Self-directed learning, 27 Oct 2008
This approachable and accessible book covers most aspects of informal and self-directed learning at home.

The authors interviewed 26, mostly British, home-schooling families, and their outcomes go some way towards rebutting conventional arguments that education cannot exist beyond the structure of schools, curricula, and testing.

Sections on the acquisition of literacy and numeracy are particularly well researched. The children concerned learn almost by accident through their everyday experiences, when they feel like it and are ready for it. Some of them receive input from their parents, while others learn with complete autonomy.

The families and the authors describe how the majority of the children observed are actively engaged in their own learning and, therefore, establish their own learning agendas guided by what suits them best. The removal of competition, restrictive curricula and the time-wasting built into the school day create the space for children to develop their self-motivation and thereby enable them to learn more efficiently.

As a retired teacher with thirty years experience, I find that this book provides me with evidence of the value of home schooling and throws out a powerful challenge to the skeptics.


Excellent- well researched & highly informative, 16 Oct 2008
This is a very interesting book about the theory of how children learn in the home environment by comparison to school. Based predominantly on academic research it is a very through and well referenced piece of work which makes the content that much more useful. If you're fed up with books that peddle 'dribble theories' which have no scientific backing, then this book is for you. It's very well grounded in solid academic research.

In terms of content, it can be a bit repetative if you're reading it as leisure reading, but as it seeks to be an authoratative piece of work i don't think it is excessively over done.

The style if very accessable, and its easy for a reader to relate it to their own experiences both as a child and as a carer/parent, demonstrating how people (adults and children) learn outside the formal classroom.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's contemplating homeschooling, and to anyone who's involved in the business of education (whether of children or adults) as it gives a new perspective on teaching.

Self-directed learning, 27 Oct 2008
This approachable and accessible book covers most aspects of informal and self-directed learning at home.

The authors interviewed 26, mostly British, home-schooling families, and their outcomes go some way towards rebutting conventional arguments that education cannot exist beyond the structure of schools, curricula, and testing.

Sections on the acquisition of literacy and numeracy are particularly well researched. The children concerned learn almost by accident through their everyday experiences, when they feel like it and are ready for it. Some of them receive input from their parents, while others learn with complete autonomy.

The families and the authors describe how the majority of the children observed are actively engaged in their own learning and, therefore, establish their own learning agendas guided by what suits them best. The removal of competition, restrictive curricula and the time-wasting built into the school day create the space for children to develop their self-motivation and thereby enable them to learn more efficiently.

As a retired teacher with thirty years experience, I find that this book provides me with evidence of the value of home schooling and throws out a powerful challenge to the skeptics.


Excellent- well researched & highly informative, 16 Oct 2008
This is a very interesting book about the theory of how children learn in the home environment by comparison to school. Based predominantly on academic research it is a very through and well referenced piece of work which makes the content that much more useful. If you're fed up with books that peddle 'dribble theories' which have no scientific backing, then this book is for you. It's very well grounded in solid academic research.

In terms of content, it can be a bit repetative if you're reading it as leisure reading, but as it seeks to be an authoratative piece of work i don't think it is excessively over done.

The style if very accessable, and its easy for a reader to relate it to their own experiences both as a child and as a carer/parent, demonstrating how people (adults and children) learn outside the formal classroom.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's contemplating homeschooling, and to anyone who's involved in the business of education (whether of children or adults) as it gives a new perspective on teaching.

An invaluable guide, 29 Jul 2001
I found this book to be very informative, the contrasts betwwen BEd and PGCE students did mean that I could focus my attentions to the areas where, statisically, I would be weak. I also found that this was a book where I could dip into, to find a particular topic that was pertinent to my areas of development. However I did find that there other books that were easier to read and less 'wordy' for instance - "Learning to Teach - Gill Nicholls"

Self-directed learning, 27 Oct 2008
This approachable and accessible book covers most aspects of informal and self-directed learning at home.

The authors interviewed 26, mostly British, home-schooling families, and their outcomes go some way towards rebutting conventional arguments that education cannot exist beyond the structure of schools, curricula, and testing.

Sections on the acquisition of literacy and numeracy are particularly well researched. The children concerned learn almost by accident through their everyday experiences, when they feel like it and are ready for it. Some of them receive input from their parents, while others learn with complete autonomy.

The families and the authors describe how the majority of the children observed are actively engaged in their own learning and, therefore, establish their own learning agendas guided by what suits them best. The removal of competition, restrictive curricula and the time-wasting built into the school day create the space for children to develop their self-motivation and thereby enable them to learn more efficiently.

As a retired teacher with thirty years experience, I find that this book provides me with evidence of the value of home schooling and throws out a powerful challenge to the skeptics.


Excellent- well researched & highly informative, 16 Oct 2008
This is a very interesting book about the theory of how children learn in the home environment by comparison to school. Based predominantly on academic research it is a very through and well referenced piece of work which makes the content that much more useful. If you're fed up with books that peddle 'dribble theories' which have no scientific backing, then this book is for you. It's very well grounded in solid academic research.

In terms of content, it can be a bit repetative if you're reading it as leisure reading, but as it seeks to be an authoratative piece of work i don't think it is excessively over done.

The style if very accessable, and its easy for a reader to relate it to their own experiences both as a child and as a carer/parent, demonstrating how people (adults and children) learn outside the formal classroom.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's contemplating homeschooling, and to anyone who's involved in the business of education (whether of children or adults) as it gives a new perspective on teaching.

An invaluable guide, 29 Jul 2001
I found this book to be very informative, the contrasts betwwen BEd and PGCE students did mean that I could focus my attentions to the areas where, statisically, I would be weak. I also found that this was a book where I could dip into, to find a particular topic that was pertinent to my areas of development. However I did find that there other books that were easier to read and less 'wordy' for instance - "Learning to Teach - Gill Nicholls"

A great and jargon free guide to blended learning and student support, 21 May 2008
This is an excellent and jargon-free book which contains lots of good ideas about how to use and make the most of blended learning. Relevant to practioners and others with an interest in pedagogy and student support in distance and campus based environments, it represents a pragmatic and grounded guide to developing and using blended learning, and incorporates a wealth of relevant examples, illustrations, and comments from tutors and students - all of which help to demystify the subject and really bring it to life.

watch for 2nd ed, 08 Apr 2008
just a note to say that the second edition is due to be published in paperback on 25th April. The full title is: Blended learning and online tutoring.Planning Learner Support and Activity Design. There seems to be some error on the Amazon website.

Blended learning - a good practice guide, 18 Jul 2006
This book does what is says on the cover - it offers a good practice guide to supporting learning online. It is realistic and mercifully free of outlandish claims for online teaching methods. Instead teachers and instructional designers interested in online learning will find a mass of practical advice, strategies and 'bright ideas' much of which is derived from Open University experience

Self-directed learning, 27 Oct 2008
This approachable and accessible book covers most aspects of informal and self-directed learning at home.

The authors interviewed 26, mostly British, home-schooling families, and their outcomes go some way towards rebutting conventional arguments that education cannot exist beyond the structure of schools, curricula, and testing.

Sections on the acquisition of literacy and numeracy are particularly well researched. The children concerned learn almost by accident through their everyday experiences, when they feel like it and are ready for it. Some of them receive input from their parents, while others learn with complete autonomy.

The families and the authors describe how the majority of the children observed are actively engaged in their own learning and, therefore, establish their own learning agendas guided by what suits them best. The removal of competition, restrictive curricula and the time-wasting built into the school day create the space for children to develop their self-motivation and thereby enable them to learn more efficiently.

As a retired teacher with thirty years experience, I find that this book provides me with evidence of the value of home schooling and throws out a powerful challenge to the skeptics.


Excellent- well researched & highly informative, 16 Oct 2008
This is a very interesting book about the theory of how children learn in the home environment by comparison to school. Based predominantly on academic research it is a very through and well referenced piece of work which makes the content that much more useful. If you're fed up with books that peddle 'dribble theories' which have no scientific backing, then this book is for you. It's very well grounded in solid academic research.

In terms of content, it can be a bit repetative if you're reading it as leisure reading, but as it seeks to be an authoratative piece of work i don't think it is excessively over done.

The style if very accessable, and its easy for a reader to relate it to their own experiences both as a child and as a carer/parent, demonstrating how people (adults and children) learn outside the formal classroom.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's contemplating homeschooling, and to anyone who's involved in the business of education (whether of children or adults) as it gives a new perspective on teaching.

An invaluable guide, 29 Jul 2001
I found this book to be very informative, the contrasts betwwen BEd and PGCE students did mean that I could focus my attentions to the areas where, statisically, I would be weak. I also found that this was a book where I could dip into, to find a particular topic that was pertinent to my areas of development. However I did find that there other books that were easier to read and less 'wordy' for instance - "Learning to Teach - Gill Nicholls"

A great and jargon free guide to blended learning and student support, 21 May 2008
This is an excellent and jargon-free book which contains lots of good ideas about how to use and make the most of blended learning. Relevant to practioners and others with an interest in pedagogy and student support in distance and campus based environments, it represents a pragmatic and grounded guide to developing and using blended learning, and incorporates a wealth of relevant examples, illustrations, and comments from tutors and students - all of which help to demystify the subject and really bring it to life.

watch for 2nd ed, 08 Apr 2008
just a note to say that the second edition is due to be published in paperback on 25th April. The full title is: Blended learning and online tutoring.Planning Learner Support and Activity Design. There seems to be some error on the Amazon website.

Blended learning - a good practice guide, 18 Jul 2006
This book does what is says on the cover - it offers a good practice guide to supporting learning online. It is realistic and mercifully free of outlandish claims for online teaching methods. Instead teachers and instructional designers interested in online learning will find a mass of practical advice, strategies and 'bright ideas' much of which is derived from Open University experience

A thorough guide to home education with excellent resource lists, 18 Aug 2008
I wish to enhance my daughter's education rather than homeschool. This book gives some advice on this, but obviously is mostly aimed at home education.

The book clearly expounds its education philosophy. It gives WHAT, HOW and WHY for its program. It is very much aimed at the liberal arts - using history as a framework to build English teaching around. Strongly recommending Latin study before other languages. For my personal taste, I would like to build more around science and mathematics as the vital thinking toolkit for children before Latin. However, as previous reviews have stated, the book gives examples of curriculum rather than pure prescription.

The book has comprehensive resource listings for each subject. Ones I have bought include the excellent Bob Books First! (Bob Books) as well as Mudpies to Magnets: A Preschool Science Curriculum. The resource strengths and weaknesses are given as well as alternatives.

Other reviewers have commented about the lack of a specifically Christian ethos. The book recommends religion in its place in the curriculum, but is a book about home schooling rather than about Christianity. Some of the resources recommended are from Christian publishers. This is made clear, along with other recommendations where this is not the desire of the parents. The authors are Christians.

One thing that could enhance a future edition is more on the mechanics and psychology of teaching. For example:- my daughter often does not want to sit down with me and read. Advice on when to leave off for a day or two - or until she is older - or to persevere so she realises that it is not a choice - would be very helpful, along with some guidance as to how to encourage the "right choice".

Great as a resource- but not Christ-centred, 06 Jan 2007
I've had this book a couple of years and used it quite frequently. It takes classical education seriously and it is worth getting for the author's well-explained views on how to homeschool and for the excellent resources recommended (though a lot are not available easily in the UK). There are many glowing testimonials on the web to this and the related language and history books. My reservation would be that this is Classical education but not Christ-focused. Looking through the contents pages, I can see no reference to teaching Bible, for example, or how our Christian faith influences the different subjects taught; this holds up for the earlier part of the book which I know best. For great Christian Classical homeschool books, try Doug Wilson. For resources, I like this plus Home Learning Year by Year, by Rebecca Rupp.

The most complete educational resource for homeschoolers!, 29 Aug 1999
People choose to teach their children at home for many reasons. If you are running away from a formal school environment because you don't like "rigidity," then perhaps the system described in this book is not for you.

If, on the other hand, you are contemplating teaching your children at home because public (and even private) traditional schools have watered down the content of your children's academic learning, and you truly want to give your child a world-class education at home in the classical tradition, you need look no further than this remarkable resource.

The authors have compiled a complete list of what to teach, where to find the resources with which to teach it, and, if you need it, some suggestions for working out a schedule that will accomplish it all (The authors acknowledge that the schedules in the book won't work for all families, but are merely meant to be examples).

Mind you, this book describes a system of rigorous education that requires dedication on the part of both parent and student. Any parent who has chosen to homeschool their children, though, already has proven that they have the necessary dedication to follow this program. The authors do not give credence to popular notions that children need watered-down, video- and photographically-enhanced stimuli to learn. They encourage parents to teach their children to read early, read constantly, and eventually to learn to search for answers to questions on their own. Children of the video age may find it difficult at first to actively learn, but if they are to be well and truly educated, and become lifetime learners, they cannot learn any other way.

You can use this book in many ways. If you want an all-encompassing guide, complete with suggested schedules, the authors have included them. The beauty of home education, however, is that you have the freedom to modify your curriculum.

So, what if there is a fabulous exhibit at your local art museum, but doesn't fit into the historical period you're studying that year? You go! You CAN go because even the rigorous program described in this book takes far less time than children typically spend in school and doing homework. What if your child has passion for art or dinosaurs? At home, you have the freedom to allow their exploration without sacrificing any other component of their education. Because even if you do everything described in the book, you'll still be finished with time to spare for these "passions."

But if you don't give your child the education described in this book, how will they ever have enough information about their world to know what they truly are passionate about?

Jessie Wise and her daughter, Susan Wise Bauer have been living the homeschool experience for more than 25 years, first as Jessie taught Susan and her other children, and now as Susan teaches her three children. There are few families in America that have this kind of experience from which to draw. I am using this book as the core of my homeschool curriculum (in fact, have used the program for a full year already, having used Mrs. Wise as our curriculum consultant before the book came out), and highly recommend it to parents who choose to homeschool to ensure that their children receive a quality education -- one that is simply not available in public (and even good private) schools anymore.

An absolutely fantastic guide for the home educator!, 21 Jun 1999
I was able to read some of this book at the Virginia Homeschooler's Conference in Richmond, VA, from 17-19 June 1999. You will find it a fantastic resource to guide you in classically educating your children at home.

Susan Wise Bauer, the co-author, was classically home educated by her mother, Jessie Wise, the other co-author. Susan is living proof of the success of this classic home education philosophy! I pray that my children, who my wife and I will begin to home educate this year, are as well-educated as Susan when they leave our home. I believe if we follow the classic model as outlined in this book and continue to teach them in the ways of the LORD, they will be.

Self-directed learning, 27 Oct 2008
This approachable and accessible book covers most aspects of informal and self-directed learning at home.

The authors interviewed 26, mostly British, home-schooling families, and their outcomes go some way towards rebutting conventional arguments that education cannot exist beyond the structure of schools, curricula, and testing.

Sections on the acquisition of literacy and numeracy are particularly well researched. The children concerned learn almost by accident through their everyday experiences, when they feel like it and are ready for it. Some of them receive input from their parents, while others learn with complete autonomy.

The families and the authors describe how the majority of the children observed are actively engaged in their own learning and, therefore, establish their own learning agendas guided by what suits them best. The removal of competition, restrictive curricula and the time-wasting built into the school day create the space for children to develop their self-motivation and thereby enable them to learn more efficiently.

As a retired teacher with thirty years experience, I find that this book provides me with evidence of the value of home schooling and throws out a powerful challenge to the skeptics.


Excellent- well researched & highly informative, 16 Oct 2008
This is a very interesting book about the theory of how children learn in the home environment by comparison to school. Based predominantly on academic research it is a very through and well referenced piece of work which makes the content that much more useful. If you're fed up with books that peddle 'dribble theories' which have no scientific backing, then this book is for you. It's very well grounded in solid academic research.

In terms of content, it can be a bit repetative if you're reading it as leisure reading, but as it seeks to be an authoratative piece of work i don't think it is excessively over done.

The style if very accessable, and its easy for a reader to relate it to their own experiences both as a child and as a carer/parent, demonstrating how people (adults and children) learn outside the formal classroom.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's contemplating homeschooling, and to anyone who's involved in the business of education (whether of children or adults) as it gives a new perspective on teaching.

An invaluable guide, 29 Jul 2001
I found this book to be very informative, the contrasts betwwen BEd and PGCE students did mean that I could focus my attentions to the areas where, statisically, I would be weak. I also found that this was a book where I could dip into, to find a particular topic that was pertinent to my areas of development. However I did find that there other books that were easier to read and less 'wordy' for instance - "Learning to Teach - Gill Nicholls"

A great and jargon free guide to blended learning and student support, 21 May 2008
This is an excellent and jargon-free book which contains lots of good ideas about how to use and make the most of blended learning. Relevant to practioners and others with an interest in pedagogy and student support in distance and campus based environments, it represents a pragmatic and grounded guide to developing and using blended learning, and incorporates a wealth of relevant examples, illustrations, and comments from tutors and students - all of which help to demystify the subject and really bring it to life.

watch for 2nd ed, 08 Apr 2008
just a note to say that the second edition is due to be published in paperback on 25th April. The full title is: Blended learning and online tutoring.Planning Learner Support and Activity Design. There seems to be some error on the Amazon website.

Blended learning - a good practice guide, 18 Jul 2006
This book does what is says on the cover - it offers a good practice guide to supporting learning online. It is realistic and mercifully free of outlandish claims for online teaching methods. Instead teachers and instructional designers interested in online learning will find a mass of practical advice, strategies and 'bright ideas' much of which is derived from Open University experience

A thorough guide to home education with excellent resource lists, 18 Aug 2008
I wish to enhance my daughter's education rather than homeschool. This book gives some advice on this, but obviously is mostly aimed at home education.

The book clearly expounds its education philosophy. It gives WHAT, HOW and WHY for its program. It is very much aimed at the liberal arts - using history as a framework to build English teaching around. Strongly recommending Latin study before other languages. For my personal taste, I would like to build more around science and mathematics as the vital thinking toolkit for children before Latin. However, as previous reviews have stated, the book gives examples of curriculum rather than pure prescription.

The book has comprehensive resource listings for each subject. Ones I have bought include the excellent Bob Books First! (Bob Books) as well as Mudpies to Magnets: A Preschool Science Curriculum. The resource strengths and weaknesses are given as well as alternatives.

Other reviewers have commented about the lack of a specifically Christian ethos. The book recommends religion in its place in the curriculum, but is a book about home schooling rather than about Christianity. Some of the resources recommended are from Christian publishers. This is made clear, along with other recommendations where this is not the desire of the parents. The authors are Christians.

One thing that could enhance a future edition is more on the mechanics and psychology of teaching. For example:- my daughter often does not want to sit down with me and read. Advice on when to leave off for a day or two - or until she is older - or to persevere so she realises that it is not a choice - would be very helpful, along with some guidance as to how to encourage the "right choice".

Great as a resource- but not Christ-centred, 06 Jan 2007
I've had this book a couple of years and used it quite frequently. It takes classical education seriously and it is worth getting for the author's well-explained views on how to homeschool and for the excellent resources recommended (though a lot are not available easily in the UK). There are many glowing testimonials on the web to this and the related language and history books. My reservation would be that this is Classical education but not Christ-focused. Looking through the contents pages, I can see no reference to teaching Bible, for example, or how our Christian faith influences the different subjects taught; this holds up for the earlier part of the book which I know best. For great Christian Classical homeschool books, try Doug Wilson. For resources, I like this plus Home Learning Year by Year, by Rebecca Rupp.

The most complete educational resource for homeschoolers!, 29 Aug 1999
People choose to teach their children at home for many reasons. If you are running away from a formal school environment because you don't like "rigidity," then perhaps the system described in this book is not for you.

If, on the other hand, you are contemplating teaching your children at home because public (and even private) traditional schools have watered down the content of your children's academic learning, and you truly want to give your child a world-class education at home in the classical tradition, you need look no further than this remarkable resource.

The authors have compiled a complete list of what to teach, where to find the resources with which to teach it, and, if you need it, some suggestions for working out a schedule that will accomplish it all (The authors acknowledge that the schedules in the book won't work for all families, but are merely meant to be examples).

Mind you, this book describes a system of rigorous education that requires dedication on the part of both parent and student. Any parent who has chosen to homeschool their children, though, already has proven that they have the necessary dedication to follow this program. The authors do not give credence to popular notions that children need watered-down, video- and photographically-enhanced stimuli to learn. They encourage parents to teach their children to read early, read constantly, and eventually to learn to search for answers to questions on their own. Children of the video age may find it difficult at first to actively learn, but if they are to be well and truly educated, and become lifetime learners, they cannot learn any other way.

You can use this book in many ways. If you want an all-encompassing guide, complete with suggested schedules, the authors have included them. The beauty of home education, however, is that you have the freedom to modify your curriculum.

So, what if there is a fabulous exhibit at your local art museum, but doesn't fit into the historical period you're studying that year? You go! You CAN go because even the rigorous program described in this book takes far less time than children typically spend in school and doing homework. What if your child has passion for art or dinosaurs? At home, you have the freedom to allow their exploration without sacrificing any other component of their education. Because even if you do everything described in the book, you'll still be finished with time to spare for these "passions."

But if you don't give your child the education described in this book, how will they ever have enough information about their world to know what they truly are passionate about?

Jessie Wise and her daughter, Susan Wise Bauer have been living the homeschool experience for more than 25 years, first as Jessie taught Susan and her other children, and now as Susan teaches her three children. There are few families in America that have this kind of experience from which to draw. I am using this book as the core of my homeschool curriculum (in fact, have used the program for a full year already, having used Mrs. Wise as our curriculum consultant before the book came out), and highly recommend it to parents who choose to homeschool to ensure that their children receive a quality education -- one that is simply not available in public (and even good private) schools anymore.

An absolutely fantastic guide for the home educator!, 21 Jun 1999
I was able to read some of this book at the Virginia Homeschooler's Conference in Richmond, VA, from 17-19 June 1999. You will find it a fantastic resource to guide you in classically educating your children at home.

Susan Wise Bauer, the co-author, was classically home educated by her mother, Jessie Wise, the other co-author. Susan is living proof of the success of this classic home education philosophy! I pray that my children, who my wife and I will begin to home educate this year, are as well-educated as Susan when they leave our home. I believe if we follow the classic model as outlined in this book and continue to teach them in the ways of the LORD, they will be.

an illuminating collection of essays, 02 Feb 1999
Pungent and profoundly moving, the introductory sequences to these seminal essays establish new levels of critical consciousness in that melancholy discipline known as art history. Frascina and Harris, two of our most exalted and distinguished cultural historians, provide a comprehensive survey of the culture-politics interface in C20th society. Consistently devastating and endlessly locked into the real critical issues, this is essential reading for all students of modern visual culture.

an illuminating collection of essays, 01 Feb 1999
Pungent and profoundly moving, the introductory sequences to these seminal essays establish new levels of critical consciousness in that melancholy discipline known as art history. Frascina and Harris, two of our most exalted and distinguished cultural historians, provide a comprehensive survey of the culture-politics interface in C20th society. Consistently devastating and endlessly locked into the real critical issues, this is essential reading for all students of modern visual culture.

Self-directed learning, 27 Oct 2008
This approachable and accessible book covers most aspects of informal and self-directed learning at home.

The authors interviewed 26, mostly British, home-schooling families, and their outcomes go some way towards rebutting conventional arguments that education cannot exist beyond the structure of schools, curricula, and testing.

Sections on the acquisition of literacy and numeracy are particularly well researched. The children concerned learn almost by accident through their everyday experiences, when they feel like it and are ready for it. Some of them receive input from their parents, while others learn with complete autonomy.

The families and the authors describe how the majority of the children observed are actively engaged in their own learning and, therefore, establish their own learning agendas guided by what suits them best. The removal of competition, restrictive curricula and the time-wasting built into the school day create the space for children to develop their self-motivation and thereby enable them to learn more efficiently.

As a retired teacher with thirty years experience, I find that this book provides me with evidence of the value of home schooling and throws out a powerful challenge to the skeptics.


Excellent- well researched & highly informative, 16 Oct 2008
This is a very interesting book about the theory of how children learn in the home environment by comparison to school. Based predominantly on academic research it is a very through and well referenced piece of work which makes the content that much more useful. If you're fed up with books that peddle 'dribble theories' which have no scientific backing, then this book is for you. It's very well grounded in solid academic research.

In terms of content, it can be a bit repetative if you're reading it as leisure reading, but as it seeks to be an authoratative piece of work i don't think it is excessively over done.

The style if very accessable, and its easy for a reader to relate it to their own experiences both as a child and as a carer/parent, demonstrating how people (adults and children) learn outside the formal classroom.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's contemplating homeschooling, and to anyone who's involved in the business of education (whether of children or adults) as it gives a new perspective on teaching.

An invaluable guide, 29 Jul 2001
I found this book to be very informative, the contrasts betwwen BEd and PGCE students did mean that I could focus my attentions to the areas where, statisically, I would be weak. I also found that this was a book where I could dip into, to find a particular topic that was pertinent to my areas of development. However I did find that there other books that were easier to read and less 'wordy' for instance - "Learning to Teach - Gill Nicholls"

A great and jargon free guide to blended learning and student support, 21 May 2008
This is an excellent and jargon-free book which contains lots of good ideas about how to use and make the most of blended learning. Relevant to practioners and others with an interest in pedagogy and student support in distance and campus based environments, it represents a pragmatic and grounded guide to developing and using blended learning, and incorporates a wealth of relevant examples, illustrations, and comments from tutors and students - all of which help to demystify the subject and really bring it to life.

watch for 2nd ed, 08 Apr 2008
just a note to say that the second edition is due to be published in paperback on 25th April. The full title is: Blended learning and online tutoring.Planning Learner Support and Activity Design. There seems to be some error on the Amazon website.

Blended learning - a good practice guide, 18 Jul 2006
This book does what is says on the cover - it offers a good practice guide to supporting learning online. It is realistic and mercifully free of outlandish claims for online teaching methods. Instead teachers and instructional designers interested in online learning will find a mass of practical advice, strategies and 'bright ideas' much of which is derived from Open University experience

A thorough guide to home education with excellent resource lists, 18 Aug 2008
I wish to enhance my daughter's education rather than homeschool. This book gives some advice on this, but obviously is mostly aimed at home education.

The book clearly expounds its education philosophy. It gives WHAT, HOW and WHY for its program. It is very much aimed at the liberal arts - using history as a framework to build English teaching around. Strongly recommending Latin study before other languages. For my personal taste, I would like to build more around science and mathematics as the vital thinking toolkit for children before Latin. However, as previous reviews have stated, the book gives examples of curriculum rather than pure prescription.

The book has comprehensive resource listings for each subject. Ones I have bought include the excellent Bob Books First! (Bob Books) as well as Mudpies to Magnets: A Preschool Science Curriculum. The resource strengths and weaknesses are given as well as alternatives.

Other reviewers have commented about the lack of a specifically Christian ethos. The book recommends religion in its place in the curriculum, but is a book about home schooling rather than about Christianity. Some of the resources recommended are from Christian publishers. This is made clear, along with other recommendations where this is not the desire of the parents. The authors are Christians.

One thing that could enhance a future edition is more on the mechanics and psychology of teaching. For example:- my daughter often does not want to sit down with me and read. Advice on when to leave off for a day or two - or until she is older - or to persevere so she realises that it is not a choice - would be very helpful, along with some guidance as to how to encourage the "right choice".

Great as a resource- but not Christ-centred, 06 Jan 2007
I've had this book a couple of years and used it quite frequently. It takes classical education seriously and it is worth getting for the author's well-explained views on how to homeschool and for the excellent resources recommended (though a lot are not available easily in the UK). There are many glowing testimonials on the web to this and the related language and history books. My reservation would be that this is Classical education but not Christ-focused. Looking through the contents pages, I can see no reference to teaching Bible, for example, or how our Christian faith influences the different subjects taught; this holds up for the earlier part of the book which I know best. For great Christian Classical homeschool books, try Doug Wilson. For resources, I like this plus Home Learning Year by Year, by Rebecca Rupp.

The most complete educational resource for homeschoolers!, 29 Aug 1999
People choose to teach their children at home for many reasons. If you are running away from a formal school environment because you don't like "rigidity," then perhaps the system described in this book is not for you.

If, on the other hand, you are contemplating teaching your children at home because public (and even private) traditional schools have watered down the content of your children's academic learning, and you truly want to give your child a world-class education at home in the classical tradition, you need look no further than this remarkable resource.

The authors have compiled a complete list of what to teach, where to find the resources with which to teach it, and, if you need it, some suggestions for working out a schedule that will accomplish it all (The authors acknowledge that the schedules in the book won't work for all families, but are merely meant to be examples).

Mind you, this book describes a system of rigorous education that requires dedication on the part of both parent and student. Any parent who has chosen to homeschool their children, though, already has proven that they have the necessary dedication to follow this program. The authors do not give credence to popular notions that children need watered-down, video- and photographically-enhanced stimuli to learn. They encourage parents to teach their children to read early, read constantly, and eventually to learn to search for answers to questions on their own. Children of the video age may find it difficult at first to actively learn, but if they are to be well and truly educated, and become lifetime learners, they cannot learn any other way.

You can use this book in many ways. If you want an all-encompassing guide, complete with suggested schedules, the authors have included them. The beauty of home education, however, is that you have the freedom to modify your curriculum.

So, what if there is a fabulous exhibit at your local art museum, but doesn't fit into the historical period you're studying that year? You go! You CAN go because even the rigorous program described in this book takes far less time than children typically spend in school and doing homework. What if your child has passion for art or dinosaurs? At home, you have the freedom to allow their exploration without sacrificing any other component of their education. Because even if you do everything described in the book, you'll still be finished with time to spare for these "passions."

But if you don't give your child the education described in this book, how will they ever have enough information about their world to know what they truly are passionate about?

Jessie Wise and her daughter, Susan Wise Bauer have been living the homeschool experience for more than 25 years, first as Jessie taught Susan and her other children, and now as Susan teaches her three children. There are few families in America that have this kind of experience from which to draw. I am using this book as the core of my homeschool curriculum (in fact, have used the program for a full year already, having used Mrs. Wise as our curriculum consultant before the book came out), and highly recommend it to parents who choose to homeschool to ensure that their children receive a quality education -- one that is simply not available in public (and even good private) schools anymore.

An absolutely fantastic guide for the home educator!, 21 Jun 1999
I was able to read some of this book at the Virginia Homeschooler's Conference in Richmond, VA, from 17-19 June 1999. You will find it a fantastic resource to guide you in classically educating your children at home.

Susan Wise Bauer, the co-author, was classically home educated by her mother, Jessie Wise, the other co-author. Susan is living proof of the success of this classic home education philosophy! I pray that my children, who my wife and I will begin to home educate this year, are as well-educated as Susan when they leave our home. I believe if we follow the classic model as outlined in this book and continue to teach them in the ways of the LORD, they will be.

an illuminating collection of essays, 02 Feb 1999
Pungent and profoundly moving, the introductory sequences to these seminal essays establish new levels of critical consciousness in that melancholy discipline known as art history. Frascina and Harris, two of our most exalted and distinguished cultural historians, provide a comprehensive survey of the culture-politics interface in C20th society. Consistently devastating and endlessly locked into the real critical issues, this is essential reading for all students of modern visual culture.

an illuminating collection of essays, 01 Feb 1999
Pungent and profoundly moving, the introductory sequences to these seminal essays establish new levels of critical consciousness in that melancholy discipline known as art history. Frascina and Harris, two of our most exalted and distinguished cultural historians, provide a comprehensive survey of the culture-politics interface in C20th society. Consistently devastating and endlessly locked into the real critical issues, this is essential reading for all students of modern visual culture.

Read this before you write anything, 15 Oct 2008
When I started to read the book I had two concerns. First it is a bit dated and so the internet is not discussed as a potential media. Second it is more practical and not based on pedagogic foundations so it might not have advice that can be generalised.

I was wrong to worry on both accounts as he presents a very pragmatic view. It is a very easy book to read and it gives you excellent tips for managing the development process. I have started using the check lists in my own development and I have encountered some of the problems he warns about. While it does not cover the internet it does not matter as he only briefly discusses the authoring stages of development.

For laying the ground-work for course development this is an essential guide.

Self-directed learning, 27 Oct 2008
This approachable and accessible book covers most aspects of informal and self-directed learning at home.

The authors interviewed 26, mostly British, home-schooling families, and their outcomes go some way towards rebutting conventional arguments that education cannot exist beyond the structure of schools, curricula, and testing.

Sections on the acquisition of literacy and numeracy are particularly well researched. The children concerned learn almost by accident through their everyday experiences, when they feel like it and are ready for it. Some of them receive input from their parents, while others learn with complete autonomy.

The families and the authors describe how the majority of the children observed are actively engaged in their own learning and, therefore, establish their own learning agendas guided by what suits them best. The removal of competition, restrictive curricula and the time-wasting built into the school day create the space for children to develop their self-motivation and thereby enable them to learn more efficiently.

As a retired teacher with thirty years experience, I find that this book provides me with evidence of the value of home schooling and throws out a powerful challenge to the skeptics.


Excellent- well researched & highly informative, 16 Oct 2008
This is a very interesting book about the theory of how children learn in the home environment by comparison to school. Based predominantly on academic research it is a very through and well referenced piece of work which makes the content that much more useful. If you're fed up with books that peddle 'dribble theories' which have no scientific backing, then this book is for you. It's very well grounded in solid academic research.

In terms of content, it can be a bit repetative if you're reading it as leisure reading, but as it seeks to be an authoratative piece of work i don't think it is excessively over done.

The style if very accessable, and its easy for a reader to relate it to their own experiences both as a child and as a carer/parent, demonstrating how people (adults and children) learn outside the formal classroom.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's contemplating homeschooling, and to anyone who's involved in the business of education (whether of children or adults) as it gives a new perspective on teaching.

An invaluable guide, 29 Jul 2001
I found this book to be very informative, the contrasts betwwen BEd and PGCE students did mean that I could focus my attentions to the areas where, statisically, I would be weak. I also found that this was a book where I could dip into, to find a particular topic that was pertinent to my areas of development. However I did find that there other books that were easier to read and less 'wordy' for instance - "Learning to Teach - Gill Nicholls"

A great and jargon free guide to blended learning and student support, 21 May 2008
This is an excellent and jargon-free book which contains lots of good ideas about how to use and make the most of blended learning. Relevant to practioners and others with an interest in pedagogy and student support in distance and campus based environments, it represents a pragmatic and grounded guide to developing and using blended learning, and incorporates a wealth of relevant examples, illustrations, and comments from tutors and students - all of which help to demystify the subject and really bring it to life.

watch for 2nd ed, 08 Apr 2008
just a note to say that the second edition is due to be published in paperback on 25th April. The full title is: Blended learning and online tutoring.Planning Learner Support and Activity Design. There seems to be some error on the Amazon website.

Blended learning - a good practice guide, 18 Jul 2006
This book does what is says on the cover - it offers a good practice guide to supporting learning online. It is realistic and mercifully free of outlandish claims for online teaching methods. Instead teachers and instructional designers interested in online learning will find a mass of practical advice, strategies and 'bright ideas' much of which is derived from Open University experience

A thorough guide to home education with excellent resource lists, 18 Aug 2008
I wish to enhance my daughter's education rather than homeschool. This book gives some advice on this, but obviously is mostly aimed at home education.

The book clearly expounds its education philosophy. It gives WHAT, HOW and WHY for its program. It is very much aimed at the liberal arts - using history as a framework to build English teaching around. Strongly recommending Latin study before other languages. For my personal taste, I would like to build more around science and mathematics as the vital thinking toolkit for children before Latin. However, as previous reviews have stated, the book gives examples of curriculum rather than pure prescription.

The book has comprehensive resource listings for each subject. Ones I have bought include the excellent Bob Books First! (Bob Books) as well as Mudpies to Magnets: A Preschool Science Curriculum. The resource strengths and weaknesses are given as well as alternatives.

Other reviewers have commented about the lack of a specifically Christian ethos. The book recommends religion in its place in the curriculum, but is a book about home schooling rather than about Christianity. Some of the resources recommended are from Christian publishers. This is made clear, along with other recommendations where this is not the desire of the parents. The authors are Christians.

One thing that could enhance a future edition is more on the mechanics and psychology of teaching. For example:- my daughter often does not want to sit down with me and read. Advice on when to leave off for a day or two - or until she is older - or to persevere so she realises that it is not a choice - would be very helpful, along with some guidance as to how to encourage the "right choice".

Great as a resource- but not Christ-centred, 06 Jan 2007
I've had this book a couple of years and used it quite frequently. It takes classical education seriously and it is worth getting for the author's well-explained views on how to homeschool and for the excellent resources recommended (though a lot are not available easily in the UK). There are many glowing testimonials on the web to this and the related language and history books. My reservation would be that this is Classical education but not Christ-focused. Looking through the contents pages, I can see no reference to teaching Bible, for example, or how our Christian faith influences the different subjects taught; this holds up for the earlier part of the book which I know best. For great Christian Classical homeschool books, try Doug Wilson. For resources, I like this plus Home Learning Year by Year, by Rebecca Rupp.

The most complete educational resource for homeschoolers!, 29 Aug 1999
People choose to teach their children at home for many reasons. If you are running away from a formal school environment because you don't like "rigidity," then perhaps the system described in this book is not for you.

If, on the other hand, you are contemplating teaching your children at home because public (and even private) traditional schools have watered down the content of your children's academic learning, and you truly want to give your child a world-class education at home in the classical tradition, you need look no further than this remarkable resource.

The authors have compiled a complete list of what to teach, where to find the resources with which to teach it, and, if you need it, some suggestions for working out a schedule that will accomplish it all (The authors acknowledge that the schedules in the book won't work for all families, but are merely meant to be examples).

Mind you, this book describes a system of rigorous education that requires dedication on the part of both parent and student. Any parent who has chosen to homeschool their children, though, already has proven that they have the necessary dedication to follow this program. The authors do not give credence to popular notions that children need watered-down, video- and photographically-enhanced stimuli to learn. They encourage parents to teach their children to read early, read constantly, and eventually to learn to search for answers to questions on their own. Children of the video age may find it difficult at first to actively learn, but if they are to be well and truly educated, and become lifetime learners, they cannot learn any other way.

You can use this book in many ways. If you want an all-encompassing guide, complete with suggested schedules, the authors have included them. The beauty of home education, however, is that you have the freedom to modify your curriculum.

So, what if there is a fabulous exhibit at your local art museum, but doesn't fit into the historical period you're studying that year? You go! You CAN go because even the rigorous program described in this book takes far less time than children typically spend in school and doing homework. What if your child has passion for art or dinosaurs? At home, you have the freedom to allow their exploration without sacrificing any other component of their education. Because even if you do everything described in the book, you'll still be finished with time to spare for these "passions."

But if you don't give your child the education described in this book, how will they ever have enough information about their world to know what they truly are passionate about?

Jessie Wise and her daughter, Susan Wise Bauer have been living the homeschool experience for more than 25 years, first as Jessie taught Susan and her other children, and now as Susan teaches her three children. There are few families in America that have this kind of experience from which to draw. I am using this book as the core of my homeschool curriculum (in fact, have used the program for a full year already, having used Mrs. Wise as our curriculum consultant before the book came out), and highly recommend it to parents who choose to homeschool to ensure that their children receive a quality education -- one that is simply not available in public (and even good private) schools anymore.

An absolutely fantastic guide for the home educator!, 21 Jun 1999
I was able to read some of this book at the Virginia Homeschooler's Conference in Richmond, VA, from 17-19 June 1999. You will find it a fantastic resource to guide you in classically educating your children at home.

Susan Wise Bauer, the co-author, was classically home educated by her mother, Jessie Wise, the other co-author. Susan is living proof of the success of this classic home education philosophy! I pray that my children, who my wife and I will begin to home educate this year, are as well-educated as Susan when they leave our home. I believe if we follow the classic model as outlined in this book and continue to teach them in the ways of the LORD, they will be.

an illuminating collection of essays, 02 Feb 1999
Pungent and profoundly moving, the introductory sequences to these seminal essays establish new levels of critical consciousness in that melancholy discipline known as art history. Frascina and Harris, two of our most exalted and distinguished cultural historians, provide a comprehensive survey of the culture-politics interface in C20th society. Consistently devastating and endlessly locked into the real critical issues, this is essential reading for all students of modern visual culture.

an illuminating collection of essays, 01 Feb 1999
Pungent and profoundly moving, the introductory sequences to these seminal essays establish new levels of critical consciousness in that melancholy discipline known as art history. Frascina and Harris, two of our most exalted and distinguished cultural historians, provide a comprehensive survey of the culture-politics interface in C20th society. Consistently devastating and endlessly locked into the real critical issues, this is essential reading for all students of modern visual culture.

Read this before you write anything, 15 Oct 2008
When I started to read the book I had two concerns. First it is a bit dated and so the internet is not discussed as a potential media. Second it is more practical and not based on pedagogic foundations so it might not have advice that can be generalised.

I was wrong to worry on both accounts as he presents a very pragmatic view. It is a very easy book to read and it gives you excellent tips for managing the development process. I have started using the check lists in my own development and I have encountered some of the problems he warns about. While it does not cover the internet it does not matter as he only briefly discusses the authoring stages of development.

For laying the ground-work for course development this is an essential guide.

Good, but not the last word, 26 Jul 2002
According to the cover, "this book is aimed at those who are considering, or just starting to plan Open and Distance Learning courses." It might be better if it continued to say "along the lines of those run by the UK Open University". It is good, and the UK OU are clearly leaders in the field, but I kept having nagging doubts that this book was too centred on the approach taken by that one institution, despite the book cover's assurances to the contrary.

Melton rightly places a lot of emphasis on planning and student support rather than so much on prescribing content development. However, if this is aimed at a beginner, he occasionally misses a trick. For example, he talks about "tutorials" as though everyone will understand what is meant. In my experience of bricks and mortar universities, this term hides a multitude of approaches that aren't properly explored in this text.

Similarly, despite the author having been a Senior Lecturer in Educational Technology at the UK OU for 25 years, he hasn't really gone into the whole area of online learning except within the confines of typical UK OU course development. There are thousands of institutions offering purely online learning solutions, and it would have been interesting if Melton had turned his undoubted wisdom and experience in planning and developing conventional ODL courses to this new approach. There are fundamental differences in purely online courses, such as their potential freedom from timetabling restrictions, that in turn make for differences in the planning of them.

This is, however, a very good introduction to the subject, and there is plenty of common sense and very sound advice in here, but I can't help feeling that I would need to read two or three similar books emanating from different institutions before feeling that my knowledge of the subject was sufficient to give me the confidence to know which direction to take ODL.

The book takes a case-study approach, is easier to read than this review, and is - not surprisingly - well-structured.

Melton and the UK OU clearly have learnt a lot of lessons and this book will provide anyone with a shortcut past most of the obvious pitfalls of developing conventional ODL courses. Just how this stacks up in the shiny new e-learning future is clearly for another author to explore.