Learning and teaching

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We would suggest that learning and teaching are two sides of the same coin and our understanding of what it means to be a good teacher (see Critical reflection on teaching) is based in part on what we had to do to become successful learners, so this area of our belief system will provide fruitful material for evaluation and reflection.

Williams and Burden express this well:

The successful educator must be one who understands the complexities of the teaching-learning process and can draw upon this knowledge to act in ways which empower learners both within and beyond the classroom situation.
(Williams and Burden,1997: 5)

As a start to reflect on your teaching, you are asked to reflect on (your own) learning. Take a few moments to:

• think about the strategies, techniques and approaches that you personally found helpful (or not) as a learner

• consider whether we should assume that others (especially your students) will respond in the same way

• analyse distinctive elements of learning in your own subject or discipline