Life in Schools and Classrooms: Past, Present and Future (Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects, 38). This item is unavailable.Life in Schools and Classrooms: Past, Present and Future (Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects, 38)

This book discusses key aspects of life in schools and classrooms, and surveys the changes that have occurred over the years in educational  research, policy making and practice in these school and classroom settings. It not only examines cutting-edge research in these areas, but also showcases good practices in the field. Among the topics reviewed are recent developments in assessment, methods for collecting and analysing data on classroom practice, school leadership and the pros and cons of class size and small-class teaching; topics which are currently hotly debated in education systems around the globe.  As such, the book objectively examines the various debates, and surveys the full range of evidence available. Education researchers, policy makers and practitioners often hold differing views about the reasons for teacher and student behaviour in classrooms and, for example, its relevance to class size. Many of these views are based on ‘gut feelings’ rather than hard evidence. Unfortunately, these three groups, with differing perspectives, often ‘talk past each other’ rather than engage in a productive, mutually beneficial dialogue. The book builds an effective bridge between researchers, policy makers and practitioners regarding the impact of these various aspects of classroom life, so that the viewpoints of each can be carefully considered and evaluated.

Professor Rupert Maclean has worked for UNESCO for over two decades, with senior postings in Yangon, Bangkok, Paris and Bonn. He is currently QAPCO Professional Chair in Vocational Studies, and UNESCO Chair in TVET and Sustainable Development at the Office for Applied Research, College of the North Atlantic-Qatar. Before taking up his current post in Qatar in March 2016, he was Managing Director of the Hong-Kong-based Education for Innovation for Development consultancy firm. He was also Professor of International Education, UNESCO Chair in TVET and Lifelong Learning and Director of the Centre for Lifelong Learning Research and Development, at the Education University of Hong Kong.