Encyclopedia of the Sciences of Learning

2012 Edition
| Editors: Norbert M. Seel

Didactics, Didactic Models and Learning

Reference work entry
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_1833
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Synonyms

 Classroom teaching and learning;  Curriculum development;  Designing lessons;  General education;  Lesson planning

Definition

The word didactics comes from the Greek word “διδάσκειν” (didáskein), which means teaching. The scientific term didactics(sometimes also spelled “Didaktik” as in German) stems from the German tradition of theorizing classroom learning and teaching. It is a singular noun spelled in the plural form, indicating that connotations to the somewhat pejorative English word “didactic” (text overburdened with instructive matter or oversimplifying way of teaching) are not intended. Didactics serves as a major theory in teacher education and syllabus development, especially in the German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, as well as in Finland (didaktiikka) and in Russia (didaktika). With a slightly different meaning, it is also employed in France (didactique comparée) and Spain (didáctica general) as well as in the Dutch (algemene didactiek) and Africaans...

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References

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Further Reading

  1. Hopmann, S., & Keitel, C. (1995). Editorial: The German Didaktik tradition. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 27(1), 1–2.Google Scholar
  2. Hudson, B., Buchberger, F., Kansanen, P., & Seel, H. (Eds.). (1999). Didaktik/Fachdidaktik as science(−s) of the teaching profession? (TNTEE Publications Vol. 2, No. 1; available under http://tntee.umu.se/publications/publication2_1.html, 2010-12_14, accessed 14 Dec 2010). Umeå: TNTEE, University of Umeå.
  3. Kansanen, P. (2002). Didactics and its relation to educational psychology: Problems in translating a key concept across research communities. International Review of Education, 48(6), 427–441.Google Scholar
  4. Klafki, W. (1995). Didactic analysis as the core of preparation of instruction. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 27(1), 13–30.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Applied Educational Science Institute of Education, University of HildesheimHildesheimGermany