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