Curriculum Theory and Methods: Perspectives on Learning and Teaching

The text makes extensive use of pedagogical elements to help make it practical and informative. The pedagogical elements are strongly focused on helping to make the connections between theory and practice, and to emphasize the practical value of theory in the classroom. The key pedagogical elements are:

Chapter Openers
Each chapter begins with Study Objectives and an Introduction to help set the context of the chapter and to help reader comprehension.

Glossary
In order to highlight important terms, a Running Glossary has been incorporated into the margins of each chapter. Key terms appear in colour in the text and are defined in the margin. This allows the reader quick access to definitions as they are encountered in the text.

Information Boxes
To assist the reader in searching for more information on important topics covered in the text, More Information boxes have been placed in the margins of each chapter. In addition to providing immediate assistance for the interested reader, these boxes also highlight key concepts.

Personal stories
To emphasize the importance of connecting theory to practice, Personal Stories boxes have been integrated throughout the text. These engaging first-person accounts and cases are designed to show how theory is implemented in the classroom to aid in the student’s understanding.

Reflective practice
These boxes highlight insights, realizations, and the importance of critical reflection in order to provide a context for professional growth. Reflective Practice activities encourage professional development and show how theoretical concepts can continually be applied throughout a teacher’s career and help put into practice the ideas and concepts contained within the text.

Summary and chapter activities
Chapter Summaries at the end of each chapter go over the chapter content, reemphasize key concepts, and help make connections to the subject areas covered. Each chapter then ends with an activities specially designed to encourage critical reflection and practical strategies to implement theoretical concepts.