Teaching and learning theory

A huge collection of links to resources that can be used to support and feedback on English learning in Further Education (Functional Skills and GCSE)
Categorised by Level (FS E2, E3, L1, L2, GCSE) along with other categories such as R&D.  You are invited to add what you can. Compiled and created by Nicola Milton with other contributors.

Editor's note

There are some excellent feedback and marking sheets in here for Entry Level 2 FS Writing through to Level 2 Writing, along with very useful mock papers, progress review sheets and much much more!

The National Numeracy site has a great ’essentials of numeracy’ diagram which encapsulates the essential components in understanding numbers, the number system and the ways that numbers can be combined and used – to help learners decide on their own personal starting point and pathway to develop key skills in numeracy.

Learning Theories is a very useful index of learning theories and models. Includes pages on Communities of Practice (Lave and Wenger), Situated Learning Theory (Lave) and much more.

A huge library of Mathematical Collections and Conference Proceedings. These do not appear to have been updated since 2006 but include: A sociocultural analysis of learning to teach (Merrilyn Goos) – where her three zone framework is discussed.

This is one of many Harvard maths online references that I used in the Level 5 Maths ADTLLS, Meeting a learner’s needs / case study assignment (Part of Module 1: Approaches to Mathematics learning and teaching).

Communities of practice is site run and written by Etienne Wenger (of Lave and Wenger fame!), a leading expert on communities of practice. Try this excellent quick starter diagram (PDF) to get your head round his theories and apply it to your teaching rationales, reflective diary, etc.

Maths4Life is now archived as part of the NRDC site. Loads of ideas for teaching and learning numeracy – along with related constructivist / connectivist theory. It’s also a fantastic source of printable resources and card based games – I keep the big yellow folder under my desk and refer to it often.

Don Clark’s (aka as Big Dog) pages are stuffed full of training, learning and leadership advice, including excellent sections on learning styles (VAK, Briggs, Gardner, Honey & Mumford, etc.). These are discussed both individually and as whole and are prefaced by a very sensible warning about the current thinking on learning styles.

I don’t normally list links pages but emTech have an impressive 15000 educational links arranged in 200+ categories including learning theories, multicultural education, teaching resources. and constructivism.

An amazing site run by Jim Crawley, head of Lifelong Learning at Bath Spa University. Full of information, links to background theory on adult learning and learning styles, and all the latest news, theories and controversies in adult education.