between past andpresent knowledge, offering a framework for future learning that will stand strong aseducation evolves. As a teacher educator, I value the fusion of theory combined withpractical “Next-Day Strategies” that make this book a valuable addition to any teacherpreparation program. – Michele DuganImagine an education system that “empowers teachers and students to tackle theproblems facing us in the 21st century and beyond”. It’s possible and this book showsus how. With equal parts inspiration and practical implementation, the authors detailthe strategies, tools and supports they use in their own classrooms to enable theirstudents to thrive in an unknowable future. HIGHLY recommend! – Julie M WilsonAs educators, we constantly strive to prepare our learners to navigate the complexitiesof their world. Drawing on latest research, the authors articulate a compelling visualmodel that enables students to apply their understanding to new contexts. Learningthat Transfers is a must for teachers who are seeking ways to provide opportunities forauthentic learning. – Richard HealyOur world is increasingly complex and preparing our students for tomorrow dependson our teacher’s ability to teach more than just curriculum. Learning That Transfers is athoughtful and essential guide for any educator concerned with preparing students tomeet challenges through deep, powerful thinking and learning. – Katie GrahamWhat a fantastic resource! This book is loaded with concrete examples of how todesign meaningful and engaging learning experiences for students. I felt empoweredas I read each chapter, thinking the ideas could easily be integrated into my practiceimmediately. This book should be a mandatory resource in every school and in teachereducation programs. – Jenni DonohooIn a connected and complex world, our ability to navigate myriad contexts becomesparamount. What’s essential in that world? Learning transfer. Immediately practical,drawing on diverse scholarship and rich classroom experience, this book reveals thewhat, why, and how of learning transfer, for teachers of all types. This is a must-readfor anyone striving for equity and excellence in education. – Michael Crawford, PhDNo one today would suggest that we live in a stable world with little change, little needto adapt as individuals, to meet the challenges of the next several months let alone thenext 10, 20 or 30 years. Ch 4 Modern Literacies alone is why every educator shouldread this book. Like never before we must teach and lead our students not for a finalexam, but for life. This book will help. – Dr. Rick GilsonIt’s a uniquely human trait to make deep meaning out of knowledge, giving itsignificance and context. Through the ACT mental model, practical examples of shiftsin practice, guidance in curriculum planning and more, Learning That Transfers isa text that empowers readers to reframe learning and build in that deeper level ofmeaning that makes all the difference in revolutionizing education. – Caitlin Krause

Julie Stern is the best-selling author of Tools for Teaching Conceptual Understanding, Elementary and Secondary, Visible Learning for Social Studies, and Learning That Transfers. She is the thought leader behind the global workshop series Making Sense of Learning Transfer, and is a certified trainer in Visible Learning Plus. Her passion is synthesizing the best of education research into practical tools that support educators in breaking free of the industrial model of schooling and moving toward teaching and learning that promotes sustainability, equity, and well-being. She is a James Madison Constitutional Fellow and taught social studies for many years in Washington, DC and her native Louisiana. Julie moves internationally every few years with her husband, a US diplomat, and her two young sons.

Krista Ferraro is a history teacher and department head at Thayer Academy in Braintree, Massachusetts. Her passions include civic education, social justice, and preparing students for effective global citizenship. Previously, she served as Deputy Director of Public Policy and Curriculum Innovation at Chavez Schools in Washington, DC, where she also taught history and public policy courses. Her published works include the bestselling Tools for Teaching Conceptual Understanding, Elementary and Secondary. Krista holds bachelor′s degrees in American Studies and Spanish from Cornell University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from American University. She is also an alumna of Teach for America.

Kayla Duncan is a personalized instruction coach for Forsyth County Schools in Cumming, Georgia. Her passion centers around empowering student voice through meaningful, authentic experiences and increased ownership. Kayla currently supports personalized learning schools in creating their new vision for education through the design thinking process. She believes the voices of students and the community should drive what happens in the school building. Before her coaching role, Kayla taught elementary physical education and middle grades mathematics. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Georgia, a Master of Arts in Mathematics Education from Western Governors University, and an Educational Specialist in Learning, Design, and Technology from the University of Georgia. Kayla is pursuing a Doctor of Education in School Improvement from the University of West Georgia and hopes to use this new knowledge to propel schools toward innovative visions for education. Kayla resides in Georgia with her husband, a fellow educator, and their fourteen-year-old dog Georgie.

Trevor Aleo is a middle school English teacher in Wilton, Connecticut where he designs meaningful learning experiences while reading and writing alongside his students. Prior to his current position, he taught high school and was a grade level lead in Prince William County, Virginia. In addition to leading teams at his own school, he’s drafted curriculum at the district level, created instructional resources for the Virginia Department of Education, and presented at local, state, and national conferences. He believes education should help people become better sense makers and story tellers and is a passionate believer in pedagogies that align with those values. Growing up in a house of teachers, he developed a love of learning that continues to serve as the driving force behind all his work. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Teaching from James Madison University and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Learning Design and Leadership at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Trevor currently resides in Fairfield, Connecticut with his amazing wife Lindsey and will be welcoming a son into the world somewhere around the release of this book.