Learning Work And Practice New Understandings

This book’s original contribution to a crowded literature on work and learning will attract strong international interest. Its focus on the philosophy of learning at work brings a fresh perspective on a topic normally viewed through psychological, anthropological and sociological eyes. It assembles a host of internationally recognized scholars who reflect on the various philosophies of work-based learning. Full of distinctive and original contributions that provide perceptive insights into the subject, the work will be a practical support to teachers, trainers and researchers at the same time as it gives readers a clear philosophical grounding in learning at work. It is, however, not simply a book about philosophy, but a gazetteer of approaches to education in work that will sustain and inspire those who provide, engage in, and support the learning of new knowledge and skills in the workplace. With adaptability to new employment opportunities so vital to existing workers, the authors stand behind continued provision of work-based learning in the face of tightening economic constraints.

What is understanding and how does it differ from knowledge? How can we determine the big ideas worth understanding? Why is understanding an important teaching goal, and how do we know when students have attained it? How can we create a rigorous and engaging curriculum that focuses on understanding and leads to improved student performance in today's high-stakes, standards-based environment? Authors Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe answer these and many other questions in this second edition of Understanding by Design. Drawing on feedback from thousands of educators around the world who have used the UbD framework since its introduction in 1998, the authors have greatly revised and expanded their original work to guide educators across the K-16 spectrum in the design of curriculum, assessment, and instruction. With an improved UbD Template at its core, the book explains the rationale of backward design and explores in greater depth the meaning of such key ideas as essential questions and transfer tasks. Readers will learn why the familiar coverage- and activity-based approaches to curriculum design fall short, and how a focus on the six facets of understanding can enrich student learning. With an expanded array of practical strategies, tools, and examples from all subject areas, the book demonstrates how the research-based principles of Understanding by Design apply to district frameworks as well as to individual units of curriculum. Combining provocative ideas, thoughtful analysis, and tested approaches, this new edition of Understanding by Design offers teacher-designers a clear path to the creation of curriculum that ensures better learning and a more stimulating experience for students and teachers alike.

Work now invariably requires a continual focus on learning: to improve productivity, to enhance the flexibility of employees and to develop and transform organizations. This volume brings together leading experts from the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand to critically evaluate the current debates on workplace learning and to propose directions for future developments in both research and practice. Topics covered include: * expectations of learning at work into the twenty-first century * learning theories, practice and performance implications * the relationship between workplace learning and other forms of lifelong learning * the international developments in competency-based approaches to learning and assessment * the influence of language, power, culture and gender upon the 'construction' of learning. Topical and informative, this volume will be an invaluable resource for students and researchers of training, HRD, continuing and adult education.

Understanding Applied Learning enables teachers, lecturers and educators to facilitate applied learning effectively with learners in schools, colleges and universities. It introduces teachers to the concept of applied learning in practice, cutting across any vocational and academic divide to show how this approach supports high-quality and effective outcomes for learners. Applied learning prepares and equips learners for life in the twenty-first century and lifelong learning. Offering practical guidance on why and how to adopt applied learning in all post-primary settings, this practical resource introduces and explores the core concepts, practices and benefits of using this approach. Illustrated with real-life scenarios, it examines why applied learning is relevant today, how it enables learners to connect knowledge with new situations, how to navigate and solve intellectual and skills-based problems and how to work collaboratively and develop higher-level thinking skills. Key topics covered include: A range of applied learning theories and strategies Relevant, Engaging, Active Learning (REAL) for successful knowledge and skills development The relevance of applied learning to employers Overcoming issues in embedding applied learning approaches How to embed creativity into learning experiences. Understanding Applied Learning is an authoritative, down-to-earth guide to facilitate applied learning effectively and successfully with students in secondary schools, colleges and universities. It is a source of support and inspiration for all those committed to high-quality and effective outcomes for learners.

As a social work student or practitioner it is essential to be able to understand, recognize and critically reflect on your own emotions and those of others. Consciously or unconsciously, emotions play an integral role in day-to-day decision making, assessments and relationship building, and a lack of emotional awareness and understanding can result in poor practice and a failure to think critically. Practical and engaging, this book encourages you to consider the role of emotions in the light of your own experiences and practice contexts. Key topics include: Understanding what emotions are and how they apply to social work practice Recognizing and reflecting upon the emotional content of practice Incorporating emotions in reflective journals, reports, case notes, critical incident analysis and academic writing Understanding the conscious and unconscious emotions at play in your practice and how these can impact upon the development of positive relationships Enhancing understanding of self and the importance of resilience Understanding the role of emotions in supervision, support and reflection In addition, each chapter includes case studies, to make the link between theory and practice, reflective exercises to encourage the reader to consider the discussion from their own contexts and perspectives. There will also be key learning points to summarise the main ideas presented at the end of each chapter. This is an invaluable book for all social work students and early career practitioners aiming to boost their self-awareness and personal wellbeing, and ultimately improve their practice. “This is a timely publication that reinforces the centrality of emotions and emotional intelligence in social work practice – a must read for all aspiring and practising social workers.” Gillian Ruch, Professor of Social Work, School of Education and Social Work, University of Sussex, UK “What Understanding Emotions in Social Work does is cuts across all layers of the social work curriculum and indeed the “resistance and lethargy’’ regarding ‘’the role of emotions within social work practice” that Ingram refers to. It affords us with a medium through which to explore the substance of that which causes us to react and provides us with a space in which to learn more about what it means to respond; both to ourselves and to those we engage with. It is a book for anyone involved in professional social work education and practice; one that will become a well-thumbed addition to the discerning practitioner’s library. “ Amanda M L Taylor, Senior Lecturer, School of Social Work, University of Central Lancashire, UK “Understanding Emotions in Social Work: Theory, practice and reflection, highlights the importance of emotion in social work practice. Dr Richard Ingram clearly makes the case that the recognition of, reflection upon, responsiveness to, and regulation of emotion, contributes to effective social work practice, as well as, the development of healthy practitioners and practice environments. This book reinforces how social work is primarily a human interactive and relational practice in which emotion and affect have a pivotal role. I highly recommend Understanding Emotions in Social Work as an essential text for students, social workers, supervisors and managers.” Associate Professor Kieran O’Donoghue, Head of School of Social Work, Massey University, New Zealand "This is one of those books that you will keep on your desk and look back at time and time again. It is written in a very accessible style and is easily picked up. Dr. Ingram locates emotions within social work practice and guides the reader through a number of case study's and learning activities to explore this concept in-depth. This has been a very helpful text book during my final placement." Darren Gibson, Social Work Student, Dundee University, UK

A perennial issue in social work is the lack of clear evidence showing how to be a successful advocate and how to create enthusiasm among students for policy practice. Researchers are now applying theory to understand better the topics of effective social work advocacy and policy practice. The results of testing conceptual models with carefully gathered evidence are beneficial, helping us to advance our knowledge more quickly than merely collecting descriptions of case studies that remain unintegrated into a larger context. Improvements in understanding how to conduct effective advocacy emerge, helping practitioners to be more successful in their advocacy efforts. Similarly, bringing evidence and data to teaching methods improves confidence in their applicability to more than one course or institution. Readers of this book will discover how to be more effective policy practitioners as well as more engaging instructors by focusing on theories and evidence which demonstrate successful advocacy and teaching. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Policy Practice.

Work now invariably requires a continual focus on learning: to improve productivity, to enhance the flexibility of employees and to develop and transform organizations. This volume brings together leading experts from the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand to critically evaluate the current debates on workplace learning and to propose directions for future developments in both research and practice. Topics covered include: * expectations of learning at work into the twenty-first century * learning theories, practice and performance implications * the relationship between workplace learning and other forms of lifelong learning * the international developments in competency-based approaches to learning and assessment * the influence of language, power, culture and gender upon the 'construction' of learning. Topical and informative, this volume will be an invaluable resource for students and researchers of training, HRD, continuing and adult education.

In Powerful Learning, Linda Darling-Hammond and animpressive list of co-authors offer a clear, comprehensive, andengaging exploration of the most effective classroom practices.They review, in practical terms, teaching strategies that generatemeaningful K–2 student understanding, and occur both withinthe classroom walls and beyond. The book includes rich stories, aswell as online videos of innovative classrooms and schools, thatshow how students who are taught well are able to think critically,employ flexible problem-solving, and apply learned skills andknowledge to new situations.