Understanding and Using Educational Theories

by Karl Aubrey, Alison Riley

This textbook gives readers a clear overview of a selection of 19 of the most influential thinkers on education, including established names (Vygotsky, Bruner, Dewey), more recent thinkers (Freire, hooks, Claxton) and other key names whose writing has helped shaped our views on teaching and learning. 

Each chapter includes practical examples showing how theories can be used to inform classroom teaching, and critiques of each theorist exploring opposing viewpoints and the strengths and weaknesses of different ideas.

This third edition This is an essential primer for any university course that includes learning theory, with particular relevance for initial teacher education, education studies and early childhood degrees. Karl Aubrey has recently retired from his post at Bishop Grosseteste University. Alison Riley is the Programme Leader for the BA Early Childhood Studies at Bishop Grosseteste University.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Teaching, Psychology

408 pages, Paperback

First published January 12, 2015

Reviews

[Jane Scholey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book looking and and bringing together many theories that have shaped education today. It includes chapters on Vygotsky, Bruner, Kolb and more. It sets theories into context/key schools of thought and contains a very useful vocab glossary. It is also a good example of how top approach theories and ideas in a critical and analytical manner, there are 'critique' sections in all chapters. I found it useful.

[Peter Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karl Aubrey has collected a strong and intellectual group of thinkers concerning education and learning into one book. I have only recently started down the path of studying pedagogy and I already see the massive changes in focus and understanding of how to develop children into future learners and thinkers.
The theorists in this book and the style in Aubrey describes their critical contributions and their essentially important critiques surrounding and reinterpreting their theories is practical and legible. Each of the theorists are treated with the same level of academic rigour and bias, while appreciating their individual contributions and understandings that have allowed modern education and its interaction with the socio-cultural attitudes of society to evolve at recognisable pace.

I read each theorist for their own theories rather than attempt to compare and contrast their work, which Aubrey does with a great level of refinement and style than I could hope to achieve. So, buy up, read up and enjoy this fascinating collection of compelling theorists.

This book is one of the core readers for the post grad studies that I am working through, but I can easily recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in learning, education, psychology, pedagogy, andragogy or social science theory in general.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic for anyone studying BA Hons Primary Education degree or a Level 3 Childcare and Education Diploma

[Nashwa]

good

[Rosie Easson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for those studying to teach as covers a vast majority of theories and explains things in a way that is easy to understand. Perfect starting point for writing essays!

[Kevin McKenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read it for a class. Fine assortment of theorists but very surface level.