Pedagogy and practice: Teaching and learning in secondary schools – Unit 16: Leading in learning

This study unit offers some practical strategies for leading in learning. The topics covered include:

• Making a start
• What is meant by teaching thinking skills?
• Characteristics of higher-order thinking lessons
• National Curriculum thinking skills
• Improving planning and teaching of thinking skills lessons
• Evaluating impact

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.

Please note this document has been amended online for copyright reasons. Please refer to the printed publications for the missing material.