Learning and Teaching Practical Skills : As Seen on TV

This book combines the unique and unlikely duo of popular TV shows and pedagogy to help teachers and trainers support their students' skills development. Aimed at post-16 teachers, educators, and trainers of all vocational and technical disciplines, it encourages readers to relate the examples from popular culture and TV to their teaching toolkit. It is aligned to the Occupational Areas 1-8 within the new Diploma in FE, and is also suitable for those doing the Apprenticeship in FE teaching

The book uses examples from famous reality TV shows to reflect on how people learn practical skills such as baking, dancing, ice skating, sewing and pottery. Discussing everyday examples from TV with which readers may be familiar provides an innovative and engaging starting point to explore all aspects of teaching and learning a skill - including observation, demonstration, practice, feedback and assessment.

It encourages readers to think about TV shows such as Masterchef, Bake Off and Strictly Come Dancing from the point of view of the teacher. The unique mix of seemingly low-brow popular culture combined with serious pedagogy offers key insights for learning and teaching, including critical discussion of topics such as inclusion and the value of formative feedback. Teachers and trainers will develop their own knowledge and skills to support the practical skills development of their students.

Andy Armitage was head of the department of post-compulsory education at Canterbury Christ Church University and taught in secondary, further, adult and community education, and HE for over 40 years. He was an associate inspector and then Ofsted Inspector (OI) from 2011-15. He now works as a consultant with universities, advising them on teacher training and as a staff developer in the education and training sector. As Chair of the Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers Post 16 Committee from 2014-7, he was closely involved with the development of the Education and Training Apprenticeships. He is co-author of a number of key texts for FE ITE programmes including Teaching in Post-14 Education and Training, Working in Post-Compulsory Education, Assessment in FE, Developing Professional Practice 14-19, Series Editor Teaching 14+.

Harriet Harper has held a variety of teaching and management roles in FE and HE. She was a teacher educator at The University of Greenwich for seven years and as one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors for ten years, she specialised in FE and teacher training. Now she combines a number of professional activities freelance as a teacher, critical friend, college governor, researcher and author. She is the author of Outstanding Teaching in Lifelong Learning.