Understanding Development and Learning assists future teachers in developing their understanding of the process of learning. It seeks to enhance their craft as educators by explaining the principles of educational psychology through contemporary research and ideas drawn from a range of sources, including neuroeducation or neuroscience as it applies to education.

Chapter 1: What Is Learning? Defining teaching Defining learning A brief history of 'learning' and 'teaching' in Western schools Theories of 'learning', past and present Chapter 2: The Links between Human Development and LearningBasic issues in human developmentDomains of human developmentChapter 3: Understanding Brain DevelopmentThe developing brain-the early yearsStructures of the brainThe developing brain and adolescenceChapter 4: Learning, Thinking and IntelligenceMeasuring intelligenceNotions of multiple intelligencesThe neuroscience of intelligenceControversies over intelligenceChapter 5: Language Development and LearningLanguage development in childrenTraditional theories of language developmentLanguage and the brainMaturation and biological sex differencesEnhancing language developmentChapter 6: Memory and LearningThe neurobiology of memorySystems and stages of memoryWhat hinders memory and why we forgetEnhancing memory: educational and pedagogical considerationsChapter 7: Motivation and LearningThe neurobiology of motivationThe psychology of motivationUnderstanding contemporary learnersMotivation in school: affective and effective considerationsChapter 8: Inclusive LearningThose who can, doDifferent brains, different learnersReaching the hard-to-reach studentExtending the exceptional learnerChapter 9: Sociocultural Factors of LearningSome backgroundVygotskySociocultural theory of cognitive developmentBronfenbrennerEcological systems theoryBio-ecological modelGender, socio-economic background and culture in the classroomChapter 10: Nurturing LearningThe perils of standards and testingEnrichment does not mean more!Homework: a necessary evil?Stress and learning do not mixRising to the challengesThe creative arts and learningThe brain, movement and learningGlossaryReferencesIndex

Examines the recent developments in the neuropsychology of education within the context of more traditional theoriesPrepares pre-service teachers for the diverse range of students they will encounter when they start teachingCovers the developmental characteristics of children and shows how developmental phases impact on learning and behaviourIntegrates theoretical and practical content related to the socio-environmental factors that impact on development, behaviour and learning

Examines the recent developments in the neuropsychology of education within the context of more traditional theories Prepares pre-service teachers for the diverse range of students they will encounter when they start teaching Covers the developmental characteristics of children and shows how developmental phases impact on learning and behaviour Integrates theoretical and practical content related to the socio-environmental factors that impact on development, behaviour and learning