Geoff Petty’s book ‘Evidence based teaching’, is largely drawn from the Marzano and Hattie lists. It goes beyond the evidence by explaining how methods can be used in classroom with usable examples and helpful illustrations and diagrams. It is included here, not primarily as a source of evidence (though it is well referenced), but more because it shows how to apply the evidence in your classroom.
Book reviews for Petty on Amazon
4.0 out of 5 stars Useful
By Jim Bowen on 16 September 2015
“I think sometimes that “old lag teachers” tend to get into a… (I don’t want to say it, but I will) rut. They’ve been teaching a while, and have found what works for them in the past, and stick to approaches they feel most comfortable with, irrespective of whether the approach they use gives the “biggest bang for their buck” in the classroom.
The bottom line in teaching is improving future prospects for students. Improving results can help that. This book gives the teacher a variety of options. It says effectively “If you do x, it will improve results by y%, if done well, and here’s why…” This gives the teacher options in the limited time that he or she sees students each week, and allows the teacher to have alternatives to what she or he does at the moment.
I’ve read in reviews that people don’t like the “why it works” explanation of new teaching approaches, and that’s ok (it’s psychological, and can be viewed as much art, as science), if you buy the Science behind x improves results by y%, then there’s still no reason not to give something a whirl in your classroom.
The other grumble I’ve read is that people don’t believe the Science. That’s understandable too, and if you don’t like the idea that x causes a y% increase, don’t buy the book.”
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspired approach to teaching
By Morris Barnes on 7 March 2014
“Perfect for my CTLLS learning & my practical / knowledge input with my teaching Students. Students enjoy & applaud the teaching approach afforded them and I hope that they continue this approach into their own teaching careers.”
5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for every teacher
ByR. Attwood on 25 January 2013
“It seems that I have been waiting my whole career for this book. I have been teaching for 30 years and was reassured that much of what I do is recommended in the book. After all the educational fashions and fads over the years it is such a relief that teaching is finally catching up with medicine and science and actually using evidence to establish what works. I find the book accessible and its recommendations very practical. I discovered it via the Evidence-based teachers’ network website […].”