Learning and Teaching Around the World: Comparative and international studies in primary education

Learning and Teaching Around the World is a wide-ranging introduction to diverse experiences, practices and developments in global primary education. It explores different contexts for children’s learning, and methods and purposes of primary education, in settings across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas and Australasia, and addresses wider issues such as the rise of refugee learners and large multi-grade classes.

With an explicit focus on comparative and international studies and improving the knowledge, understanding and practice of effective pedagogies for children’s learning, this book reflects on key issues such as:

• Standards for learner-centred education
• Patterns of inclusion and exclusion
• Defining ‘teacher professionalism’
• The impact of global education agendas
• Language policy for schooling and assessment

Learning and Teaching Around the World is an essential text for those wishing to develop a critical understanding of the experiences of primary teachers and children around the world. Aimed at both undergraduate and postgraduate education studies students, the scope of this book will support all students in developing knowledge of primary education and of the diverse needs of learners in an era of global movement of children and families.

Kimberly Safford is a Senior Lecturer in Primary Education at The Open University, UK. She contributes to the university’s International Teacher Education and Development programmes in India and Africa, authoring Open Educational Resources collaboratively with academics and practitioners. She also writes OU courses and OER for UK teachers, classroom support staff, and for the wide range of education staff in the Third and Cultural Sectors.

Liz Chamberlain is a Senior Lecturer in Primary Education at The Open University, UK. She is a member of the International Teacher, Education and Development team and contributes to in-country fieldwork in Uganda and Zimbabwe. Liz authors the module Comparative and International Studies in Primary Education and is co-author of an Early Reading Badged Online Course for teachers in Africa and a MOOC, making teacher education relevant for 21st century Africa.