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Making Learning Happen
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Making Learning Happen
A Guide for Post-Compulsory Education

Third Edition


May 2014 | 304 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
'Refreshing, original and full of pragmatic, evidence-based advice... In my opinion this is the best book on learning and teaching available to teachers in H.E. and F.E. today. The environment has changed so quickly over recent years and Phil Race has not only kept abreast of the changes; he is way ahead.' - Professor Ruth Pickford, Director of the Centre for Learning and Teaching, Leeds Metropolitan University

In the age of digital communication, online learning and MOOCS, Higher Education Institutions need to be able to offer even more to their students.

Centred around Phil Race's well-known 'ripples on a pond' model, this accessible discussion of post-compulsory education identifies the fundamental factors underpinning successful learning and clearly shows you how to help students learn effectively.

Updates to this third edition include:

  • practical ‘tips for students’ to help you engage your group
  • discussion of four literacies students need
  • comparative discussion of different forms of assessment
  • increased coverage of peer observation and evidence-based practice
  • advice on making lectures unmissable
  • online resources including printable checklists for use in class
  • link to a video interview with the author

This book is a valuable tool for lecturers and tutors in universities and colleges, post-16 teachers in secondary education, and educational managers.  It also provides a useful resource for postgraduate students on higher and further education courses and staff development courses.

Phil Race gives keynotes on assessment, feedback, learning and teaching, and runs interactive training workshops for staff and students in universities, colleges and other organizations throughout the UK and abroad. 


 
Setting the scene
 
Factors underpinning successful learning
 
Designing the Curriculum for Learning
 
Assessment driving learning
 
Learning through feedback
 
Making lectures inspiring
 
Making learning happen in small groups
 
Learning through observing and reflecting
 
What can I do when...?

A really useful book for course leaders or module leaders.

Mrs Rachel Wallis
Swansea School of Education, Swansea Metropolitan University
February 10, 2015

A useful text for our Supporting Adults course.

Ms Jan Seabourne
Education and Training , Dyslexia Action
January 6, 2015

A very useful read providing essential background information for all PGCE students working in the post 16 sector.

Mr Andrew Faulkner
Business, South Devon College
December 29, 2014

This is a useful text for searching ideas on assessment, teaching and giving feedback.

Mr Imran Mogra
Faculty of Education (Perry Barr), Birmingham City University
December 18, 2014

This is an excellent book which has proved to be very influential in developing the teaching practices of our clinical education students. Race has a wonderful way of expressing complex ideas in a format which is easy to understand and apply. The Ripples model of learning applies in so many different contexts and is relevant to all our students, no matter which health professional background they are from.

Mrs Helen McNeill
Faculty of Education, Edge Hill University
December 12, 2014

A useful text for those working in post-16 education, full of practical advice and underpinning theory.

Miss Caroline Meredith
School of Education and Innovation, Bishop Grosseteste University
December 10, 2014

This book offers a very good overview of assessment methods that would be useful to new and existing teachers to promote self-reflection and evaluation. It focussed on modern teaching and learning methodology in an approachable and readable fashion.

Mr Dale Munday
Teacher Training, Myerscough College
December 5, 2014

An excellent guide for any staff teaching in post compulsory education.

Mrs Sharon Smith
Education , Worcester University
November 10, 2014

An excellent support book which guides new teachers and trainers on different learning styles and methods. Totally jargon free and easy read. Well worth the money.

Ms Heidi Smith
Chanctonbury Training, Chanctonbury Training
October 15, 2014

Some good points on how to make learning happen within a FE classroom.

Mrs MINE TANA
HESC Office, Barnet College
October 7, 2014
Key features
What's new to this edition? Author, Phil Race details them out...

This third edition is, in my view, not only expanded, but substantially improved, for example:

  • I have completely reworked Chapter 1, to include discussion of MOOCs, communication using social media, and I have introduced four ‘literacies’, which learners now need when participating in post-compulsory education. I’ve also ended with some informal tips for would-be university entrants entitled ‘How to do Uni’.
  • I have improved Chapter 2, by making the unfolding of the seven factors less ‘jerky’, and removing the diagrams until all factors have been introduced.
  • In Chapter 3, I’ve added some tips for students on how best they can make use of intended learning outcomes.
  • I have extended Chapter 4 on ‘Assessment Driving Learning’ by including what is now required of institutions in the UK by the Quality Assurance Agency as an example of how we can approach improving assessment, and by adding a large table helping readers to compare the pros and cons of a wide range of assessment processes and instruments, as well as some tips for students themselves.
  • I’ve added some tips for students on using feedback to Chapter 5.
  • I have reworked much of Chapter 6, now calling it ‘Making Lectures Inspiring’, as large-group learning has evolved very significantly in the age of ready access to online resources and courses, and as the use of handouts has all but ceased in lectures. I’ve also added some tips for students on getting the most from lectures.
  • In Chapter 7 on ‘Making Learning Happen in Small Groups’, I’ve now brought in discussion of links to developing employability and enterprise skills, and added a section on personal tutoring – and some tips for students themselves.
  • To Chapter 8 on ‘Learning through Observing and Reflecting’ I’ve added some tips on peer-observation, to help colleagues get the most from both observing and being observed.
  • By popular request, and using many ideas from readers, I have expanded the range of problems addressed by Chapter 9, ‘What Can I Do When …?’, which provides some creative tactics for addressing some of the common problems colleagues experience in teaching in post-compulsory education.