If you believe that schools can go beyond test scores and standards to foster students' understanding of subjects, then here's a book that will renew your commitment to meaningful teaching and learning. Using classroom observations and keen insights from research, one of education's foremost thinkers on constructivism explains Why lessons and courses should involve students in answering challenging questions, resolving contradictions, and solving intriguing problems. How focusing classroom instruction on big ideas develops student understanding as well as essential skills. How replacing typical school approaches with a community of learners model will lead to higher achievement for more learners. Why attempts to simplify schooling tend to subvert the goal of educating students for real life.