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PG CERT ULT
ECTS credits: 5 will encourage students to reflect deeply on some
UKPSF indicative mapping: A1, A2, A4, A5. K1, K2, K3, important questions about learning. The reading
K4, V3, V4 to follow will depend on what individual students
Expected assignment word count: 1500-2000 choose to focus on after the seminar, which will be
Tutor: Dr Annette Mahon informed by their own practice.
Theories of Teaching Intended Learning Outcomes:
Aims By the end of the topic students will be better able to:
This topic offers students the opportunity to consider 1. Consider the features of effective learning
what makes students learn effectively and how from a personal perspective.
this can be reflected in teaching. Specifically, it will
provide students with the chance to consider theory 2. Understand what different educational
and practice in relation to their own context, in terms theories identify as important factors for
of teaching responsibilities and subject discipline. learning.
Teaching Methods 3. Distinguish between the varieties of learning
theories and be aware of their similarities and
This topic is taught through a face-to-face seminar, differences.
followed by an individual piece of work which will
be a written assignment, submitted for formative 4. Justify which principles of learning are most
assessment. There will be supporting reading pertinent to their own teaching practice.
materials, which will aim to provide an introduction to
the theories identified. 5. Consider how some aspect of learning theory
can be applied in their own teaching practice.
How do we learn? This topic will explore a variety of
theoretical positions on what makes learning most Initial Reading:
effective. The topic will ask students to consider
how well and how often teaching facilitates ‘good’ Jordan A, Carlile O, and Stack A (2008) Approaches to
learning. It will provide students with an opportunity Learning: A Guide for Teachers. Maidenhead, Open
to consider what principles of learning might be University Press.
important to them within their own teaching and
discipline context and how they might adapt their Ambrose SA et al (2010) How Learning Works: 7
teaching approach to reflect these principles. This Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching. San
topic represents five ECTS worth of study, beginning Francisco, Jossey-Bass.
with a seminar leading to directed reading and
self-study based in the students’ actual teaching Outcome Assignment:
practice. The seminar will be discursive in nature and
The assessment is an individual written assignment
which should analyse one aspect of theory (selected
by the student) which is most pertinent to their
EDU © Imperial College London 2015-16 37
