Academic And Educational Development

Part of the well-known Staff and Educational Development Series, this practice oriented book brings together leading research and evaluation approaches and supporting case studies from leading educational researchers and innovative teachers. With much emphasis on change, innovation and developing best practice in higher education, it is essential that those involved in actually developing, researching or implementing approaches to teaching, learning or management, are informed by the experiences of others. The emphasis of this book is on changing practice in HE; how developments come about; what research underpins desirable development; and the impact of development of student learning, staff expertise and institutional practice and policy. Specifically, the book is developed in two themed parts: Part A, Supporting change within subjects and departments. Part B, Supporting change within institutions and the wider environment.

This integrative text spotlights what educators need to know about children's cognitive development across grade levels (PreK-12) and content areas. The book provides a concise introduction to developmental neuroscience and theories of learning. Chapters on general cognitive abilities probe such crucial questions as what children are capable of remembering at different ages, what explains differences in effort and persistence, and how intelligence and aptitudes relate to learning. Domain-specific chapters focus on the development of key academic skills in reading, writing, math, science, and history. Multiple influences on academic achievement and motivation are explored, including school, family, cultural, and socioeconomic factors. Each chapter concludes with clear implications for curriculum and instruction.

Within the field of academic development, the last twenty years have seen a great expansion of published research into practice and the further development of theoretical approaches. This growth in the scholarship of academic development matches a growth in the scholarship of teaching and learning. Advancing Practice in Academic Development draws on these evolving scholarships to advance professional practice in academic development, addressing questions such as: . How have global academic developers and their units developed and changed over recent decades? How has the context in which academic development work is done altered? What have academic developers and their professional associations learnt? Case studies and examples are used throughout the text to illustrate development scenarios and methods. Academic development is considered as, among others, a critical, a scholarly, a principled, a pragmatic, a supporting and a leadership role. This book is ideal for use on academic development courses run by SEDA and other international organisations as well as by those who have responsibility for leading the improvement of educational practice. Written in a scholarly, accessible, stimulating and practical style, this book acknowledges difficulties and offers ways forward. As well as analysing problems, it offers solutions. Links to web sources referenced in this book can be found at www.seda.ac.uk/apad

In recent times academic development has moved from the margins to the mainstream of higher education institutions. This work addresses the concept and nature of academic development and examines research into and within the field. It shows how academic development might be distinguished from and overlap with educational development and staff development, and how it encompasses those activities concerned with developing learning and teaching in higher education at individual, departmental, faculty, institutional and even at national/international levels.

Part of the well-known Staff and Educational Development Series, this practice oriented book brings together leading research and evaluation approaches and supporting case studies from leading educational researchers and innovative teachers. With much emphasis on change, innovation and developing best practice in higher education, it is essential that those involved in actually developing, researching or implementing approaches to teaching, learning or management, are informed by the experiences of others. The emphasis of this book is on changing practice in HE; how developments come about; what research underpins desirable development; and the impact of development of student learning, staff expertise and institutional practice and policy. Specifically, the book is developed in two themed parts: Part A, Supporting change within subjects and departments. Part B, Supporting change within institutions and the wider environment.

· What do educational developers see as the main issues to be tackled within their work? · How does the educational context and culture in which they work affect the practice of educational developers? · How do educational developers perceive change occurring within higher education organisations? In higher education institutions worldwide, issues relating to quality in teaching and learning have gained prominence over the last two decades as student numbers, and the need to be publicly accountable, have increased. During this time a sizeable community of educational developers has emerged whose work and research focuses on the enhancement of the student experience in higher education. A significant issue for these developers is how change can be effected in organisations with well-established academic cultures and practices, beset by many other priorities and pressures. This first book-length analysis of developers as a community of practice illustrates in their own words the issues they face, their differing orientations to development (given their differing organisational cultures), and how they see their institutional role. What emerges is the contested notion of ‘development’ itself, and a tribe of developers who, though fragmented, offer a rich variation in their discourse, identity and practice. Drawing upon developers’ own voices, the book offers a lively and accessible narrative approach to this rapidly evolving area. It is a useful guide to help individual developers compare their own practice with that of others, and development teams to map the effectiveness of their own centre’s provision. Educational Developmentis essential reading for educational developers, teaching and learning co-ordinators and teaching fellows, as well as senior managers with remits for academic development, and directors of quality assurance. It is also of interest to those in higher education who are concerned with bringing about organisational or cultural change.

The contributors to this volume are academics working directly or indirectly with teaching and learning centers and professional communities, serving in the capacity of educational developer, researcher, or specialist; unit manager or director; or senior administrator. Drawing on survey and interview data, individual experience or perspective, and familiarity with the educational literature, they offer a context to understand and appreciate how the field of educational development, developer practice, and individual pathways have evolved, further highlighting what territory remains to be explored and uncovered. Over the last fifty years, educational development has evolved from an informal set of instructional improvement activities championed by individuals to a scholarly field of study and practice that aims to advance teaching and learning at the individual, institutional and (more recently) sector levels. During this time, educational development work has moved from the fringes to the mainstream of the higher education landscape, bringing to the community a diverse group of dedicated academic professionals. This volume draws on their experience and insight to provide an invaluable guide to future challenges and issues. This is the 122nd volume of the Jossey-Bass higher education quarterly report series New Directions for Teaching and Learning, which offers a comprehensive range of ideas and techniques for improving college teaching based on the experience of seasoned instructors and the latest findings of educational and psychological researchers.

The contributors to this volume are academics working directly or indirectly with teaching and learning centers and professional communities, serving in the capacity of educational developer, researcher, or specialist; unit manager or director; or senior administrator. Drawing on survey and interview data, individual experience or perspective, and familiarity with the educational literature, they offer a context to understand and appreciate how the field of educational development, developer practice, and individual pathways have evolved, further highlighting what territory remains to be explored and uncovered. Over the last fifty years, educational development has evolved from an informal set of instructional improvement activities championed by individuals to a scholarly field of study and practice that aims to advance teaching and learning at the individual, institutional and (more recently) sector levels. During this time, educational development work has moved from the fringes to the mainstream of the higher education landscape, bringing to the community a diverse group of dedicated academic professionals. This volume draws on their experience and insight to provide an invaluable guide to future challenges and issues. This is the 122nd volume of the Jossey-Bass higher education quarterly report series New Directions for Teaching and Learning, which offers a comprehensive range of ideas and techniques for improving college teaching based on the experience of seasoned instructors and the latest findings of educational and psychological researchers.

First published in 1995. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Armstrong describes the best practices in education based on what we currently know about human development.