Learning and Instruction: Theory into Practice

This comprehensive text takes a models approach by presenting separate chapters on individual theorists and perspectives. Within this well-organized structure, Gredler offers meticulouly accurate coverage of contemporary learning theories and their application to educational practice–including issues of readiness, motivation, problem-solving, and the social context for learning. Key content include increased emphases on the contributions of neuroscience and of Vygotsky’s work.

KEYBENEFIT: With an increased emphasis on cognition and constuctivism,thiswell-organized book offers superior coverage of contemporary learning theoriesand their application to educational practice. It translates basic assumptionsand principles of seven contemporary learning theories into easilyunderstandable guidelines for classroom instruction, and discusses issuesrelated to each theory, including readiness, motivation, problem-solving, andthe social context for learning. Following a consistentchapter format, it provides a logical scaffold for comparing and contrastingtheories, and includes a set of instructional planning steps and a model lessonfor each theory. It offers clearly designed tables and figures to reinforcematerial with visual representations of the book's more complex and abstractconcepts. Two new chapters appear in this edition: One introduces informationprocessing theory; another explores metacoognition and problem-solving. Readerswill also find updated material and references throughout, particularly in thediscussions of constructivism Paiget, self-efficacy, and Weiner's theory.