CONTEXTUAL TEACHING LEARNING

Contextual Teaching and Learning

Contextual teaching and learning (CTL) is a concept that helps teachers relate school learning to real-world situations. CTL motivates learners to take charge of their own learning and to make connections between knowledge and its application. This book is a guide to reforming teaching and teacher education because it gives teachers and teacher educators an opportunity to see how contextual teaching and learning can change classrooms and teacher education programs

Contextual teaching and learning (CTL) is a system for teaching that is grounded in brain research. Brain research indicates that we learn best when we see meaning in new tasks and material, and we discover meaning when we are able to connect new information with our existing knowledge and experiences. Students learn best, according to neuroscience, when they can connect the content of academic lessons with the context of their own daily lives.

Johnson discusses the elements of the brain-compatible contextual teaching and learning system: making meaningful connections; investing school work with significance; self-regulated learning; collaboration; critical and creating thinking; nurturing the individual; reaching high standards; and using authentic assessment. Drawing on the practices of teachers in kindergarten through university, Johnson provides numerous examples of how to use each part of the CTL system.

Instruction is more effective in context of meaning, as well as the prior knowledge and experience of the learner. Supporting evidence for its effectiveness is provided form psychology, neuroscience, physics, and biology. Contextual teaching and learning (CTL) consists of eight components: making connections that hold meaning, self-regulated learning, doing significant work, collaboration, critical and creative thinking, nurturing the individual. Focusing on the k-12 level, includes sections on standards, evaluation, and assessment.