ABSTRACT
Learning takes place in a wide range of environments at different times and in various social contexts. It is common to distinguish between formal and informal contexts for learning; formal ones being schools and colleges and informal ones being outside such institutions. Informal learning takes place in a wide range of situations, from family discussions to field visits organised by schools. Our focus here is on those activities which are organised by the school and are intended to contribute to curriculum learning just as much as what happens in the classroom. Whether within or outside the classroom there is an active role for the teacher – in interaction with learners and in ensuring active engagement with the learning environment. We look at various aspects of this role in this part of the book: questioning in Chapter 10; supporting the development of children’s conceptual understanding, skills and attitudes in Chapters 11, 12 and 13; and using ICT in Chapter 14.
