Education is the fundamental pillar upon which any human civilization rests. As a matter of fact, no civilization in any meaningful form or degree has been possible in human history that has not been built on the bulwark and edifice of education. While literacy may have been limited to the privileged few in early ancient civilizations, it was these privileged few who controlled the masses and set the tempo for meaningful progress in such civilizations; educational systems have proven to be the bedrock and foundational pillar upon which much of human accomplishment and achievement have rested, too. In spite of the naysayers, the cynics and the pessimists, education has expanded greatly in the twentieth century; while the worlds’ earliest civilizations were not western in the canonical sense of the term, there is no denying that western civilizations have pulled away strongly since then. Riding on the shoulders on ancient Greece, western intellectualism has been the bulwark upon which the superstructure of modern civilization has been built. Even as recently as the middle of the twentieth century, the rest of the world (as opposed to the west) had a lot of catching up to do. Thankfully and mercifully, a lot has changed since then. India in the 1950’s and 1960’s emphasized higher education but neglected universal primary education as evidenced by low primary school enrollments, and a high rate of dropouts. Since then, programs and schemes such as the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan or education for all programs have increased primary school enrollment considerably; India now comfortably stands on the threshold of universal adult literacy. While the quantity of education has been augmented, quality has often failed to keep pace. The tenets and the essential doctrines forming a part and parcel of the foundational pillars of pedagogy and education are antiquated and are still steeped in the western experience. What is worse is that is very little awareness on the issue of the need for change; this must be the foundation of all meaningful change, but alas, that foundation has yet to be built. In this book, we draw upon our long list of papers on the social science, particularly anthropological pedagogy and the sociology of science, and propose the direction we believe pedagogy must take in the twenty first century. This can be no one man army; we invite other scholars to contribute in eminent measure. We also believe that this i.e., a foundational assessment of the concepts of pedagogy must become one of the more important and vital movements of the twentyfirst century. This work is also at the heart of our globalization of science movement as many, if not most concepts in various fields of the social science are based on old and archaic western-centric paradigms. There is also an unnatural gap between various fields of social sciences and the non-social sciences too, just as careerism is rampant across disciplines and what we called “institutional coherentism” is lacking. Scientists say “however, recent research has shown that…”. Does that mean that old research was wrong? Why was it wrong? Was it due to the absence of data, or was it methodological error? Why do we go round and round without a meaningful long-term direction? Very little scholarship is driven by the absolute desire to do good to society. As Thomas Paine once famously stated, “ A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody”. We have theories, theories and only theories all driven by old-fashioned careerism or academic rivalry, and with limited explanatory power. All this needs to change in the twenty-first century, and practical application of knowledge emphasized. To quote C.S Lewis, “Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.” Anand Mahindra and several other individuals have repeatedly called for a new world-class education system in India and elsewhere, but there is very little conceptual clarity on how we should go about creating one. Let a million scholars bloom! Let a million intellectuals bloom! Let a million scientists (social scientists included) bloom in different parts of the world, all in the twenty-first century! Why should we hold our tongue, and suffer in silence? Let intellectuals drive meaningful and productive change. Let better education systems form the backbone of better societies! Let there be a healthy rivalry among nations to develop better and better education systems! There is no need for only western nations to take the lead here. Those who have better ideas can indeed leapfrog everyone else. Those who think better and do better, win.

Humans have let their creative juices flow since early times; the invention of fire, proto-writing, pottery, arts and crafts, agriculture and metal-making would bear ample testimony to this. Among early contributions to science and technology, the contributions made by early Mesopotamians are highly impressive. They made stellar contributions to metal-working, glass and lamp making, architecture, the production of textiles and weaving, flood control, water storage and irrigation. They also invented the earliest form of true writing, namely Cuneiform in the middle of the fourth millennium before Christ. Writing was usually mastered by scribes who were small in number in relation to the total population, and was composed on clay tablets. The Epic of Gilgamesh is among the world’s earliest literature, and is attributed to ancient Mesopotamia. Libraries are also believed to have existed in Ancient Mesopotamia. Mesopotamians made stellar contributions to mathematics, map making, medicine and astronomy too, though true intellectualism in the modern sense of the term probably did not exist then. Egyptians made important contributions to new technologies and concepts such as mummification, medicine, irrigation, agriculture, glass-making, engineering, astronomy and grand architecture. They also invented paper, their own form of hieroglyphic writing, and built libraries, too. Indian science too took off in a big way in early ancient times, and Indian innovation can be traced back to Mehrgarh, a preIndus valley civilization site, now in Pakistan. Harappans developed metallurgy, irrigation, agriculture, architecture, their own form of writing besides other inventions and innovations such as weights and measures. Alphabetic scripts and iron-making took off in Post-Harappan cultures in the Gangetic plains, where there was some continuity with Harappan cultures, and Ancient Indians made contributions to mathematics, astronomy and medicine too. In the fifth century BC, the grammarian Panini made important contributions to the study of Sanskrit grammar. An account of Ancient India is provided by Megasthenes in his book Indica which is now considered to be lost. Indians also contributed greatly to philosophy and intellectual thought as evidenced by the Upanishads and Buddhism as well. In sum, Indian philosophical traditions include both orthodox (or Astika) systems which include the Nyaya, Samkhya, Vaisheshika, Purva-Mimamsa (or Mimamsa), Yoga and Vedanta schools of philosophy, and unorthodox (or Nastika) systems, examples being Buddhist and Jaina traditions. Ancient Indian scholars and intellectuals included Bhaskara, Varahamihira, Sushruta, Bramhagupta, Aryabhatta and Bihana....

Beat burnout with time-saving best practices for feedback For ELA teachers, the danger of burnout is all too real. Inundated with seemingly insurmountable piles of papers to read, respond to, and grade, many teachers often find themselves struggling to balance differentiated, individualized feedback with the one resource they are already overextended on—time. Matthew Johnson offers classroom-tested solutions that not only alleviate the feedback-burnout cycle, but also lead to significant growth for students. These time-saving strategies built on best practices for feedback help to improve relationships, ignite motivation, and increase student ownership of learning. Flash Feedback also takes teachers to the next level of strategic feedback by sharing: How to craft effective, efficient, and more memorable feedback Strategies for scaffolding students through the meta-cognitive work necessary for real revision A plan for how to create a culture of feedback, including lessons for how to train students in meaningful peer response Downloadable online tools for teacher and student use Moving beyond the theory of working smarter, not harder, Flash Feedback works deeper by developing practices for teacher efficiency that also boost effectiveness by increasing students’ self-efficacy, improving the clarity of our messages, and ultimately creating a classroom centered around meaningful feedback.

Your hard work is paying off. You are doing well in your field. But there is something standing between you and the next level of achievement. That something may just be one of your own annoying habits.Perhaps one small flaw - a behaviour you barely even recognise - is the only thing that's keeping you from where you want to be. It may be that the very characteristic that you believe got you where you are - like the drive to win at all costs - is what's holding you back. As this book explains, people often do well in spite of certain habits rather than because of them-and need a "to stop" list rather than one listing what "to do". Marshall Goldsmith's expertise is in helping global leaders overcome their unconscious annoying habits and become more successful. His one-on-one coaching comes with a six-figure price tag - but in this book you get his great advice for much less. Recently named as one of the world's five most-respected executive coaches by Forbes, he has worked with over 100 major CEOs and their management teams at the world's top businesses. His clients include corporations such as Goldman Sachs, Glaxo SmithKline, Johnson and Johnson and GE.

Praise for How Learning Works "How Learning Works is the perfect title for this excellent book. Drawing upon new research in psychology, education, and cognitive science, the authors have demystified a complex topic into clear explanations of seven powerful learning principles. Full of great ideas and practical suggestions, all based on solid research evidence, this book is essential reading for instructors at all levels who wish to improve their students' learning." —Barbara Gross Davis, assistant vice chancellor for educational development, University of California, Berkeley, and author, Tools for Teaching "This book is a must-read for every instructor, new or experienced. Although I have been teaching for almost thirty years, as I read this book I found myself resonating with many of its ideas, and I discovered new ways of thinking about teaching." —Eugenia T. Paulus, professor of chemistry, North Hennepin Community College, and 2008 U.S. Community Colleges Professor of the Year from The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education "Thank you Carnegie Mellon for making accessible what has previously been inaccessible to those of us who are not learning scientists. Your focus on the essence of learning combined with concrete examples of the daily challenges of teaching and clear tactical strategies for faculty to consider is a welcome work. I will recommend this book to all my colleagues." —Catherine M. Casserly, senior partner, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching "As you read about each of the seven basic learning principles in this book, you will find advice that is grounded in learning theory, based on research evidence, relevant to college teaching, and easy to understand. The authors have extensive knowledge and experience in applying the science of learning to college teaching, and they graciously share it with you in this organized and readable book." —From the Foreword by Richard E. Mayer, professor of psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara; coauthor, e-Learning and the Science of Instruction; and author, Multimedia Learning

The need to develop 21st-century competencies has received global recognition, but instructional methods have not been reformed to include the teaching of these skills. Multiple frameworks include creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration as the foundational competencies. Complexities of planning curriculum and delivering instruction to develop the foundational competencies requires professional training. However, despite training, instructional practice can be impacted by barriers caused by personal views of teachers, economic constraints, access to resources, social challenges, pandemic, overwhelming pace of global shifts, and other influences. With digitalization entering the field of education, it is unclear if technology has helped in removing or eliminating the barriers or has, itself, become another obstruction in integrating the competencies. Gaining an educator's perspective is essential to understanding the barriers as well as solutions to mitigate the impediments through innovative instructional methods being practiced across the globe via digital or non-digital platforms. The need for original contributions from educators exists in this area of barriers to 21st-century education and the role of digitalization. The Handbook of Research on Barriers for Teaching 21st-Century Competencies and the Impact of Digitalization discusses teaching the 21st-century competencies, namely critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication. This book presents both the problems or gaps causing barriers and brings forth practical solutions, digital and non-digital, to meet the educational shifts. The chapters will determine the specific barriers that exist, whether political, social, economic, or technological, to integrating competencies and the methods or strategies that can eliminate these barriers through compatible instructional approaches. Additionally, the chapters provide knowledge on the impacts of digitalization in general on teaching and learning and how digital innovations are either beneficial to removing impediments for students or rather causing obstructions in integrating the four competencies. This book is ideally intended for educators and administrators working directly with students, educational researchers, educational software developers, policymakers, teachers, practitioners, and students interested in how 21st-century competencies can be taught while facing the impacts of digitalization on education.

This open access collection examines how higher education responds to the demands of the automation economy and the fourth industrial revolution. Considering significant trends in how people are learning, coupled with the ways in which different higher education institutions and education stakeholders are implementing adaptations, it looks at new programs and technological advances that are changing how and why we teach and learn. The book addresses trends in liberal arts integration of STEM innovations, the changing role of libraries in the digital age, global trends in youth mobility, and the development of lifelong learning programs. This is coupled with case study assessments of the various ways China, Singapore, South Africa and Costa Rica are preparing their populations for significant shifts in labour market demands – shifts that are already underway. Offering examples of new frameworks in which collaboration between government, industry, and higher education institutions can prevent lagging behind in this fast changing environment, this book is a key read for anyone wanting to understand how the world should respond to the radical technological shifts underway on the frontline of higher education.

FOREWORD BY GUY KAWASAKI Presentation designer and internationally acclaimed communications expert Garr Reynolds, creator of the most popular Web site on presentation design and delivery on the Net — presentationzen.com — shares his experience in a provocative mix of illumination, inspiration, education, and guidance that will change the way you think about making presentations with PowerPoint or Keynote. Presentation Zen challenges the conventional wisdom of making "slide presentations" in today’s world and encourages you to think differently and more creatively about the preparation, design, and delivery of your presentations. Garr shares lessons and perspectives that draw upon practical advice from the fields of communication and business. Combining solid principles of design with the tenets of Zen simplicity, this book will help you along the path to simpler, more effective presentations.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to address some of the biggest challenges in education today, innovate teaching and learning practices, and ultimately accelerate the progress towards SDG 4. However, these rapid technological developments inevitably bring multiple risks and challenges, which have so far outpaced policy debates and regulatory frameworks. This publication offers guidance for policy-makers on how best to leverage the opportunities and address the risks, presented by the growing connection between AI and education. It starts with the essentials of AI: definitions, techniques and technologies. It continues with a detailed analysis of the emerging trends and implications of AI for teaching and learning, including how we can ensure the ethical, inclusive and equitable use of AI in education, how education can prepare humans to live and work with AI, and how AI can be applied to enhance education. It finally introduces the challenges of harnessing AI to achieve SDG 4 and offers concrete actionable recommendations for policy-makers to plan policies and programmes for local contexts. [Publisher summary, ed]