Contemporary Issues in Learning and Teaching

About the Book

Contemporary Issues in Learning and Teaching looks at current issues across the three key areas of policy, learning and practice. It will help you to think critically on your Education course, and to make connections between the processes of learning and the practicalities of teaching. The book addresses key issues in primary, secondary and special education, and includes examples from all four countries of the UK.

The contributors reflect on current thinking and policy surrounding learning and teaching, and what it means to be a teacher today. Looking at the practice of teaching in a wider context allows you to explore some of the issues you will face, and the evolving expectations of your role in a policy-led environment. The book focuses on core areas of debate including:

- education across different contexts and settings

- teaching in an inclusive environment

- Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for practitioners

Each chapter follows the same accessible format. They contain case studies and vignettes providing examples and scenarios for discussion; introduction and summary boxes listing key issues and concepts explored in the chapter; key questions for discussion reflection; and further reading.

This essential text will be ideal for undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including BEd/BA degrees, initial teacher-training courses, and Masters in Education programmes.

All editors and contributors are based in the Faculty of Education at Glasgow University, UK.

Table of Contents:
Introduction: Contemporary Issues in Learning and Teaching - Margery McMahon, Christine Forde and Margaret Martin PART ONE: POLICY Section Overview - Margery McMahon Critically Reading Educational Policy - Robert Doherty Schools and Schooling - Margery McMahon Education and Work - Cathy Fagan Inclusion and Pedagogy - George Head PART TWO: LEARNING Section Overview - Margaret Martin Collaborative Professional Inquiry - Mike Carroll Nurture Groups and Inclusion - Mary Wingrave Children′s Social Relationships - Georgina Wardle Gifted and Talented Education - Niamh Stack and Margaret Sutherland PART THREE: PRACTICE Section Overview - Christine Forde Professional Identity - Fiona Patrick and Alastair McPhee Professional Learning Communities - Margaret Martin Being a Teacher Leader - Christine Forde Interprofessional Approaches to Practice - Margaret McCulloch Conclusion Conclusion: The Future of Education - Penny Enslin

Review :
′It is a highly readable and accessible book which follows a rather unusual format in that it reveals a multilayered structure, moving through policy, the learning context, and finally, the professional practice of teaching. In doing so, it challenges us to ask questions of our own beliefs and values, the dominant discourses and policy frameworks in which we work, and locates these discussions in an increasingly globalised world...In summary, this book is one which I would exhort teachers, and indeed teacher educators to read. It is grounded in a strong reality of contemporary education practice, while at the same time presents the academic and intellectual challenge that is helpful, indeed necessary, for those teachers engaged in continuing professional development′ -
ESCalate

′Gives a balanced, credible overview of the issues, well grounded in reality. A clear strength is that it also provides some highly pertinent and very important messages that permeate through the various sections and chapters. This book will make readers think and lead them to question their own views, professional practices and beliefs.

′This book will be on our recommended reading lists, not only for our ITET courses, but also for our BA Childhood Studies students, and even for our MA/MEd students. It is a book that can be used in a variety of ways and at various levels of engagement, depending on the audience, their needs and level of experience′ - Tony Elliott, Senior Lecturer,College of Education and Lifelong Learning, Bangor University, Wales

another great text, very useful and student feedback good. This collection is broad ranging and yet detailed enough to provide students with an informative and challenging set of readings. This is a very good text for students beginning their Masters level studies in Education. I have recommended Contemporary Issues in Learning and Teaching as a core text for our MEd students.

I like the level of detailed discussion on areas such as critically reading of educational policy; School and schooling; Inclusion and pedagogy and see these as key chapters. This is a very accessible read for students new to masters level work A useful text for first year Foundation Degree students in learning support, who want to begin to read more deeply A great ′all rounder′ covering many of the most often used topics on the BEd course. This book deals with a number ofm issues which we as teachers face in 21st century education. It is not as accessible as some of the other other recommended texts for the upcoming academic year, however it will challenge the values and beliefs of our students and make them think far more critically about the ways in which they facilitate learning in children. The ′thinking points′ throughout this book are a very useful way of getting students to reflect and think carefully about who they are as a teacher. This is an excellent text, written by estsablished and well respected prectitioners and authors. A must for all Masters level Education courses in Scotland. This is an excellent book, which will offer my students a range of perspectives and approaches to various issues around teaching and learning. The layout is excellent, easy to follow, and it breaks down policy, learning and practice in manageable and effective categoroes to engage students. This book has been included on the recommended reading list and it is a very welcome addition. This book provides balanced and thought provoking perspectives on a range of major contemporary educational issues. It does not focus too strongly on micro issues which would case it to date very quickly but focusses on areas that are likely to remain issues over longer periods of time. The use of case studies and thinking points throughout, encourage the critical engagement of the reader and should help to develop new teachers who can face and challenge the changing landscape of educaction. This key text is so refreshing because it does not follow the more traditional ′education studies′ format, but instead examines key contemporary issues and thus serves to support beginning teachers as they learn to grapple with the diverse challenges of 21st century teaching. An interesting text that shines a light on some current issues for the teacher. This book explores a range of perspectives on current educational practice.The sections on policy and professionalism are very poinant for the FE sector at this present time. An interesting collection of topics discussing issues currently relevant in education. I am not quite sure what I expected from the title of the book but the topics covered within the book are not it! The subject areas are wide ranging but I feel are better suited for those already in teaching and wanting to improve their practice through research rather than the UMS and PGCE students that I teach. However I will be using some of the ideas within my lectures and as supplementary reading. Clearly organised sections enable the reader to access information easily. Thinking points are very useful for encouraging deeper thinking, guiding the reader to apply theory to practical experiences and to question their own views and practice. This is an interesting book that will support students to think about the theory related to policy, learning and practice and how this can be linked to their own practice. Supportive of reflective work practice in general as well as linking to many other areas that would be discussed throughout many child care courses. It is good to see reference to the whole of the Uk, A very useful book in terms of an evaluation of nurture groups and inclusion I really liked the content and approaches within this book - however, some students found it too abstract for post compulsory sector application. I would suggest it to some students at dissertation stage if it was relevant to their topic. A very useful text, especially chapters 6, 11 & 13, for the school-based educators on our Action Research and Work-Based Learning modules, although less pertinent for those who work in the post-compulsory sector. This text is split into aspects of a students journey and provides useful guidance and support. Useful case studies are identified and key reflection and discussion points are embedded within each chapter. The future of education, the last chapter gives food for thought… This text is split into aspects of a students journey and provides useful guidance and support. Useful case studies are identified and key reflection and discussion points are embedded within each chapter. The future of education, the last chapter gives food for thought… This text is split into aspects of a students journey and provides useful guidance and support. Useful case studies are identified and key reflection and discussion points are embedded within each chapter. The future of education, the last chapter gives food for thought… I was a little disappointed by the selective nature of the content. It will be a useful supplementary reader for our course but does not cover as much of the unit material as I had hoped. This book is ideal for our contemporary issues module in which students carry out a study of an issue pertinent to their own role in the classroom. The book is well laid out and I particularly like the inclusion of thinking point boxes, case studies and key questions for reflection, very applicable to the applied nature of our work based learning course. Lovely selection of ideas. My students will find some enormously useful However our course becomes less theory based all the time, as hours are stolen and I find they read less A useful support text for students at all levels of our education course A clearly set out text, which enables the students to identify key issues and develop their understanding The book focusing on mainly school learning and teaching so not relevant for nurses