Making Sense of Education

Making Sense of Education provides a contemporary introduction to the key issues in educational philosophy and theory. Exploring recent developments as well as important ideas from the twentieth century, this book aims to make philosophy of education relevant to everyday practice for teachers and student teachers, as well as those studying education as an academic subject. The book is divided into three parts: Education, Teaching and Professional Practice: conceptual issues concerning education; the role of the teacher; the theory/practice divide; moral dimensions of education and teaching; Learning, Knowledge and Curriculum: behaviourist and cognitive theories of learning; language and meaning; curriculum aims and content; Schooling, Society and Culture: social and political aspects of education, including liberalism and communitarianism, differentiation, authority and discipline. This timely and up-to-date introduction will help those studying and working in education to understand the major philosophical influences that have formed modern thinking about education, teaching and learning.