How does Wikipedia really impact research, knowledge and literacy? How can we unlock the imaginative capacities of learners by engaging in the development of critical and creative minds? The OISE library has added a few new titles to help answer these insightful questions as they relate to studies in education. Come and visit us soon!

Deschooling the imagination: critical thought as social practice by Eric J. Weiner is a worthy read if you’d like to learn what it means to be actively engaged in developing a critical/creative mindset against the prevailing ideology of our public schools. It also covers the social/cultural relationship between what and how we learn versus our imaginative capacities. Most importantly, this book teaches how to be an educator in the service of a revived critical/creative imagination.

Since its launch in 2001, Wikipedia has been a lightning rod for debates about knowledge and traditional authority. It has come under particular scrutiny from publishers of print encyclopedias and college professors, who are skeptical about whether a crowd-sourced encyclopedia—in which most entries are subject to potentially endless reviewing and editing by anonymous collaborators whose credentials cannot be established—can ever truly be accurate or authoritative.

In Wikipedia U : knowledge, authority, and liberal education in the digital age ,Thomas Leitch argues that the assumptions these critics make about accuracy and authority are themselves open to debate. After all, academics are expected both to consult the latest research and to return to the earliest sources in their field, each of which has its own authority. And when teachers encourage students to master information so that they can question it independently, their ultimate goal is to create a new generation of thinkers and makers whose authority will ultimately supplant their own. Wikipedia U offers vital new lessons about the nature of authority and the opportunities and challenges of Web 2.0.

Available in both print and online from the OISE library, The Gamification of higher education : developing a game-based business strategy in a disrupted marketplace

If we could design an educational experience where learning was a part of personal growth and development, would we create empowered individuals who would be better positioned to make a contribution upon their entry into the real world? Neil B. Niman says gamification has the potential to do just that.

Instead of thinking about education as the mastery of a body of knowledge where the subject matter becomes the focus of our attention, The gamification of higher education  encourages us to think of it as a process that draws out the best in individuals and prepares them for happy, productive, and successful lives. Niman reveals how the power of games can be used to create an entirely new population of super-empowered individuals who are better positioned to acquire the skills they need to remain relevant in an ever-changing economy.

Jessica Perich Carleton says dramatic play can be applied to a diverse range of school subjects and recreational settings and is guaranteed to enhance students’ learning and encourage artistic expression. Lesson plans in Story drama in the special needs classroom : step-by-step lesson plans for teaching through dramatic play take teachers through every aspect of running fun and engaging story dramas with ways to adapt them to meet the needs of the inclusive or special needs group.

Next time you’re in the OISE Library, be sure to take a look at the New Acquisitions shelf found on the Ground Floor. There you’ll find all of the newest books in each of our collections. Check out these new books from the stacks:

Attachment-Based Teaching: Creating a Tribal Classroom

Clinical psychologist, Louis J. Cozolino, examines the the sociality of a student’s brain, noting that a student’s ability to learn is incredibly influenced by their attachment to their teachers and peers. He argues that secure relationships between students, peers, and teachers, optimize learning. These relationships increase motivation, minimize anxiety and more! Cozolino offers a model to enhance secure attachments, and looks at their impact in creating supportive classrooms and school communities.

Becoming Educated: Young People’s Narratives of Disadvantage, Class, Place and Identity

John Smyth and Peter McInrney argue against the emphasis of blaming students, measuring and comparing them against one another as though they are all from the same backgrounds. Instead, they listen to the unique voices of students, shifting the focus to looking at the differences in what is going on inside students’ lives. Through understanding these differences  teachers can make significant improvements to better educate students.

Key Perspectives on Dyslexia: An Essential Text for Educators

David Armstrong and Garry Squires tackle the difficult discussion of dyslexia in this condensed volume. The authors examine the skills and knowledge necessary to be an educator for students who present with dyslexia. They include detailed case studies on how presentations of dyslexia differ by individual, offer guidance on how to identify dyslexia, and describe key issues in assessing those affected.

You Can Do This: Hope and Help for New Teachers

With some OISE students facing their first practicum in February, it’s natural to feel a bit overwhelmed. Bestselling author, presenter, and former high school English teacher, Robyn R. Jackson, provides a pep talk in a book for new teachers. She offers ten short lessons on some of the obstacles you’ll face as new teachers and how to handle them. Her words are like those of an encouraging mentor giving you the best advice on how to succeed!

All of our new acquisitions can be found on the Ground Floor of the OISE Library! Books from the stacks are available to all current U of T students and staff, Alumni Research Readers, and CTEP students. For more information on OISE Library loan services, click here.