Pedagogy and practice: Teaching and learning in secondary schools – Unit 1: Structuring learning

This study unit offers some practical strategies that teachers can use to structure learning. The topics covered include:

• Factors affecting lesson design and the design process
• Locating the lesson in context
• Identifying and sharing learning objectives
• Principles for structuring a lesson in episodes
• Selecting strategies and techniques
• Selecting a teaching model

The techniques suggested are tried and tested; they draw on both academic research and the experience of practising teachers. By working through this guide, teachers can build their repertoire step by step, starting with strategies that are easy to implement and moving on to those that will help pupils develop their skills further.

The unit contains ‘reflections’, to help teachers reflect on an idea or on their own practice, and a summary of the research with suggestions for ‘next steps’ and further reading.