The aim of this resource is to provide teacher educators with some guidance on the most current, theoretical perspectives on teaching and learning.

Learning Theories in ITT.pdf 

It has been particularly designed for tutor-assessors delivering EMCETT's blended-learning
models of the new teaching qualifications.

Throughout the last four years as EMCETT has supported the development and delivery of sector-led teacher training programmes, it has been apparent that new teacher educators frequently lack confidence in delivering theoretical perspectives on teaching and learning.

There is a widely held belief that a deep academic grounding in the historical and current theories of teaching and learning (though mostly of the latter) is essential for credibility and effectiveness within the role. Whilst this is,indeed, the orthodox view, EMCETT believes that it is time to challenge this position because this belief often undermines the confidence of very effective practitioners who would otherwise be highly effective in mentoring and training new teachers. It is the EMCETT view that much of what is taught as learning theories has little relevance to applied pedagogy and the day-to-day experience in the classroom.

The approach taken in this pamphlet is, therefore, to concentrate on the 'broad brush' or 'big ideas' that reflect - or might challenge - the trainee's thinking about teaching and learning and to then focus in the most recent evidence-based approaches to effective pedagogy.  Throughout, the focus is - and, we believe, should be - on practical strategies for effective teaching that can be clearly demonstrated in classroom observations.