John C. Bean

“The professor’s guide to integrating writing, critical thing, and active learning in the classroom,” according to the subtitle, this book delivers. In four parts--Understanding connections between thinking and writing; Designing problem-based assignments; Coaching students as learners, thinkers, and writers; and Reading, commenting on, and grading student writing--Bean clearly shows why writing is important for learning and how to make it a more prominent part of any class--without necessarily creating a lot of additional work for the instructor. Recommended for anyone who teaches at high school or higher levels, no matter the subject.… (mer)

Teaching for critical thinking, especially in a way that fosters student engagement and active learning, is even more important today than when the first edition of this best-selling classic was published. In this thoroughly revised and updated edition, John Bean offers a practical guide for designing writing and critical thinking activities and incorporating them into courses across all disciplines in ways that stimulate inquiry, exploration, discussion, and debate.

In this second edition, Bean integrates recent pedagogical research, brings rhetorical theory to bear on writing in the disciplines, addresses quantitative and scientific literacy, advocates a new approach to the research paper, includes activities for online and blended learning environments, and offers new ideas for transformative assessment of student learning.… (mer)