Instead of answering the question “What method of teaching works best?” Ken Bain explores “What environment supports deep learning most successfully?” In the best environments, he argues, students try to solve problems they find intriguing, beautiful or important; they feel challenged and supported; they work collaboratively; they believe their work will be considered fairly and honestly; and they can receive feedback before their work is judged. Teachers are most likely to create such an environment when they have a passionate and compassionate concern for their students and for their students’ development. This classic book is one of my favorites.
Ken Bain, What the Best College Teachers Do (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2004), 18.
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