How do we know what makes for good teaching and learning in higher education? There are plenty of tips and many approaches but how can we make sense of these? This was the challenge taken up in Graham Webb’s book Understanding Staff Development which was first published in 1996. At the time it was the only book available to interpret major theories of teaching and learning in higher education in terms of a wider theory of knowledge. It remains so today. It is the book to which higher education teachers and students, academic leaders and support staff turn in order to gain an informed and comprehensive view of the area. Understanding Staff Development is a misleading title therefore as not only is it a foundational source for academic and staff developers, but it is of similar importance for all those who have a role in teaching and learning in higher education.

The book takes readers through the theory and practice of teaching and learning from the perspectives of science, interpretation/hermeneutics, critical theory and post modernity. At the time of its publication it caused controversy by critiquing major approaches including the notion of ‘deep’ and ‘surface’ learning (sparking a debate between Webb and phenomenographers in the journal ‘Higher Education’) and those associated with action research. Such approaches persist today the importance of Webb’s critique remains undiminished.

The reissue of Understanding Staff Development makes it possible for people to continue to have access to this important work and for a new generation to appreciate and gain understanding from the messages it contains.
 

For further information or to order a copy, visit www.routledge.com/9780415661669

Click here for a list of Routledge author honorees.

The Fellows designation is a high honor of the Association -- nominated by peers, selected by the Fellows Program Committee, and approved by the AERA Council. Routledge authors included as 2012 AERA Fellows:

• Donna Alvermann, The University of Georgia
• Richard Lehrer, Vanderbilt University
• Peter L. McLaren, University of California, Los Angeles
• Robert J. Mislevy, ETS
• Elizabeth Birr Moje, University of Michigan
• Joseph Murphy, Vanderbilt University
• Reinhard Pekrun, University of Munich
• Christine Elaine Sleeter, California State University, Monterey Bay
• Jeroen J. G. van Merrienboer, Maastrict University
• Stella Vosniadou, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
• Daniel A. Wagner, The University of Pennsylvania
• Mark R. Wilson, University of California, Berkeley

The 2012 Fellows will be inducted on Saturday, April 14, 2012, during AERA’s 93rd Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Routledge Library Editions celebrate the reissue of a key title in a forthcoming Philosophy of Education collection

David Best is best known for his work in philosophy of the arts, and in philosophy of education, and especially the arts in education.

In 1993 author David Best's book The Rationality of Feeling, won the main prize as "the most outstanding and original academic book of the year" at the Royal Society of Arts, by the Standing Conference on Studies in Education.

The book has been published in Portugal and Russia, and was published in Taiwan in Chinese in 2003.  When reviewing the book for JADE (The International Journal of Art & Design Education) David Aspin stated the book was "required reading in courses not only in Arts Departments of higher education institutions, but in Philosophy Departments for their courses in Mind, Language and Aesthetics and in Education Faculties for their work in Curriculum and its philosophical foundations".

This important reissue is due to publish at the end of the year.

Pre-order your copy of The Rationality of Feeling Today!

Designed to complement the textbook, Learning to Teach in the Primary School, the well informed, lively texts offer support for student and practising teachers who want to develop more creative approaches to teaching and learning. The books highlight the importance of the teachers’ own creative engagement and share a wealth of innovative ideas to enrich pedagogy and practice.

Perhaps you are going to be a mentor this term - offering that well needed advice for those training teachers. If this is you, make sure you order a copy of Trevor Wright's new book How to be a Brilliant Mentor. It includes ideas and reassurance to support you in your role.
 

With his customary combination of hard-hitting truths, practical classroom ideas and irreverent sense of humour, Ian Gilbert takes the reader on a breathless rollercoaster ride through burning issues of the 21st century.To read more and order your copy click here