Synopsis
This book will introduce all teachers, be they in schools, colleges or universities, to the variety of approaches and techniques, theories and methods of teaching. While many trained teachers are grounded in the theory of teaching, this training can often be relatively limited in scope, or focused on current/most popular techniques. Many other teachers, in colleges or universities, have no formal training. This book looks in detail at the many teaching techniques that can be called upon at different times and in different situations, and how they can be used successfully.This is an essential guide for all teachers, at all levels, who want to understand more about the art of good teaching.
S. H. Minner
Teaching is a complex enterprise, and effective teaching is an incredibly important topic during this time of increased efforts to improve learning and boost academic achievement. Jarvis's edited book provides an excellent overview of the theories and techniques of teaching. The first section focuses on theoretical constructs underlying good teaching such as the changing nature of knowledge and ethics. Preece and Griffin's chapter addressing radical pedagogies provides an excellent overview of major ideas and theorists including Freire, Shor, and Giroux. The second section includes chapters related to specific teaching approaches such as didactic methods, the Socratic method, and experiential techniques. Those new to teaching will find these chapters particularly helpful, although they lack enough specific information to allow readers to incorporate the techniques into their own practices. Finally, the third section focuses on assessment, including a nice chapter discussing assessment in distance learning. This is an excellent overview of both the theoretical and applied aspects of teaching and will be of great interest to teachers and future teachers, particularly those working in higher education.