© 2001-2020 Michael G. Maxwell, Maxwell Learning LLC
Now available from Student's Friend founder Mike Maxwell
Future-Focused History Teaching:
Restoring the Power of Historical Learning
"This book is intended for people who value history and believe that historical learning should be less a pointless exercise in temporarily memorizing trivial facts for the next exam, and more a quest for important knowledge from the past that can inform judgment in the future. Any society that has developed the capacity to destroy most life on earth needs all the good judgment it can get, and there is no better place to seek it than in the long record of human experience." –From the Introduction
The angel and the devil symbolize two sides of human nature, which is the chief source of principles of historical knowledge.
Read the first chapter:
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction: A conflict at the heart of history education
PART 1: THE PROBLEMS
Chapter 1: An encounter with the power of history
Chapter 2: Basic problems of history education
Chapter 3: Who is to blame for the trivia game?
Chapter 4: Hard times for history education
PART 2: SEEKING SOLUTIONS
Chapter 5: Historical knowledge suitable for education
Chapter 6: Cognition and the grand assumption
Chapter 7: Basic principles of history education
Chapter 8: How useful is history schooling?
Chapter 9: Threats to judgment: ignorance and bias
Chapter 10: Taking the vision to school
Epilogue: The dance of destiny
Reaction to Future-Focused History Teaching:
"The tragedy of typical history instruction is not just that we forget it, but that it is so forgettable. Mike Maxwell's thoughtful prescription: Principles drawn from history that speak to today and tomorrow."
–David Perkins, Professor Emeritus, Harvard Graduate School of Education
"Not for nothing are we known as the United States of Amnesia. This book makes a great case for bringing the study of history back to the center of our educational system—and offers valuable suggestions on how best to teach history's lessons."
–Stephen Kinzer, former foreign correspondent for the New York Times,
author of histories including Overthrow, All the Shah's Men, and The Brothers
"Mike Maxwell's book contains copious wisdom and provides food for thought for history teachers everywhere. It is impossible not to be stimulated by its provocative insights about how the history classroom can prepare us for the future. You may not agree with everything in this book. But one thing's for sure: You will not be bored by it."
–Sam Wineburg, Director, History Eduction Group, Stanford University Graduate School of Education
A review of Future-Focused History Teaching
from veteran history educator Jim Smith
Former journalist and history teacher Mike Maxwell has been operating the Student's Friend website since 2001.
In addition to writing Future-Focused History Teaching, he is the author of The Student's Friend Concise World History, now available as a book.
To learn more about future-focused history, visit the blog.
To learn more about the book, or to to order, visit Amazon.com.
"Pithy Quotes" about history education
Also by Mike Maxwell:
The Student's Friend Concise World History
