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Hacking Education: 10 Quick Fixes for Every School (Hack Learning Series) Paperback – July 28, 2015
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You have problems, but you don’t have time for a 5-year plan. You want practical solutions that you can read today and use tomorrow. Hacking Education and the Hack Learning Series provide what every teacher, principal, parent, and education stakeholder has been waiting for--realistic solutions to your biggest problems.
In Hacking Education, Mark Barnes and Jennifer Gonzalez employ decades of teaching experience and hundreds of discussions with education thought leaders, to show you how to find and hone the quick fixes that every school and classroom need. Using a Hacker’s mentality, they provide one Aha moment after another with 10 Quick Fixes that great principals and great teachers can read today and use tomorrow.
Imagine being able to walk into school tomorrow and eliminate:
- Hours of wasted meeting time
- Classroom management issues
- Interruptions in planning time
- The need for more books
- Professional development issues with the help of a pineapple
- EdTech issues
Discover How to Solve Problems with
- Pineapple Charts
- The 360 Spreadsheet
- Glass Classrooms
- Track Records
- Marigold Committees
- The TQZ
- More Impactful Hacks
Hacking Education won't weigh you down with outdated research or complicated strategies. Barnes and Gonzalez provide brilliant ideas woven into the user-friendly Hack Learning Series format that you'll want to keep nearby throughout the school year. Each chapter is neatly wrapped in this simple formula:
- The Problem
- The Hack (a ridiculously easy solution that you've likely never considered)
- What You Can Do Tomorrow (no waiting necessary)
- Blueprint for Full Implementation (a step-by-step action plan for capacity building)
- The Hack in Action (yes, someone has actually done this)
Scroll up and grab a copy of Hacking Education now.
- Print length152 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateJuly 28, 2015
- Dimensions6 x 0.35 x 9 inches
- ISBN-100986104906
- ISBN-13978-0986104909
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
-- Don Wettrick, author of Pure Genius
"Mark and Jennifer have created something really powerful! They're helping educators focus in on what really counts: student learning.
-- Paul Solarz, author of Learn Like a Pirate
"Mark Barnes and Jennifer Gonzalez provide a simple blueprint for smart and efficient changes that every school can benefit from regardless of its current situation."
-- A.J. Juliani, author of Learning by Choice
From the Author
From the Back Cover
Read it today. Fix it tomorrow! With decades of classroom experience, popular educators and authors Mark Barnes and Jennifer Gonzalez have learned how to find and hone the quick fixes that every school needs. Using a Hacker's mentality, Barnes and Gonzalez provide one Aha moment after another with 10 Quick Fixes for Every School.
If you want to improve teaching and learning at your school now, you need a Hacker's mentality. So grab a wrench and fix your school today.
About the Author
Jennifer Gonzalez is a National Board Certified teacher. Her twelve years of classroom experience include teaching English language arts in middle school and preparing pre-service teachers at the college level. In 2013 she started her blog, Cult of Pedagogy, where she shares effective teaching and assessment practices, curates top-notch educational resources, explores how race and culture intersect with education, and studies the effective use of technology in the classroom. Her writing has appeared on Edutopia, Education Week, MiddleWeb, Brilliant or Insane, and Corkboard Connections. She is the author of The Teacher's Guide to Tech, available at teachersguidetotech.com, and the host of The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast, available on iTunes. Find her on Twitter at @cultofpedagogy.
Product details
- Publisher : Times 10 Publications (July 28, 2015)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 152 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0986104906
- ISBN-13 : 978-0986104909
- Item Weight : 7.5 ounces
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.35 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,286,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #372 in Experimental Education Methods (Books)
- #719 in Computers & Technology Education
- #2,326 in Reading & Phonics Teaching Materials
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
Mark Barnes is a longtime educator, author, and entrepreneur. An avid reader and researcher, he became interested in–perhaps even a bit obsessive about–health, fitness, and longevity when he joined the After-50s club in 2014. Mark has written 10 books, including ROLE Reversal (ASCD, 2013), Assessment 3.0 (Corwin, 2015), Hacking Education (Times 10 Publications, 2015)--the first book in the internationally-renowned Hack Learning Series–and Hacking Life After 50 (Times 10 Publications, 2023)--the first book in the Hack Learning Life Series.
Mark is on a mission to live to a healthy 100 and longer. Follow his journey on Facebook at After 50s Life and on X @markbarnes19.
Jennifer Gonzalez is a National Board Certified teacher. Her twelve years of classroom experience include teaching English language arts in middle school and preparing pre-service teachers at the college level. In 2013 she started her blog, Cult of Pedagogy, where she shares effective teaching and assessment practices, curates top-notch educational resources, explores how race and culture intersect with education, and studies the effective use of technology in the classroom. Her writing has appeared on Edutopia, Education Week, MiddleWeb, Brilliant or Insane, and Corkboard Connections. She is the author of The Teacher’s Guide to Tech, available at teachersguidetotech.com, and the host of The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast, available on iTunes.
Customer reviews
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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book full of practical ideas that help improve schools and classrooms. They describe it as a delightful, fun read with straightforward and effective solutions that can be implemented quickly. The book is considered empowering for educators and administrators with its simple, doable, and meaningful hacks. Readers appreciate the book's insights and how it provides solutions to make education more effective and enjoyable.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book provides practical ideas to help educators improve schools and classrooms. They say it offers innovative ways to make lessons, classrooms, and school sites better. Readers mention that the book provides ideas, steps for implementation, and quick starts. It helps save valuable planning time for teachers and administrators.
"...and Jennifer Gonzalez give educators battle-tested and innovative ways to make lessons, classrooms, and school sites better!..." Read more
"...These are quick fixes that can creatively address issues without fanfare and can be immediately implemented even by a single individual...." Read more
"...They offer practical solutions to problems teachers confront each day - age-old as well as technology-driven...." Read more
"...finding the fastest effective route to a destination, improving process through iterations, and creating change that scales are just a few of the..." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They find it informative and practical, with solutions that can be implemented immediately. Readers say it delivers on its promise of being a quick and easy read.
"...A quick, easy, fun read with ideas you can implement tomorrow!!" Read more
"This delightful e-book, which can be read in just over two hours, proposes ten “hacks” that once implemented, will solve those pesky problems that..." Read more
"As provocation, a nice book, suggesting ways to avoid repetition/reproduction in schools...." Read more
"...Well written, articulate, concise and to the point, this book will, at the very least, generate some ideas, and at best will help you be even more..." Read more
Customers find the book's ideas straightforward and easy to implement. They say it's a quick read with simple strategies that can be immediately implemented. The book is written in clear, uncomplicated prose that readers can easily understand.
"...Hacking Education not only gives step-by-step directions, but the ideas they present make so much sense...." Read more
"...In simple, uncomplicated prose, the authors, both practicing educators with worlds of experience, and themselves authors of books, have given us..." Read more
"...This book is the perfect mix of sound principles and easy-to-implement tactics that can lead to lasting change in your classroom, school or entire..." Read more
"...Well written, articulate, concise and to the point, this book will, at the very least, generate some ideas, and at best will help you be even more..." Read more
Customers find the book helpful for educators and administrators. They say it's good for teachers and teacher leaders, with practical ideas that can change their teaching lives. The authors are experienced practitioners and authors themselves. The book offers easy-to-implement ideas that might change your teaching life. It encourages teachers to make changes, some big and some small, to improve their teaching.
"...The hacks are varied: some afford novices as well as veteran teachers, a more practical way of dealing with record keeping using Track Records, or..." Read more
"...Pushback" section gave voice to my qualms and increased the authors’ credibility with me...." Read more
"...Well written, articulate, concise and to the point, this book will, at the very least, generate..." Read more
"...I love the idea of mentorship and idea exchange from this book!..." Read more
Customers find the book's hacks useful and meaningful. They appreciate the extended analogy of hacking used in the book. The ideas and progressive way of incorporating them into daily practice are appreciated.
"...The hacks are varied: some afford novices as well as veteran teachers, a more practical way of dealing with record keeping using Track Records, or..." Read more
"...Lastly, I love the extended analogy of hacking used in the book...." Read more
"Read the book! It's an amazingly fast read and provides practical *hacks* for anyone wanting to inspire and create change for the better...." Read more
"...I absolutely loved the ideas and the progressive way of hacking them into your daily practice...." Read more
Customers find the book provides insights and offers practical advice for making schools more effective and happy places to learn. They say it's a perfect resource for a new school year, helping teachers improve and save time while reigniting their passion for teaching. The ideas are meaningful, doable, and helpful. While the book has a light research and statistics focus, it's heavy on practical advice for teachers with energy, motivation, and social capital.
"...-tested and innovative ways to make lessons, classrooms, and school sites better!..." Read more
"...your typical education text, Hack Learning books are light on research and statistics and heavy on practical advice from people who have actually..." Read more
"...but are curious about the state of our education system, this book provides insight, and offers solutions, to the issues which seem to be in the..." Read more
"...easy fixes that could make any school a more happy and effective place of learning." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2016One of the biggest challenges when reading books about reforming or enhancing education is that they are long on theory but short on practical, easily-implemented ideas. Hacking Education not only gives step-by-step directions, but the ideas they present make so much sense. Rather than reinventing the wheel, Mark Barnes and Jennifer Gonzalez give educators battle-tested and innovative ways to make lessons, classrooms, and school sites better!
Ever wanted to find a practical way to get colleagues to learn from each other by visiting each other's classrooms? Try Pineapple Charts!
Want to showcase the awesomeness happening in your classroom? Learn how to make social media your ally in creating a glass classroom!
Have students be your Geek Squad! Collect meaningful data that allows you to build powerful relationships! Create a space of peace and quiet for your staff that allows them to focus on what they need to...
As an elementary principal, this book has been invaluable to me and my staff! I finally found an easy way to get teachers to learn from each other by watching each other teach. My staff meeting employ "back channels" so that everyone can and does participate! Our new teachers are surrounded by "marigolds" rather than "walnut trees".
A quick, easy, fun read with ideas you can implement tomorrow!!
- Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2015This delightful e-book, which can be read in just over two hours, proposes ten “hacks” that once implemented, will solve those pesky problems that plague teachers or even a school system. In simple, uncomplicated prose, the authors, both practicing educators with worlds of experience, and themselves authors of books, have given us the benefit of their experiences plus some ideas they’ve curated, and shared them in this gem. These are quick fixes that can creatively address issues without fanfare and can be immediately implemented even by a single individual.
The hacks are varied: some afford novices as well as veteran teachers, a more practical way of dealing with record keeping using Track Records, or allowing them a window into another teacher’s classroom with Pineapple Charts; The Marigold Committee has experienced teachers offer to be mentors to newbies. Other hacks involve students as in Student Tech Gurus, or providing independent reading books for those who can’t afford them as in The Book Nook. Regardless, teachers will benefit from reading this book, even if a single hack is implemented. I wish I had known some of these hacks years ago!
- Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2015This book is different from a lot of books in the same genre. The authors have not forgotten what it is like to teach in an environment of too many demands and too little time.
They offer practical solutions to problems teachers confront each day - age-old as well as technology-driven. I must confess that as I read the hacks, many seemed a little too good to be true, however the authors had anticipated my skepticism. Each "Overcoming Pushback" section gave voice to my qualms and increased the authors’ credibility with me. I also appreciated reading "The Hack in Action" about how real teachers recently implemented the hacks.
I look forward to using some of these hacks and to learning about more in subsequent books in the series.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2015This is a book that makes teachers say "YES...I knew there was a better way to do that."
I'm all about a solutions mindset for teaching. When it comes to professional reading, though, there's not much that satisfies that interest. Many books detail specific, one-off lesson ideas for teachers, or head-in-the-clouds theory for I'm not sure who. This book is the perfect mix of sound principles and easy-to-implement tactics that can lead to lasting change in your classroom, school or entire district.
That leads me to the reason I love this book--it is broadly applicable while still being useful. Some of the "hacks" are directed towards building-wide initiatives, but they all can begin with the actions of a single teacher. Mark and Jennifer's choice to instruct teachers on how to take the first steps towards hacking their problems is empowering.
Lastly, I love the extended analogy of hacking used in the book. The concept of finding the fastest effective route to a destination, improving process through iterations, and creating change that scales are just a few of the ways that these bright authors have brought the language of web developers into the classroom.
Don't read this book unless you're ready to feel motivated, even compelled, to take action to improve your classroom, school or district.
I'm glad I read it, and I'm ready to get started on implementing several of these "hacks."
- Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2015As provocation, a nice book, suggesting ways to avoid repetition/reproduction in schools. The author indicates many “inventions” to shake school laziness in terms of doing ever the same instruction. Nevertheless, I find the argumentation insufficient, because learning is not well defined – what would be the reason for fixing school? It seems to that the reason is to care insistently for students’ learning. What is a catastrophe is lack of learning – students go to school, attend lessons, perhaps do homework, show up in exams (mainly in standard testing), but don’t learn. In the end, inventions are to much linked to “instruction”, not to learning.
Top reviews from other countries
- Volume book buyerReviewed in Canada on August 3, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars If I can be a hacker, you can too!
I got the kindle version of this book and read it in one afternoon. After I finished the last page, I ordered a paper copy so that I could share it with my colleagues. Not all the "hacks" fit my needs, but I found some excellent creative solutions to problems that I didn't even know I had.
Readable, thoughtful, thorough. I feel confident that if I implemented any of these ideas they would be successful, as the authors have done an incredible job of explaining and anticipating questions and concerns.
- aparna SinghReviewed in India on January 3, 2016
1.0 out of 5 stars waste of money
The title is misleading. The book might be useful for school principals but useless for college professors. Waste of money.
- salva ayusoReviewed in Spain on August 24, 2015
4.0 out of 5 stars Great help
The book is a great help to start a new year of teaching with new ideas to try in the school.
- JJReviewed in Canada on July 8, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
great series - this book sums up some of the larger thoughts and is a great 're-think' to education
- ScottyReviewed in Canada on August 1, 2019
3.0 out of 5 stars Other hacking series books are more helpful
There's a few good ideas in here (pineapple charts), but certainly could have been a short article on WeAreTeacher. The hacks to "fix every school" seem unlikely to drastically change education and learning in a huge way... much unlike what some of the other hacking learning series discuss and explore. That being said, I'd head over to PBL or Gradeless assessment in the hacking series instead, much more useful tools and useable ideas.