Great Myths of Education and Learning (Great Myths of Psychology)

People base thousands of choices across a lifetime on the views they hold of their skill and moral character, yet a growing body of research in psychology shows that such self-views are often misguided or misinformed. Anyone who has dealt with others in the classroom, in the workplace, in the medical office, or on the therapist's couch has probably experienced people whose opinions of themselves depart from the objectively possible. This book outlines some of the common errors that people make when they evaluate themselves. It also describes the many psychological barriers - some that people build by their own hand - that prevent individuals from achieving self-insight about their ability and character. The first section of the book focuses on mistaken views of competence, and explores why people often remain blissfully unaware of their incompetence and personality flaws. The second section focuses on faulty views of character, and explores why people tend to perceive they are more unique and special than they really are, why people tend to possess inflated opinions of their moral fiber that are not matched by their deeds, and why people fail to anticipate the impact that emotions have on their choices and actions.The book will be of great interest to students and researchers in social, personality, and cognitive psychology, but, through the accessibility of its writing style, it will also appeal to those outside of academic psychology with an interest in the psychological processes that lead to our self-insight. People Base Thousands Of Choices Across A Lifetime On The Views They Hold Of Their Skill And Moral Character, Yet A Growing Body Of Research In Psychology Shows That Such Self-views Are Often Misguided Or Misinformed. Anyone Who Has Dealt With Others In The Classroom, In The Workplace, In The Medical Office, Or On The Therapist's Couch Has Probably Experienced People Whose Opinions Of Themselves Depart From The Objectively Possible. This Book Outlines Some Of The Common Errors That People Make When They Evaluate Themselves. It Also Describes The Many Psychological Barriers -- Some That People Build By Their Own Hand -- That Prevent Individuals From Achieving Self-insight About Their Ability And Character. The First Section Of The Book Focuses On Mistaken Views Of Competence, And Explores Why People Often Remain Blissfully Unaware Of Their Incompetence And Personality Flaws. The Second Section Focuses On Faulty Views Of Character, And Explores Why People Tend To Perceive They Are More Unique And Special Than They Really Are, Why People Tend To Possess Inflated Opinions Of Their Moral Fiber That Are Not Matched By Their Deeds, And Why People Fail To Anticipate The Impact That Emotions Have On Their Choices And Actions. The Book Will Be Of Great Interest To Students And Researchers In Social, Personality, And Cognitive Psychology, But, Through The Accessibility Of Its Writing Style, It Will Also Appeal To Those Outside Of Academic Psychology With An Interest In The Psychological Processes Which Lead To Our Self-insight. People base thousands of choices across a lifetime on the views they hold of their skill and moral character, yet a growing body of research in psychology shows that such self-views are often misguided or misinformed. Anyone who has dealt with others in the classroom, in the workplace, in the medical office, or on the therapist's couch has probably experienced people whose opinions of themselves depart from the objectively possible. This book outlines some of the common errors that people make when they evaluate themselves. It also describes the many psychological barriers - some that people build by their own hand - that prevent individuals from achieving self-insight about their ability and character. The first section of the book focuses on mistaken views of competence, and explores why people often remain blissfully unaware of their incompetence and personality flaws. The second section focuses on faulty views of character, and explores why people tend to perceive they are more unique and special than they really are, why people tend to possess inflated opinions of their moral fiber that are not matched by their deeds, and why people fail to anticipate the impact that emotions have on their choices and actions. The book will be of great interest to students and researchers in social, personality, and cognitive psychology, but, through the accessibility of its writing style, it will also appeal to those outside of academic psychology with an interest in the psychological processes that lead to our self-insight Introduction ix Acknowledgments xi 1 Students are accurate judges of how much they know 1 2 Students learn better when teaching methods are matched with their learning styles 11 3 Lecturing is broadly inferior to other teaching methods 25 4 Using PowerPoint in the classroom improves student learning 40 5 Minimally guided instruction is superior to traditional direct instruction 54 6 Rewards always undermine students intrinsic motivation 67 7 Multitasking does not inhibit academic performance 81 8 People are either left ]brained or right ]brained 97 9 There are many independent varieties of intelligence 113 10 Self ]esteem improves academic performance 128 11 Repetition is a highly effective study strategy 142 12 Multiple ]choice exams are inferior to other exam formats 153 13 Students should not change answers on multiple ]choice exams 163 14 Coaching produces large gains in college admission test scores 174 15 Standardized tests do not predict academic performance 184 16 Standardized ability tests are biased against some minority groups 194 Index 207

Great Myths of Education and Learning reviews the scientific research on a number of widely-held misconceptions pertaining to learning and education, including misconceptions regarding student characteristics, how students learn, and the validity of various methods of assessment.

• A collection of the most important and influential education myths in one book, with in-depth examinations of each topic
• Focusing on research evidence regarding how people learn and how we can know if learning has taken place, the book provides a highly comprehensive review of the evidence contradicting each belief
• Topics covered include student characteristics related to learning, views of how the learning process works, and issues related to teaching techniques and testing

"Great Myths of Education and Learning reviews the scientific research on a number of widely-held misconceptions pertaining to learning and education, including misconceptions regarding student characteristics, how students learn, and the validity of various methods of assessment"-- Provided by publisher