2006-02-22 Comprehensive book linked to Cert Ed (Post-compulsory)

I have found, however, that the book is of fairly limited use unless you are actually on the course. You might think this can't be a criticism, but the book does claim to be of general use for all FE and PCE teachers. To me, it just doesn't seem smoothly written. It can brush over things and overly focuses on activities for the reader which are written for groups on a Cert Ed course. These activities would be wonderful and would constitute the main value of this book, but unfortunately they are not going to work as well if you are reading it alone.

The book covers the usual topics - working in PCE, professional development, student learning, teaching and managing learners, resources for teaching and learning, assessment, exploring the curriculum, course design, development and evaluation. There is a good chapter on developments in post-compulsory education with a chronology of UK PCE and a comparative chronology of the US. The bibliography is excellent. At the end of each chapter FENTO standards are listed.

There is no doubt this is THE manual for those on the Cert Ed (PCE) but this review just serves as a little warning for those teachers not on the course!!

There are better books out there for general interest/professional development (Adults Learning by Jenny Rogers and Teaching Adults by Alan Rogers spring to mind). The former is the best book I have read on adults learning (see my review for that book) and Alan Rogers' book is more in-depth and equally as useful.