Foundations of Education

Reviewed by Todd Norton, Assistant Professor, Clarke University on 11/3/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This book really hits the mark when it comes to covering the essentials of education, from the historical background to the complex issues educators face today. I’d say it’s thorough in a way students will appreciate, providing them with a solid foundation to build on. It tackles a wide range of critical topics—governance, ethics, systemic inequalities—and gives enough depth to each to prompt real reflection and questions. The glossary and index are well-done, too, which makes navigating the more complex areas easier. All in all, it’s a reliable, comprehensive resource that’s ready for today’s classroom.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

I was pleasantly surprised by how well the book handled its subject matter. It balances factual detail with a range of perspectives, giving students a full, nuanced view, especially on sensitive topics like systemic inequities and social factors. By including often-underrepresented voices, it adds a level of honesty and depth that makes it feel richer and more relatable. This thoughtful approach creates a well-rounded resource that isn’t afraid to go beyond the basics, which I really appreciate.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The focus on inclusivity, equity, and the broader educational landscape feels on point, especially for students gearing up to enter the field. The structure of the book seems adaptable enough to handle updates without needing a full overhaul, so it should stay useful and relevant. One thing I do wonder about, though, is the reliance on some media elements like video links, which could date the material over time. Still, for now, it’s very much a useful and timely resource.

Clarity rating: 5

For the most part, the text is clear and easy to read, even when covering heavier topics. Some sections that dive into theory could probably be simplified a bit, particularly for students who are newer to the concepts, but overall, it does a good job with handling jargon. I think most readers will be able to keep up comfortably without feeling bogged down.

Consistency rating: 5

The text does a great job maintaining a consistent style and terminology, which really reinforces the key concepts as students move through the material. This level of consistency is one of those subtle elements that adds a lot to the learning experience—it helps students build on what they’ve learned without getting tripped up by changes in language or approach. It’s well thought out and contributes to a seamless learning journey.

Modularity rating: 5

The organization is really flexible, with the book set up in a way that makes it easy to break into smaller sections as needed without losing the flow. The clear headings and logical stopping points let me assign specific readings without having to reshuffle things. This setup makes it easy to adapt to different lesson plans and keeps things manageable for students.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The flow of the book makes sense, moving from the historical roots of education to more modern challenges in a way that feels natural. This structure builds up a solid base before tackling more complex topics, helping students not only understand but also stay engaged. Each section feels like it has a purpose, guiding students through a kind of “story” where they can see how the past impacts today’s educational landscape. This approach encourages comprehension without overwhelming them—a big plus in my book.

Interface rating: 5

Navigating the digital version was a breeze, which I think will be a huge benefit for students. The multimedia elements are a nice touch and really complement the text without being distracting. The clean interface makes it easy to focus on the material without getting sidetracked by technical issues, which is always appreciated.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text is polished and professionally done, which makes for a smooth reading experience. Grammar issues are nonexistent here, which keeps things professional and easy to follow.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

This book does a standout job of being culturally inclusive. It doesn’t just check boxes with diverse examples but instead weaves them in thoughtfully, giving students a fuller understanding of the education landscape and the realities they’ll face. It’s the kind of resource that goes beyond teaching—it broadens perspectives and encourages students to think critically. The cultural lens here is invaluable and adds so much depth to the material.

Comments

Overall, I think this book is an impressive resource. It’s well-rounded, tackling both foundational and evolving aspects of education in a way that’s thoughtful and accessible. I especially appreciate that it doesn’t shy away from the tough topics like inequity and systemic challenges—these are exactly the conversations we need to be having to prepare future educators. The video elements are a great addition, too. Normally, I’d assign videos separately, but having them integrated into the chapters is a huge convenience. This setup really makes my job as a professor easier, and I think students will benefit from it, too.

Reviewed by Cindy Darcy, Adjunct Professor of Education, Mount Wachusett Community College on 6/5/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This text covers every topic that one expects for a survey course in the field of Education. It is well organized and includes media clips aids in making the information understandable. It is a helpful resource for anyone considering a profession in Education.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The textbook contains relevant information and not only speaks to the history of our profession but also to the issues and trends in Education today. It provides a glimpse into a broad range of topics of history, political, social, and cultural perspectives. It provides a range of background knowledge for anyone entering the profession.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The textbook presents a range of information that is pertinent and useful for today's practitioner. It is presented in a way that allows for updating information easily.

Clarity rating: 5

The text's arrangement of chapters and delivery of information is presented in a logical sequence. It is well written and easy to follow and one topic leads to the next seamlessly.

Consistency rating: 5

The text demonstrates consistency throughout.

Modularity rating: 5

It allows for flexibility with assigning sections either in or out of class for assignments or small group work. It really depends on the professor's prerogative of how one wants to organized their course.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The textbook is well organized and sections may be taught out of order. It allows for flexibility with assigning sections either in or out of class for assignments or small group work. It really depends on the professor's prerogative of how one wants to organized their course. The authors allowed for a cohesive flow of topics, information, issues and trends in the field of education today.

Interface rating: 5

The text was arranged in a visually appealing and logical way. There is an appropriate amount of text combined with media clips, activity boxes, and visuals throughout. It was uncomplicated and easy to follow.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I found no apparent issues with regard to grammar in this text.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The text is culturally relevant and presents information on a broad range of issues affecting today's educators. It is succinct and pertinent as well as thought provoking. It provides many opportunities for reflection.

Reviewed by Erin Weldon, Director of Instructional Design and Development, Trine University on 4/15/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Foundations of Education provides a comprehensive exploration of education, delving into historical aspects of education in the United States, philosophical foundations, ethics, and legal points. The text focuses in on the key components of a teacher’s responsibility. The textbook could benefit from an index or glossary for specific terms to ensure a more accessible experience for those who are less acquainted with educational terminology.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

This textbook presents precise and impartial information. Information is supported with numerous facts and statistics that contextualize the content. Some facts do include personal thoughts on education; however, the text maintains a balanced perspective without taking a particular stance. I appreciate the number of quotes, thoughts and scenarios shared from educators. These statements support the accuracy of how education is evolving while also maintaining its foundational roots.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Content is up to date and relevant for a foundations intro into education. It might be helpful to have more recent statistics regarding the bullying in the classroom. The focus was on 2017 statistics. This is an area in education that is an ongoing topic of discussion and is continuously improving as schools are working to provide new strategies or resources to prevent bullying in the classroom. As online learning continues to rise, I found the cyberbullying curricula resources to be very helpful! I appreciate the resources provided in this book on this topic for educators to create a positive classroom environment. From a higher education standpoint, it would be helpful to touch on Higher Education in addition to K-12 when it comes to Governance and Finance. There are references for colleges and universities; however, it seems as if the focus is on elementary and secondary. Many of the topics in this text also relate to higher education, especially for those who are entering the profession to teach adult learners. This could even be open a door to an OER text called, “Foundations of Teaching in Higher Education.”

Clarity rating: 5

The textbook is well-written and provides accessible text for all readers. The text avoids overly complex sentence structures and jargon. It uses active voice and familiar vocabulary whenever possible. I appreciate the number of examples and scenarios throughout the entire text. Terminology was explained with many examples for easy understanding of concepts. The textbook includes features like bolded key terms, definitions within the text, and conclusion summaries at the end of each chapter.

Consistency rating: 5

The text is solely focused on education. The content is presented in a way that follows a clear learning path. It starts with the fundamental principles and foundational knowledge required for educators, then progressively builds upon that base to cover more advanced topics and culminate in the process of becoming a teacher. I appreciate the historical aspects of education and how the foundations are still used in today’s teaching practices.

Modularity rating: 5

The text is easy to read and provides an excellent separation of topics. However, each chapter comes with a lot of information to digest. With the amount of reading involved, it might be helpful to include some of the information as a podcast or recording to lesson the reading load. There are quite a few references which is great! H5P provides great opportunities to condense information in a format that reduces the scrolling and amount of information on one page. As an instructional designer, I utilize the H5P accordion often to reduce the amount of reading and page overload for learners.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The organization to this textbook exceeds expectations. It is presented well from the basics of why you teach to becoming a teacher with critical topics to think about before becoming a teacher. The chapters are organized in a way that tie back to the main idea, focusing on the multifaceted components of education. The book flows from one item to the next and teaches educators about the ever-changing needs of individuals and education today. Chapters are interconnected with real-world situations and scenarios.

Interface rating: 4

The overall interface of the textbook is well-created. Navigation from one chapter to the next is easy for readers. There were a few images that were difficult to read such as the Bloom’s Taxonomy Chart in Chapter 8. It might be helpful to navigate readers to the site with the pyramid.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text was clear and understandable with no notable grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

I found the concept of students arriving at school with an invisible backpack particularly insightful. This example suggests that each student carries varying burdens, some light and others heavy, based on their current life circumstances. It is important for teachers to foster an inclusive environment where all students feel valued and secure. When teachers acknowledge these invisible backpacks, they create a space where all students feel valued and secure. As a teacher it is important to remember that a student’s academic performance is not the whole picture and that we should show empathy and understanding to ensure learners feel safe and supported.

Comments

Overall, this is an excellent foundations course for future educators! This book is ideal for first-year education majors and serves as a valuable resource for developers and instructors of introductory education course. The text serves as a well-structured resource with a multifaceted approach to ensure key topics are covered effectively, preparing educators for the complexities of the classroom.