Learning and Teaching

Schools exist to promote learning. Teachers are facilitators of learning. In promoting learning there is no single blueprint for effectiveness, though there are very many characteristics of what constitutes effective teaching and effective learning. This chapter sets out some of the key principles for effective teaching and learning. At heart there is a move away from direct instructing (instructivism) towards constructivism. Many of the pedagogical issues that we raise in this book are premised on constructivism. We begin this chapter by looking at several principles of constructivism and then move to looking at other characteristics of effective teaching and learning. We organise our discussion of effective learning and teaching in two main areas.