Principles of Teaching

Bennion, Adam S. (Adam Samuel), 1886-1958Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 2.7

Word count: 305K words
Chapters: 31

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Principles of Teaching by Adam S. BennionAuthor: Bennion, Adam S. (Adam Samuel), 1886-1958,Language: English, Class: LC: Education: Special aspects of education, Release Date: Dec 14, 2005

Editor's review

This early monograph by Adam S. Bennion on the principles of teaching was digitized by Project Gutenberg as a free e-book and belongs to the public-domain literature on education. Its value lies not in cutting-edge teaching techniques but in its systematic reflection, from the first half of the twentieth century, on the aims of teaching, the duties of teachers, classroom organization, and the guidance of learners, helping readers understand the historical development of pedagogical ideas. The text is chiefly expository and clearly structured, making it suitable as supplementary reading for courses on the history of education and the principles of teaching, and for readers interested in traditional educational thought who wish to read critically. It is best read alongside contemporary teaching theory, distinguishing principles that remain instructive from statements limited by their era; it should not be treated as a manual of ready-to-apply techniques.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students of education or the history of education who need to know the classic early statements of teaching principles
Primary and secondary school teachers who wish to reflect on their own teaching ideas and methods from a historical perspective
General readers interested in public-domain educational literature who want to broaden their reading
Researchers preparing articles on the history of pedagogical thought who need source leads

Not a good fit for

Frontline teachers seeking concrete classroom techniques and immediately usable plans
Readers hoping to learn about contemporary educational technology and digital teaching methods
Readers who prefer light narrative or case stories and have little patience for theoretical exposition

Reading tips

Begin with the table of contents and each chapter's introduction to grasp the author's overall framework for discussing teaching principles, then read selected key chapters closely.
Take notes as you read on views that agree or conflict with contemporary teaching theory, building a set of comparative notes.
Read alongside a textbook on the history of education to place the book in its historical context.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for directly guiding classroom teaching today?

Not really for direct application. The book was written long ago and discusses teaching principles in the context of its time; it lacks content on contemporary classroom management, assessment, and technological support. It is better used as material for the history of educational thought, to understand how teaching ideas have evolved, and then to select and adapt them in light of modern teaching theory.

How difficult is the English original, and what background is needed?

The book is expository English prose with long sentences but relatively plain vocabulary; anyone with college-level English reading ability can work through it. There are few specialized educational terms, and unfamiliar expressions can be understood from context. If your reading speed is slow, start with chapter introductions and concluding paragraphs to grasp the main points.

What are the features of the Project Gutenberg edition?

This edition was prepared and released by Project Gutenberg as a free public-domain e-book, easy to download and search in full text. The text has been proofread by volunteers but usually includes no modern introduction, notes, or teaching aids, so readers must supply background knowledge themselves and should also note the edition information and date of publication.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Bennion, Adam S. (Adam Samuel), 1886-1958 Author · American · 1886–1958

Adam S. Bennion (1886–1958) was an American Mormon educator and writer. Public information about his early life and educational background is limited, and what is known of his career is chiefly connected with religious education and writing. He was the author of Principles of Teaching and other religious works, which generally deal with the cultivation of faith, teaching methods, and moral formation. His writing is plain and clear, emphasizing the integration of religious ideas with everyday educational practice and addressing itself to church educators and general readers; he exercised a certain influence within Mormon educational circles. Bennion's writings reflect his concern for education and offer a reference point for the study of twentieth-century American Mormon educational thought.