Instructional Illusions

So much of what happens in the process of learning and instruction is obscured from view. Much like the effects of a convincing illusion, what we think we see when we observe instruction is often far from the reality. Join three leading experts in the science of learning as they explore ten instructional illusions through the lens of educational psychology, cognitive science, and instructional design. Together, they will consider how such illusions operate, unmask their true nature in light of the evidence, and present powerful alternatives for authentic teaching and learning. Look beyond the illusion and reveal the true nature of instruction.

About the Author :
Paul A. Kirschner is emeritus professor of educational psychology at the Open University of the Netherlands, guest professor at the Thomas More University of Applied Sciences in Belgium, and owner of kirschner-ED. He is a research fellow of the American Educational Research Association, the International Society of the Learning Sciences, and the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Science. He holds an honorary doctorate (doctor honoris causa) from Oulu University in Finland. His most recent books are How Learning Happens and How Teaching Happens. Carl Hendrick holds a PhD in education from King's College London and has taught for several years in both the state and independent sectors. He is currently a professor of evidence-informed learning and teaching at Academica University of Applied Sciences with a focus on bridging the gap between research and practice. He is co-author of What Does This Look Like in the Classroom?, How Learning Happens, and How Teaching Happens. Jim Heal is professor of evidence-informed educational leadership at Academica University of Applied Sciences. Prior to that, he worked at Deans for Impact, a US-based non-profit infusing the science of learning into educator preparation, and at Harvard's Research Schools International initiative. He earned his doctorate in educational leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and is author of How Teaching Happens and Mental Models: How Understanding the Mind Can Transform the Way You Work and Learn.

Review :
Instructional Illusions is a tremendously timely book that forensically takes apart many of the most persistent misconceptions in education today. In particular, the section on the Performance Illusion shows how the superficially plausible belief that assessments performance equates deep understanding is responsible for so much bad practice. In an age where AI can easily complete assessments, this corrective has never been more important. This is a must-read for teachers and leaders concerned with improving student learning in lasting ways. One of the greatest challenges of learning goes mostly unseen; we think we can tell when we (or others) are learning, but our perceptions are often wrong. This excellent, brief volume exposes the most common and pernicious of these errors, and describes how to correct them. Educators, parents, and students...get ready to be shocked, and then to learn! Instructional Illusions by Paul Kirschner, Carl Hendrick, and Jim Heal is an entertaining and insightful antidote to many insidious misconceptions about how learning and instruction work that are currently infecting educational practice. If you are interested in how an evidence-based approach can improve education, this little volume belongs on your bookshelf. A major purpose of all science is to free us from illusions. Our senses tell us the earth is flat, but science disabuses us of that illusion. The science of learning equally disabuses us of educational illusions, but we have not had a compendium that indicates the illusions and their correctives. Now we have such a compendium providing a historical marker indicating where we have been and where we are now. Given the previous work by these authors, we might expect a superbly written book. And that is exactly what we have. This book is a boon for educators and students. The authors describe and illustrate conceptual roadblocks in teaching and learning that must be overcome to be successful. The illusions they describe so well are common ones that hinder education, and their recommendations for overcoming them will help learners and teachers. I highly recommend this book. Teaching is perhaps the best known and least known profession. Since we have all been taught at some point in our lives, we presume to understand it. Having seen absurd portrayals in popular culture, we are inclined to think of it in terms of simplistic caricature. And knowing that it has been around for roughly time immemorial we tend to believe it consists of processes that can be understood by simple, sensible observation alone. None of this is true, of course, and the resulting misconceptions come at massive cost to students and society. At last, in the hands of Kirschner, Hendrick, and Heal, the most persistent illusions about classroom and cognition are ably and clearly laid to rest, replaced with a clear model of how learning works. Their book is a gift to educators (and those they educate) and should be on every teacher's bookshelf. Instructional Illusions is a remarkable book that fuses scholarly depth with classroom practicality. Far more than a critique of educational fads, it celebrates the science of learning by making visible the core issues that truly drive student growth. With clarity, compelling stories, and humility, the authors lift the veil on deeply embedded misconceptions and guide us toward practices that have real impact. This is a gift to anyone serious about improving teaching and learning. Anyone involved in education will find this book invaluable! Kirschner, Hendrick, and Heal show us how cognitive biases can undermine effective teaching, and they offer clear, evidence-based strategies to recognize and overcome these instructional illusions. Grounded in the science of learning, this book is filled with practical examples and actionable advice. It's also a great read! Instructional Illusions is an important must-read for teachers, students, and parents. It offers practical, immediately useful information backed by first-rate, contemporary scholarship. It not only highlights common illusions experienced by students and educators but also explains that these illusions are perfectly normal and offers actionable solutions to "unmask" the illusions. It is an incredible achievement to distill cutting-edge research on the science of learning into practical recommendations and a brief, accessible format.