Understanding and motivating students

At the beginning of each semester in Australian universities, students entering teacher education courses are asked 'Why do you want to teach?' The answers vary, but the most prominent response is 'To make a difference'. Building on the market-leading success of the first two editions, Teaching: Making a Difference, Third edition, has been designed to launch students on their journey to become the kind of teacher who continually strives to deliver quality learning outcomes in all aspects of professional endeavour. Making a real difference in tomorrow's early childhood, primary and secondary classrooms is as much about understanding learning and learners as it is about understanding what makes a quality teacher and quality teaching. The unique four-part pedagogical structure of this series consistently provides students with a compass to navigate recent changes to the Australian Curriculum and practical strategies for the meaningful use of ICTs in the classroom. Part 1 The teaching profession Part 2 Understanding learning and learners Part 3 Preparation, practice and process Part 4 Effectiveness, professionalism and the future This edition draws together the voices and contemporary research of Australia's pre-eminent education academics. The culmination of their knowledge, hands-on experience and insight will help pre-service teachers develop their craft and technique and provide a framework to enable them to excel as future educators. Great teachers must maintain a broad range of skills, understandings, ideas and knowledge. They must also continually reflect on what they do and question not only their own practice, but also the ever-changing needs of their students and education at large. Teaching: Making a Difference, Third edition, empowers students to draw on the range of skills and personal attributes they will need to deal with the day-to-day realities of teaching, the intangibles and the serendipitous moments. [Book Synopsis