What is Pedagogy?

Pedagogy can be defined in simple terms as the theory, practice, or act of teaching or instructing. It also involves the methods and approaches the instructors use for creating fun and engaging lesson plans with the goal of enhancing learning opportunities for their students. These methods and approaches include lesson organization and of instructional media.

Pedagogy is heavily influenced by educational psychology. Instructing someone involves more than simply preparing a lesson and presenting it to a class of students. Instructors must be able to read every student and understand their abilities as well as their limitations or weaknesses. Then, the instructors must have a goal in mind which they will hope to achieve with their lessons based on the students' background. Students' background can be accessed by asking them questions to find out their prior knowledge.

With this idea in mind, it is useful to mention that there is no single pedagogy. In fact, there are multiple pedagogies since the method of teaching depends on the instructor and its students.

A teaching pedagogy can be described as a form of art or even a science. For example, alternating tone of voice and pausing to emphasize important points are pedagogies. Repetition is also a useful and common pedagogy used in the classroom as it has been proven that students learn best when important concepts are repeated. Examples of pedagogies include rewards (such as a class party or receiving good grades) and punishments (can be getting a bad grade or detention).

The following are three common learning strategies:

  • Mnemonic
  • Structural
  • Generative

Mnemonic learning strategies include any devises that help students memorize new concepts. For example, a song, pattern of letters, ideas, or associations may help students memorize. In structural learning strategies, students have to combine the main concepts into one structure like conceptual maps, flow charts, or outlines. Lastly, taking notes, underlining, and highlighting all are common generative learning strategies which promotes the incorporation of new knowledge.

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Pedagogy & Teaching Strategies Topics

Applied learning

Learn about applied learning. Read a general overview of applied learning, its definition, and its importance, and learn about different types of applied learning.

Assessment

Learn about forms of assessments. Identify the difference between formal and informal assessments and study examples of different assessment strategies.

Critical pedagogy

Learn the critical pedagogy definition. Understand what critical pedagogy is, examine the use of critical pedagogy in classrooms, and see critical pedagogy examples.

Educational practices

Read about educational practices and student learning. Learn about a variety of best classroom practices for teachers through teaching practice examples.

Language Pedagogy

Explore the approaches to language pedagogy. Find out what language pedagogy is and understand its development. Discover examples of language teaching approaches.

Scheduling

Read an overview of school scheduling. Learn about the importance of school schedules and the best practices for scheduling at each level, and see examples.

Teaching Reading

Learn how to teach reading. Explore strategies for teaching reading and teacher resources for reading, and examine the components of effective reading instruction.

Study.com has many accessible resources on pedagogy and teaching. Study.com also has resources that help instructors with their pedagogy for various grade levels and learning goals. These courses allow educators and students to set their own pace and access lessons to supplement in-class learning.

Pedagogy Courses

Study.com's library of online courses about pedagogy and teaching strategies cover different teaching styles to help instructors effectively manage their classrooms. These courses will help learners engage and strengthen their understanding of topics such as developmental stages, communication, teaching strategies, technology in the lesson plans, and more. These lesson plans can also help teachers provide supplementary material for their classrooms.

Education 103: Classroom Management

This course explores effective classroom management strategies including disciplinary practices, scheduling, parental communication, and teaching to different cultural learning styles. Jumpstart a degree with this course which can be accessed at any time.
Education 106: Introduction to Early Childhood Education

This introductory course covers the fundamentals of early childhood education. The course includes topics such as major educational and psychological theories, early childhood development, teaching strategies, and current trends of early childhood education.
Education 210: Technology in the Classroom

This is a course designed for the modern times and use of technology. This course covers topics like how technology is integrated into lesson plans, how it can be used to motivate students to learn, and what should be kept in mind while implementing it.
Education 101: Foundations of Education

This introductory course has been designed to provide learners with the foundations of teaching. With this course, learners can explore topics that include court cases and influential figures from historical and theoretical base for today's teaching practices.
Understanding & Applying STEM Education in the Classroom

Providing help to educators, this course covers the fundamentals of STEM education and how to apply STEM concepts in the classroom. The course includes helpful teaching strategies, ideas of how to integrate STEM, and the role of technology in STEM education.

For teachers and parents

Pedagogy Lesson Plans for Teachers

Study.com offers hundreds of lesson plans, activities, and assignments to teachers. Teachers can access a comprehensive library of resources, high-quality lesson plans, and activities to supplement their lessons at any time. Dive into these courses and enhance the learning experience of students.

Lesson plans
  • Literature Resources for Teachers

    This course provides a variety of useful and effective lesson plans, as well as other teaching resources about literature, to help instructors create engaging lessons to facilitate classroom discussions.

  • Literary Elements Lesson Plans & Resources

    These resources have been designed by professionals to help instructors create engaging lessons and fun activities to teach literary elements. The resources can be accessed at any time and on a computer or cellphone.

  • Ancient World History: Lesson Plans & Resources

    This convenient teacher resource course helps teachers plan engaging ancient world history lessons. Use any computer or mobile device to access lesson plans and class activities to supplement student learning.

  • US History Until 1789: Lesson Plans & Resources

    This convenient U.S. history course helps teachers plan history lessons up until the year 1789. You can access these lessons at any time to plan your curriculum and teach students facts about U.S. history.

  • US History 1786-1860: Lesson Plans & Resources

    This course is an essential tool for anyone looking to improve their U.S. History teaching methods. With online video lessons and self-assessment quizzes, you'll notice your lesson quality improving in no time.

  • World History Since 1900: Lesson Plans & Resources

    If you need to plan a modern world history unit, check out this collection of resources. The course covers a variety of topics on world history since 1900, all designed to simplify your lesson planning experience.

  • US History Since 1940: Lesson Plans & Resources

    Use this helpful course to create lesson plans for U.S. history since 1940. With these lesson plans, you can create classroom activities, games and lessons that will engage your students and make learning fun.

  • Life Science Lesson Plans & Games

    Check out this collection of teacher resources to plan and supplement lessons on fundamental life science concepts. The course comes with easy-to-use lesson plan outlines and engaging class activities.

  • Foundations of Science Lesson Plans

    This helpful course has lesson plans about the foundations of science. All of the plans included in this teacher resource course are written by professional instructors so you can feel confident in what you're teaching.

  • Earth Science Lesson Plans & Activities

    Refresh your teaching curriculum with the lesson plans and activities on earth and space science provided in this chapter. Encourage student participation and support their learning of earth and space science.

  • Secondary Math Lesson Plans

    Use our lessons and activities in your secondary math classroom to enhance learning for your students. This course has helpful tools like video and text lessons, discussion questions and project ideas.

  • Elementary Math: Lesson Plans & Resources

    If you need help planning elementary math lessons, this convenient online teacher resource collection offers lesson plan outlines, class activities and supplemental materials to enhance your elementary math curriculum.

  • Academic Subjects for English Language Learners

    This comprehensive online course provides supplemental ELL teaching resources for a variety of academic subjects, including math, history, literature and science. Integrate these teaching resources into your ELL curricula.

  • Writing & Composition: Lesson Plans & Activities

    This collection of teacher resources helps instructors develop lessons about writing and composition. It has comprehensive lesson plan outlines, rubrics, writing prompts, project ideas, class activities, and more.

  • Physical Education Lesson Plans & Activities

    Develop high-quality curriculum, strengthen your class lessons and improve student learning outcomes with help from these physical education resources. Use these resources to plan fun activities for students.

  • Art History Lesson Plans & Projects

    These useful lesson plan outlines and related resources can help you teach your students about artists and art history. Use this course to spark your students' interest in a variety of art history topics.

  • Lesson Planning Ideas for Teachers

    It's easy to create engaging lesson plans, activities, and more using this informative lesson planning course. Our professionally designed resources will help with convenient and flexible curriculum planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the actual meaning of pedagogy?

    Pedagogy is the method and practice of teaching as an art, science, and profession. Pedagogy relates to the practice of teaching and the theory behind the method.

  • What are the three main teaching strategies?

    The three main learning strategies are mnemonic, structural, and generative. Mnemonic learning strategies are devices such as a song, pattern of letters, ideas, or associations that help students memorize the content. Structural learning strategies ask students to actively combine important concepts into things like conceptual maps, flow charts, or outlines. Lastly, generative learning strategies like taking notes promote the incorporation of new knowledge.

  • What is an example of a pedagogy?

    An example of a pedagogy is repetition. Repetition is used in the classroom to emphasize important topics and reinforce training.

Teaching Strategies & Pedagogy for Today's Classroom

Teacher teaching students about Geography using a Globe

In the modern classroom, teachers need to be adaptable and light on their feet in order to best meet the needs of their students. To do so, it's best to remain up to date on teaching strategies to ensure that all learners are able to be as successful as possible when inside the classroom. Here are some great resources to help get and keep you up to date on successful strategies in and out of the classroom:

Teaching Strategies Proven to be Effective in the Classroom:

Every teacher has their own unique strategy for leading their students through coursework and ensuring their understanding of the material. While each teacher has their own unique strategy, no two students and no two classrooms are alike - and to be as effective an instructor as possible it's important to adapt to best fit the needs of the learners in your classroom. Remaining up to date on learning strategies can be incredibly beneficial for both the students and the teacher alike, check out some strategies that have proven to be effective:

  • Differentiated Instruction: In order to best meet the needs of all learners within a classroom, differentiated instruction provides students an opportunity to learn a single lesson through a variety of different activities and ways of presenting information. This strategy can be particularly effective for English language learners or when teaching in an inclusive classroom including students with learning disabilities.
  • Culturally Responsive Teaching: The integration of the cultures of your students into the classroom can be incredibly beneficial for establishing connection to the course material and for presenting information in a way that is easily understood by students. Culturally responsive teaching can be particularly beneficial when teaching subjects like history (link to pillar?) & language to allow for students to consider events through various perspectives and cultural lenses. One of the greatest benefits of this strategy though, is that it allows for all students to feel understood and accepted - and provides an opportunity for students & teachers alike to learn from each other's life experiences.
  • Project-Based Learning: Ensuring that your students are actively engaging in the learning process and course material being taught is essential to student success. Project-Based Learning goes beyond submitting projects in a classroom environment, and instead focuses on long-term projects that may have more real-world application. Longer-term projects with real-world application can also be used as a professional development opportunity as well, exposing students to real-world applications that they would otherwise not have visibility into.
  • Gamification: One of the most effective ways to get students to engage in the course material is to gamify the material and turn a learning experience or objective into a game. Turning a vocabulary lesson into a game of charades or utilizing digital tools like Kahoot! can bring students together to not only learn the material that's being taught - but to help make learning more engaging and fun!