What kinds of books could I read to develop as a teacher?
Have you ever wondered if you could find and read some book about teaching and learning, but you did not know where to begin?
Fortunately, Miloš Mladenović, Assistant Professor at the Department of Built Environment, has been collecting and curating such a list. For Miloš, these books have been a great inspiration and practical help over the years of developing his own teaching approach. As such, the following list of books contains examples that could benefit a range of interests, from those just starting with their teaching experiences to those looking for specific advice on certain elements of their already well-developed teaching practice.
The first part of the list includes some “classics” in education theory, reminding us that big questions of learning have been around us for a while now. The second part includes books that provide different perspectives on higher education and learning theories in particular. The last part contains the most pragmatic set of handbooks, with specific tips and research-based evidence about specific educational methods and practices.
Classics in education
Weimer, M. (2002). Learner-centered teaching: Five key changes to practice. John Wiley & Sons.
Wenger, E. (1999). Communities of practice: Learning, meaning, and identity. Cambridge university press.
Schön, D. A. (1987). Educating the reflective practitioner: Toward a new design for teaching and learning in the professions. Jossey-Bass.
Dewey, J. (1938). Experience and education. Free Press.
Dewey, J. (1916). Democracy and education: An introduction to the philosophy of education. Macmillan.
Rousseau, J., (1763). Emile, or On Education
Bacon, F. (1605). The advancement of learning.
Broad-view books on higher education and learning theories
Brookfield, S. D. (2017). Becoming a critically reflective teacher. John Wiley & Sons.
Ormrod, J. E. (2017). How we think and learn: Theoretical perspectives and practical implications. Cambridge University Press.
Wankat, P. C., & Oreovicz, F. S. (Eds.). (2015). Teaching engineering. Purdue University Press.
Rhem, J. (2013). Using reflection and metacognition to improve student learning: Across the disciplines, across the academy. Stylus Publishing, LLC..
Jarvis, P. (2012). Towards a comprehensive theory of human learning. Routledge.
Lieberman, D. A. (2011). Learning and memory. Cambridge University Press.
Ambrose, S. A., Bridges, M. W., DiPietro, M., Lovett, M. C., & Norman, M. K. (2010). How learning works: Seven research-based principles for smart teaching. John Wiley & Sons.
Schubert, W. H. (2010). Love, justice, and education: John Dewey and the Utopians. IAP.
Cross, S. (2009). Adult Teaching and Learning: Developing Your Practice. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Johnson, D. W., Johnson, R. T., & Smith, K. A. (2006). Active learning. Cooperation in the college classroom. Interaction Book Company.
Zajda, J., Majhanovich, S., Rust, V. & Martín Sabina, E. (2006). Education and Social Justice. Springer.
Brookfield, S. D. (2004). The power of critical theory: Liberating adult learning and teaching. Wiley.
Feldman, K. A., & Paulsen, M. B. (1998). Teaching and Learning in the College Classroom. Pearson Learning Solutions.
Bucciarelli, L. L., & Bucciarelli, L. L. (1994). Designing engineers. MIT press.
Newell, A. (1994). Unified theories of cognition. Harvard University Press.
Handbooks on higher and engineering education
Morrison, G. R., Ross, S. J., Morrison, J. R., & Kalman, H. K. (2019). Designing effective instruction. John Wiley & Sons.
Johri, A., & Olds, B. M. (Eds.). (2014). Cambridge handbook of engineering education research. Cambridge University Press.
McKeachie, W., & Svinicki, M. (2013). McKeachie’s teaching tips. Cengage Learning.
Astin, A. W. (2012). Assessment for excellence: The philosophy and practice of assessment and evaluation in higher education. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Eyster, R. H., & Martin, C. (2010). Successful classroom management: Real-world, time-tested techniques for the most important skill set every teacher needs. Sourcebooks, Inc.
Davis, B. G. (2009). Tools for teaching. John Wiley & Sons.
Spurlin, J. E., Rajala, S. A., & Lavelle, J. P. (2008). Designing better engineering education through assessment: a practical resource for faculty and department chairs on using assessment and ABET criteria to improve student learning. Stylus Publishing, LLC.
Fry, H., Ketteridge, S., & Marshall, S. (Eds.). (2008). A handbook for teaching and learning in higher education: Enhancing academic practice. Routledge.
Bain, K. (2004). What the best college teachers do. Harvard University Press
Author: Miloš Mladenović
Assistant Professor, Transportation engineering
Department of Built Environment
