Effective Teaching Strategies: Lessons from Research and Practice

Roy Killen was formerly an Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of Newcastle, Australia, and an Extraordinary Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He lectured in teacher education for 25 years, specialising in teaching strategies, assessment, curriculum development and reflective teaching. For approximately 10 years, he collaborated with South African lecturers and teachers to assist them to make the transition from content-based to outcomes-based teaching practices. He has worked closely with Australian teachers, including several years as Researcher in Residence at Callaghan College, Jesmond, NSW, to expand his understanding of the challenges facing teachers today. Prior to entering teacher education he had careers as an engineer and a TAFE teacher. He has continued his interest in vocational education by working with Registered Training Organisations and by co-authoring texts for training programs and for vocational courses in schools. He regularly presents educational programs for photography clubs, and judges local, national and international photographic competitions. Mitch O'Toole has long been involved in the preparation of resources for science teachers who have become conscious of the language component of their expectations of students at various levels of education. He is employed by the School of Education at the University of Newcastle, Australia, where he formerly acted as Deputy Head of School (Teaching & Learning) and convened the science education teacher preparation programs. Mitch currently supervises a wide range of Research Higher Degree projects. His major research interests are in the impact of language style on science teaching, the interaction between student and teacher understandings of the history and nature of science; the environment; and of information and communication technology. He has published many articles in both national and international journals as well as textbooks and research-based teacher resource books for teacher preparation and teaching.