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Teaching and learning theory
The theories behind teaching and learning, and other useful CPD sites for teachers of literacy, numeracy, ESOL and Functional Skills. For specific Maths or English teaching CPD see our Level 5 Additional Diploma links.
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.
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.
A a wonderful trio of sites (teaching, learning, reflection) from retired academic, James Atherton. The contents page of the learning section looks like a mind map showing the relationship between different teaching and learning theories. Too much to describe – just go and take a look!
Editor's note (Sept 2018)
Url has changed and some content has disappeared. And, in case your wondering, doceo is Latin for "I teach".
Peter Patsula’s complete interactive tutorial on five theories of learning (Vygotsky, Bruner, Bandura, Carroll and Gagne) with visual effects and audio. Each theory is split into principles, examples and strategies with a final quiz to check your knowledge.
EFF (Equipped for the Future) is a ‘national standards-based educational improvement initiative for adult basic education and English language learning’ and provides a fascinating insight into US basic skills teaching. All very familiar but with different terminology.
This site, created after the 2010 election, replaced old uk.gov education sites such as the Standards Site and various post-16 sites. It is now archived.
Most of the Publications sections has disappeared although you can still find some important documents such as the Leitch Review (2007).
The CIMT Mathematics Enhancement Programme now has its own web site (previously based at Plymouth University and, before that, Exeter University) has been one of my favourite and most used sites over the past 15 years.