Inspired Educator, Inspired Learner Book
Experiential, Brain-Based Activities and Strategies to Engage, Motivate, Build Community, and Create Lasting Lessons
by Jennifer Stanchfield
This engaging book explores experiential, brain-based techniques for involving learners emotionally, physically and intellectually in academic or training content while practicing important social-emotional skills and building a positive, productive, and supportive learning community. Educators will find creative strategies to differentiate instruction and cultivate 21st century learning — strategies that will get participants moving, talking, reflecting and keep them engaged with multiple pathways to learning, reviewing, and synthesizing lessons. The innovative reflective techniques offered throughout increase relevancy, meaning, depth of understanding, and create connections between educational experiences and real life.
What readers are saying about Inspired Educator, Inspired Learner:
“For years, Jennifer Stanchfield has shown an avid interest in modern brain research and how it applies to what teachers and learners do together. Here she has brought together cognitive science, neuroscience, and education to achieve a synthesis that will intrigue many teachers.” —Sam Wang, Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Princeton University
“Inspired Educator, Inspired Learner is inspiring! A helpful synthesis of some of the most important principles, trends, and practices education now needs to help all students be successful in the 21st Century.” —Bernie Trilling, 21st Century Learning Advisor, co-author of 21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in Our Times
“Aside from being an amazing resource for meaningful games and classroom activities, Jennifer’s work synthesizes so many of the best practices I’ve come across as a teacher. It reminds me of why those things work, and it helps me to see the link between my own practices and the amazing work I’ve seen from other educators and facilitators. Whether you need an idea for tomorrow, some philosophical food for thought or some research for your next unit plans, Inspired Educator, Inspired Learner will help. This is an exciting book for an educator.” —Neil Poynter, Teacher/Advisor at The NET Charter High School, New Orleans, Louisiana
“My most engaging and powerful lessons and activities come from Jennifer Stanchfield. When I reflect on what works best in my classroom, every lesson on the top of my list has an element of her wisdom. Now, all that powerful wisdom is in ONE book. Since I can’t have Jen in my classroom at all times, this book is the next best thing! This is a must-read for emerging AND veteran teachers who want to empower students’ creativity and deepen engagement and understanding in the classroom.” —Heidi Pauer, 2003 New Hampshire English Teacher of the Year
“A concise merging and melding of neuroscience, philosophy of education, practical facilitation skills, and experiential activities. Jennifer has brought the varied components of experiential learning into clear focus in an easy to use format. Designed to guide any educator or trainer toward a positive learning outcome with most any demographic. The science is approachable, the skills are reliable, and the activities are doable.” —Gary Swyers, Senior Program Manager, The Soderquist Center for Leadership and Organizational Development, Silom Springs, Arkansas
Keep this book within arm’s reach. Jennifer Stanchfield’s ability to connect the dots between the tenets of experiential education and brain-based learning are extremely validating to the project-based learning we do in our Academy for Global Studies. Innovative educational models coupled with useful activities make Inspired Educator, Inspired Learner an amazing resource for all educators. I imagine it will become the dog-eared, go-to resource for novice and experienced teachers alike and will remain relevant throughout the many waves of educational trends.” —Nicole Griffith, Director of the Academy for Global Studies at Austin High School, Austin, Texas
“Jennifer Stanchfield successfully takes critical, yet complex concepts like social-emotional learning and 21st Century skill development and makes them practical, relevant and approachable by framing them through an experiential learning lens. The book offers an array of useful activities that educators, youth workers and trainers can use to effectively support learning. Her experience working with both youth and educators brings the concepts to life and provides readers with the confidence to implement these strategies themselves.” —Kara Bixby, Manager of Research & Evaluation, Saint Paul Public Schools Foundation
“This book is a must have resource to engage learners and bring joy to teaching. Once you incorporate Jen’s facilitation techniques, you’ll never go back. I am excited to have a tool that succinctly summarizes so many best practices. This book provides the recipe to enhance learning experience for students of all ages and unveils the neuroscience behind why these strategies are so effective at improving the learning experience. It should be required reading for educators and applies equally well to school and out-of-school learning environments.” —Katie Sidorsky, Program Manager, Techbridge: Science, Technology and Engineering Program for Girls, Oakland, California
