Benjamin S. Bloom

Portraits of an Educator

Thomas R. Guskey

• Publisher: R&L Education
• Year: 2012
• eBook ISBN: 9781610486057
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Education General

Few individuals in the history of education have had greater impact on educational policy and practice than Benjamin S. Bloom. During a career that spanned over five decades, his research and writing guided the development of innumerable educational programs and provided powerful insights into the untapped potential of educators to help all students learn well. Benjamin S. Bloom spent most of his professional life at the University of Chicago, where he held the Charles H. Swift Distinguished Service endowed chair. At this university, he founded and chaired the program in Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistical Analysis (or MESA), authored or co-authored 17 books, and wrote numerous journal articles. He served as the president of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), a member of the National Academy of Education, and a founding member of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). Also the recipient of several awards, perhaps his greatest accomplishment was the profound influence he had on his students and professional colleagues. Much of his time was spent in one-to-one interactions with them, which have become known as "Bloom Stories" and have gained legendary status. Many of the "Bloom Stories" are humorous and show his amazing quick wit. Others recall the kindness and encouragement, and subtle wisdom he showed in helping students and colleagues overcome obstacles or setbacks. No matter what the topic, Benjamin Bloom's stories are touching remembrances that offer special insight into his uniqueness as a preeminent scholar, colleague, mentor, and friend. This book is a collection of these stories, with brief reviews of some of Bloom's major professional contributions.

Table of contents

• Foreword by Jonathan E. Bloom
• Foreword by David Bloom
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Chapter 1 Remembering Ben
• Chapter 2 Unlimited Expectations
• Chapter 3 “Typically We Will Find . . .”
• Chapter 4 It’s More Than Numbers
• Chapter 5 The Early Years
• Chapter 6 Strength in Simplicity
• Chapter 7 The Best in the World
• Chapter 8 Using Time Wisely
• Chapter 9 The University of Chicago’s Board of Examinations
• Chapter 10 In the Shadow of Greatness
• Chapter 11 Making Expectations Clear
• Chapter 12 Problem-Solving Processes of College Students
• Chapter 13 The Father of Israeli Curriculum Reform
• Chapter 14 An Itinerate Traveler
• Chapter 15 A Constant Encourager
• Chapter 16 Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, Handbook 1: The Cognitive Domain
• Chapter 17 The Origins of the Taxonomy
• Chapter 18 Ideas Ahead of Their Time
• Chapter 19 A Powerful Influence in Africa
• Chapter 20 Stability and Change in Human Characteristics
• Chapter 21 Multiple Approaches and Tenacity
• Chapter 22 On Publishing
• Chapter 23 Not Every Effort Is a Success
• Chapter 24 Compensatory Education for Cultural Deprivation
• Chapter 25 A Man of Principle
• Chapter 26 An Uncompromising Commitment to Excellence
• Chapter 27 Rites of Passage
• Chapter 28 Sophie’s Influence
• Chapter 29 “Learning for Mastery”
• Chapter 30 Audacity of Imagination
• Chapter 31 An Appreciation of Arguments
• Chapter 32 In His Own Words
• Chapter 33 Honored in One’s Homeland
• Chapter 34 A Grand Vision
• Chapter 35 Collaborative Leadership
• Chapter 36 Human Characteristics and School Learning
• Chapter 37 The Man Who Hated the Normal Curve
• Chapter 38 A Powerful Influence on Japanese Education
• Chapter 39 High Expectations for All
• Chapter 40 Keeping Things in Perspective
• Chapter 41 “The 2 Sigma Problem”
• Chapter 42 Always Consider the Audience
• Chapter 43 You Are a Student of Benjamin Bloom?
• Chapter 44 A Sensitive Mentor
• Chapter 45 Different Approaches to Understanding
• Chapter 46 Developing Talent in Young People
• Chapter 47 New Views of “Giftedness”
• Chapter 48 Subtle Humor
• Chapter 49 Students Come First
• Chapter 50 Unique Traveling Rituals
• Chapter 51 A Productive Career
• Chapter 52 The Benjamin S. Bloom Dissertation Fellowship
• Postscript
• Appendix A Writings of Benjamin S. Bloom
• Appendix B Writings about Benjamin S. Bloom and His Work
• Appendix C Doctoral Dissertation Students of Benjamin S. Bloom
• Appendix D Doctoral Dissertation Committees of Benjamin S. Bloom
• References Works Other Than Those of Benjamin S. Bloom
• About the Contributors