WillinghamWhen Can You Trust the Experts?: How to Tell Good Science from Bad in Education

Dan Willngham does great work when it comes to bringing science and education together. His previous book, "Why Students Don't Like School?" is a very accessible and very sensible look at how we teach, why many of the things of we do probably don't work very well, how this effects kids' view of their own schooling, and what science tells us about how we might change things. Now I think he's done us one better by giving us a book that helps us evaluate all the science and pseudo-science we hear about in education.I think this is significant for two reason: (1) I'm not aware of any book for a non-scientist like me that provides tools I can use every day to evaluate scientific claims about teaching and learning; and (2) Dan is essentially giving us a powerful tool to investigate his own work as a scientist as well. His book, then, not only tells us something about educational research, it tells us something about Dan: that he is truly one of the experts we can trust because he is willing to not only willing to put his own work up for public scrutiny but also to give non-scientists like me the very tool we need to scrutinize his efforts.I could tell you a ton of things I like about the book. It's full of useful ideas that I have incorporated easily into my own educational practice. But you can read the book and find those things out for yourself.What I'd really like people to consider is the nature of the person who wrote this book. How many scientist have written books for non-scientists about how to evaluate scientific claims--including their own? I'm sure there are some. But I don't think there are many. And I certainly haven't found one in education that is as thoughtful, as practical, and as fair-minded as this book.Whether you're a teacher, a principal, a parent, or a policy maker, this book is well worth having on your bookshelf (or in your Kindle if you're out of shelf space like I am). Dan's "Science and Education Blog" is also a great read. Much like his book, it brings to the lay person like me, brief and accessible interpretations of the very latest research on learning--with the same fair-minded and high-integrity approach he has brought to the writing of "When Can You Trust the Experts?"

Parents, teachers and administrators are often in a position where they need to evaluate programs and products offered by companies and governments, from the point of view of scientific merit. That is what this book is about: Helping evaluate the quality of evidence and research in education from a scientific standpoint. Willingham encourages a skeptical attitude toward experts in education and education research, primarily due to the complexity, confusions, ambiguities, tendency to fraud and deception, and difficulty of assessment of quality of programs and projects in education. He provides useful context for thinking about the science involved in education, and about how to sort through the complexity of assessment in a relatively practical and sound fashion. I think his ideas are to some extent of value to consider, and his cautionary viewpoint (as he, himself, is an expert) makes one aware of what is involved, and why we cannot just rely on experts, as we often can in other fields, such as medicine. The book has a modestly optimistic tone, but Willingham does not slight the difficulties involved in assessing courses of action in education. I think his book is mainly of interest to people involved in K-12 education and the first couple of years of college.

This is a book that I highly recommend for any teacher at any level. There is a huge industry in education for marketing the next great educational breakthrough. Buy this product implement this plan use this piece of technology and student performance will skyrocket! That is until the next great thing comes along and then it is back to the beginning with yet another educational plan. Willingham does a good job of explaining in an easy to understand way why we should be suspicious of educational research and more than just complaining about this he gives the reader a way to determine if what is being proposed is a waste of time or is possibly useful. While it is not a foolproof method, it does arm the reader with a toolbox they can use to same time money and a lot of frustration for the Teachers, administrators, students and parents. I will admit that I read this book out of frustration over watching my own school system flounder around looking for a silver bullet to fix all of our school system's woes. After having read this book I feel better prepared to assess what is and is not useful.

As a current undergraduate student at w&m, I was required by my professor to read this book. Though it was daunting at times, l appreciated that the book wasn't too technical and was relatively easy to follow. I also enjoyed all the different ways in which the author identified one could use to distinguish between fact and fiction, real and fake or even truth and lies.

A very well done book addressing a myriad of concerns with behavioral research and education practice from a well thought out scientific perspective. The book loses some momentum towards the end (step 3 and 4 in chapters 6 & 7 namely), but prior to that it is a book I would eagerly recommend to those desiring a rudimentary background in the subject. Nothing groundbreaking for those well versed in psychology, but arguably required reading for those involved in education (as well as a general audience) who do not have an extensive background in cognitive psychology.

Very sound interpretation of science’s structure and role in society, mainly in education. Didactically managed, the text is well elaborated, full of useful hints about how we can use expert knowledge wisely. Scientific knowledge is no panacea – it applies only to logic-experimental phenomena. But in this field it is the best we have, so education should rely far more on research and knowledge in order to offer students great learning opportunities. The book is also very valuable in its epistemological background: what is science, how is it produced, characteristics of scientific method, science as a controversy in practice, no final results, always in progress…

All of Dan's books are fantastic. If only the educational establishment in the western world would listen! He is a great writer and he also makes a whole load of sense. If you're interested in education, definitely read him. He is a genius.

Excellent book thank ypu

Muito bom o livro, nos leva a muitos questionamentos sobre regras de bolo

As a researcher in education and teacher for (primary school) teachers. This book is absolutely perfect for my students who want to become teachers or already are.The reason why this book is uniquely awesome and useful is that teachers and educators can't read all (or even a little bit) of the scientific literature. So you have to listen to experts, and they rarely agree on anything about education (at least in France). This book will be the most effective (cost/benefits) way to learn about educational science all your (teacher's) life because you will know where to look and what to ask when facing "experts" who want tell you about how to do your job ;).As a sidenote, you can read any of the books written by Dan Willingham, I think he's a very good writer and a very sharp thinker.I strongly recommand!