New Palestine’s Dr. Chris Edwards will discuss his “connect-the-dots” teaching method. Edwards believes the best way teachers can help their students think in larger terms is to connect ideas for them from across several disciplines.

He is qualified to know. Edwards holds a social studies degree from Indiana University, a master’s degree in curriculum instruction from the University of Indianapolis and a doctorate in teacher leadership from Walden University.

In his research, Edwards found recurrent patterns in the way innovators throughout history have developed their critical thinking. He offers methods for teachers and administrators looking to invigorate their classroom practices in his latest book, Teaching Genius: Redefining Education with Lessons from Science and Philosophy.

Edwards, who proudly teaches high school history and has authored two books on educational philosophy, also contributes frequently to respected journals.

In the science publication Skeptic, he writes ". . . educational bureaucrats have dominated the conversation to the point where the public now thinks that the purpose of schools is to generate test data, not thinkers."

Teachers must reshape the field, he believes, "convince rather than coerce" their students by reasoned inquiry, not test performance.

After the discussion, Edwards will sign copies of his book. All royalties go to the Riley Hospital for Children where doctors successfully treated Edwards’ young son who had developed a rare brain tumor.